From 3c19180709d934adcf7def9f36e6bf1aa301d479 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Christopher P. Brown" Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2022 10:32:29 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] 49 --- basement.order | 1 + src/appendix/a/index.md | 3 +- src/characters/inky.md | 4 +- src/epistolary/00049.md | 156 +++++++ src/notes.md | 2 +- www/index.html | 136 +++++- www/rss.xml | 921 +++++++++++++++++++++++----------------- www/spoilers.html | 138 +++++- 8 files changed, 956 insertions(+), 405 deletions(-) create mode 100644 src/epistolary/00049.md diff --git a/basement.order b/basement.order index d7a356a..3abb33a 100644 --- a/basement.order +++ b/basement.order @@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ src/epistolary/00045.md src/epistolary/00046.md src/epistolary/00047.md src/epistolary/00048.md +src/epistolary/00049.md src/bestiary/index.md src/bestiary/aur.md src/bestiary/blahoblin.md diff --git a/src/appendix/a/index.md b/src/appendix/a/index.md index 8a3c5aa..c5aa604 100644 --- a/src/appendix/a/index.md +++ b/src/appendix/a/index.md @@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ public: yes Being apocryphal and supplemental material posted to the *Barefoot Quackery* thread on tildepals, including depictions of loose pages torn from books of the -Runesocesius Library, and original fictions and other diversions, and more. +Runesocesius Library during the assault by the Cyberplasms, as well as original +works of fiction and other diversions. ### Cease and Desist diff --git a/src/characters/inky.md b/src/characters/inky.md index 9d1159d..59a7d8a 100644 --- a/src/characters/inky.md +++ b/src/characters/inky.md @@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ What do you plan to do with your cut of the money? Buy lots of ink ingredients, - Player: mio -- XP: 1 -- Skills: Do Anything 1, Persuasive 2, Plantomancy 2, Throwing 2 +- XP: 0 +- Skills: Do Anything 1, Persuasive 2, Plantomancy 2, Throwing 2, Medicine 2 - Equipment: Handy Duffer Discette, Fine Feathered Quills, Jade Tea Set, Mountain Range Glyph Ink, Bead of the Werehare Paths: diff --git a/src/epistolary/00049.md b/src/epistolary/00049.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..05d6c33 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/epistolary/00049.md @@ -0,0 +1,156 @@ +--- +title: 00049 +created: Thu, 29 Dec 2022 18:55:34 -0700 +updated: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 08:12:55 -0700 +syndicated: yes +public: yes +--- +### 00049 {#00049} + +> "They *are* a good guide," Inky corrects adamantly. "Do you hear +> that, Bread? You're not allowed to disappear until you've had an +> entire bag of these croutons, and even then you're still not +> allowed. If I'd known you'd never had croutons before I wouldn't +> have let you walk a step further into that hall. That was +> simultaneously the worst and best idea ever. Mango! Croutons! What +> a travesty. Did you even taste any of it? No? You have to! How can +> you offer guests delicious fondue without croutons? Speaking of +> which, we haven't gotten that fondue you promised yet, that's +> reason #144 you can't disappear. What's reason #143? Crostinis. +> Small toasted bread. Slice of life. You can put cheese on it too, +> if you really must …" +> +> And so on. While Inky talks at Bread in a bid to keep them +> conscious, they whisk out a first-aid kit from their courier bag +> and kneeling on the floor, proceeds to stem the bleeding from the +> chest wound with coagulant-coated bandages. Slowly, they tip a +> flask of tea infused with some restorative herbs down Bread's open +> mouth, careful not to pour too quickly. Inky pauses mid-diatribe +> and mid-pour to thrust another flask of tea into Confidence's hand, +> the one wrapped four-fifths of the hotelier and ask, "Are you +> injured? Please keep an eye on your companion, I will summon for +> assistance." +> +> Standing up, Inky walks to a window, opens it and peers out. They +> look around for a hot air balloon and notice the unmoored airship. +> After squinting at it with a mini-spyglass, they see Alex standing +> at the helm of the ship with a young hemogoblin on board. Inky +> waves, and makes a vertical cross sign with a fist and thumb on the +> opposite upper arm a few times. Next, they pull out a small tin +> whistle, and toot a few sharp notes in the same cadence as the +> one-liner directed at Bread earlier by the gondola station. After a +> moment, a scops owl swoops in to land on the windowsill. Inky +> inserts a rolled piece of paper into a small pouch hanging at the +> bird's back, and the bird flies off again. +> +> Returning to the figures slumped against the wall, Inky places the +> Ginnarak crystal in a lightly padded cloth bag, stowing it away in +> their knapsack-style backpack. They resume checking and tending to +> the toques' injuries, while expounding upon various permutations of +> toasted bread to a captive audience. + +Bread closes their eyes and smiles dreamily at the descriptions of +various breads. They weakly sip the tea as you tip it into their +mouth and swallow with effort. + + + +They sigh and open their eyes. They focus on you and maintain eye +contact as you draw from a seemingly bottomless well of knowledge on +the topic of toasted breads. Bread and life are clinging fast to each +other, neither ready or willing to let go of the other. They are +going to be okay. + +Confidence's wounds are superficial. They are winded from dragging +Bread and the hotelier up seven flights of stairs. But they are fine. + +The hotelier's wounds are sadly quite fatal. Honestly it was all over +for him the moment he took the full force of the captain's plasma +canon to his chest. He babbles, "It's not ... I wasn't ..." And then +with sudden realization and quiet resignation, a clear-eyed, "Oh." +And then he is gone. + +His courage in the face of danger is the reason you now have the +third of the five Ginnarak Crystals in your pack. Whether or not his +death was in vain is now largely up to you and what you decide to do +with the crystal. + +~ + +Downstairs in the Great Hall of the library, one of the remaining +Cyberplasms crouches down next to the inert cybernetic eye that until +very recently belonged to their captain. They pick it up and turn it +over in their hand. "Worry not, my captain," the ghost mourns. "We +will find the quintessence. And once we do, we will be made anew in +the forge of our Mother." + +He rolls the orb in palm of his hand. A faint arc of energy crackles +across its surface. And the eye rolls over of its own volition and +looks up at the pirate. + +Suddenly reverent, the pirate gently places the eye on the ground as +a ghostly face begins to form around it. The pirate waits patiently, +attentively. It's not every day one gets to bare witness to a new +birth. The ectoplasm that gathers around the eye forms a rail-thin +body. Its head is bald and its face sports a neatly trimmed mustache. +It is missing an arm and a leg. + +Dutifully, the witness fetches a recently discarded arm canon and leg +booster. The exotica tap into the energy provided by a new crossing +over, and come online, and create a new mesh. + +The hotelier stands and looks down at its new body. As it were. It +looks around at its surroundings. It picks up a few books and starts +shelving them. + +The pirate, mostly wishing to provide companionship and comfort to +the new ghost, assists with tidying up. + +~ + +Alex, you are at the helm of the balloon-ship. As you start to drift +slightly up and away, the blue dome of the hotel comes into view. On +its peak you can see a life-sized statue of a stern-faced +Runesocesius wielding a spear, drawn back as though ready to hurl an +angry thunderbolt down at the world below. + +The hemogoblin is still down on the deck by the canons. You see it +waving cheerily at the library tower. You squint in that direction, +but can't see what has caught its attention. + +A small tufted-ear owl silently lands next to you breaking you from +your reverie. The owl is wearing a small harness with a pouch at the +back. Inside the pouch is a rolled piece of paper signed by Inky, up +on the seventh floor of the tower. + +You count seven windows up the side of the tower from its base. There +seems to be some movement inside, but you can't make much out from +here. With a lucky shot, you think you might be able to hook the +window frame with a zipline. + +~ + +Outside, a pink zephynos is spinning raw cloud into a minuscule opera +house and performing arts center under the direction of an amber imp +with a new hunger for life. It is an organic looking structure: a +primary concert hall, surrounded by a number of smaller stages and +performance areas spiraling out from the center like a nautilus +shell. + +The imp smiles happily, proudly. What tales will be told here! What +songs will be sung! "Lorehold," it whispers to itself. "You will tell +the world's stories." + +It is already trying out lines in its head, imagining the play it +will write of this day. About the hotel and the library and the +pirates and the cloud dragons. About a pair of adventurers. And a +very brave and lucky drone pilot that dared to chase its dreams. + +WHAT DO YOU DO + +[www](https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00252.html) + diff --git a/src/notes.md b/src/notes.md index fb33343..feb4558 100644 --- a/src/notes.md +++ b/src/notes.md @@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Each crystal has an associated *element*, a *location* appropriate to the elemen | -- |---------|-----------------------------|--------| | ✅ | earth | cave | coin | | ✅ | water | underwater pirate shipwreck | mirth | -| 🚫 | wind | cloudstuff | lore | +| ✅ | wind | cloudstuff | lore | | 🚫 | void | spaaaaace | craft | | 🚫 | fire | volcano | tact | diff --git a/www/index.html b/www/index.html index 9d68677..728de26 100644 --- a/www/index.html +++ b/www/index.html @@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ of the Were-Hare
  • 00046
  • 00047
  • 00048
    • +
  • 00049
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -352,10 +353,10 @@ Runesocesius

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 51977 words / 222 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +

    Total length: 53179 words / 227 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not just the story.)

    -

    There have been 171 messages posted over 169 days since the first +

    There have been 173 messages posted over 170 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.01.

    About

    This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -510,8 +511,9 @@ very soon!

    @@ -5476,6 +5478,127 @@ It was Bread’s idea. They were a good guide.”

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    +

    00049

    +
    +

    “They are a good guide,” Inky corrects adamantly. “Do you +hear that, Bread? You’re not allowed to disappear until you’ve had an +entire bag of these croutons, and even then you’re still not allowed. If +I’d known you’d never had croutons before I wouldn’t have let you walk a +step further into that hall. That was simultaneously the worst and best +idea ever. Mango! Croutons! What a travesty. Did you even taste any of +it? No? You have to! How can you offer guests delicious fondue without +croutons? Speaking of which, we haven’t gotten that fondue you promised +yet, that’s reason #144 you can’t disappear. What’s reason #143? +Crostinis. Small toasted bread. Slice of life. You can put cheese on it +too, if you really must …”

    +

    And so on. While Inky talks at Bread in a bid to keep them conscious, +they whisk out a first-aid kit from their courier bag and kneeling on +the floor, proceeds to stem the bleeding from the chest wound with +coagulant-coated bandages. Slowly, they tip a flask of tea infused with +some restorative herbs down Bread’s open mouth, careful not to pour too +quickly. Inky pauses mid-diatribe and mid-pour to thrust another flask +of tea into Confidence’s hand, the one wrapped four-fifths of the +hotelier and ask, “Are you injured? Please keep an eye on your +companion, I will summon for assistance.”

    +

    Standing up, Inky walks to a window, opens it and peers out. They +look around for a hot air balloon and notice the unmoored airship. After +squinting at it with a mini-spyglass, they see Alex standing at the helm +of the ship with a young hemogoblin on board. Inky waves, and makes a +vertical cross sign with a fist and thumb on the opposite upper arm a +few times. Next, they pull out a small tin whistle, and toot a few sharp +notes in the same cadence as the one-liner directed at Bread earlier by +the gondola station. After a moment, a scops owl swoops in to land on +the windowsill. Inky inserts a rolled piece of paper into a small pouch +hanging at the bird’s back, and the bird flies off again.

    +

    Returning to the figures slumped against the wall, Inky places the +Ginnarak crystal in a lightly padded cloth bag, stowing it away in their +knapsack-style backpack. They resume checking and tending to the toques’ +injuries, while expounding upon various permutations of toasted bread to +a captive audience.

    +
    +

    Bread closes their eyes and smiles dreamily at the descriptions of +various breads. They weakly sip the tea as you tip it into their mouth +and swallow with effort.

    + +

    They sigh and open their eyes. They focus on you and maintain eye +contact as you draw from a seemingly bottomless well of knowledge on the +topic of toasted breads. Bread and life are clinging fast to each other, +neither ready or willing to let go of the other. They are going to be +okay.

    +

    Confidence’s wounds are superficial. They are winded from dragging +Bread and the hotelier up seven flights of stairs. But they are +fine.

    +

    The hotelier’s wounds are sadly quite fatal. Honestly it was all over +for him the moment he took the full force of the captain’s plasma canon +to his chest. He babbles, “It’s not … I wasn’t …” And then with sudden +realization and quiet resignation, a clear-eyed, “Oh.” And then he is +gone.

    +

    His courage in the face of danger is the reason you now have the +third of the five Ginnarak Crystals in your pack. Whether or not his +death was in vain is now largely up to you and what you decide to do +with the crystal.

    +

    ~

    +

    Downstairs in the Great Hall of the library, one of the remaining +Cyberplasms crouches down next to the inert cybernetic eye that until +very recently belonged to their captain. They pick it up and turn it +over in their hand. “Worry not, my captain,” the ghost mourns. “We will +find the quintessence. And once we do, we will be made anew in the forge +of our Mother.”

    +

    He rolls the orb in palm of his hand. A faint arc of energy crackles +across its surface. And the eye rolls over of its own volition and looks +up at the pirate.

    +

    Suddenly reverent, the pirate gently places the eye on the ground as +a ghostly face begins to form around it. The pirate waits patiently, +attentively. It’s not every day one gets to bare witness to a new birth. +The ectoplasm that gathers around the eye forms a rail-thin body. Its +head is bald and its face sports a neatly trimmed mustache. It is +missing an arm and a leg.

    +

    Dutifully, the witness fetches a recently discarded arm canon and leg +booster. The exotica tap into the energy provided by a new crossing +over, and come online, and create a new mesh.

    +

    The hotelier stands and looks down at its new body. As it were. It +looks around at its surroundings. It picks up a few books and starts +shelving them.

    +

    The pirate, mostly wishing to provide companionship and comfort to +the new ghost, assists with tidying up.

    +

    ~

    +

    Alex, you are at the helm of the balloon-ship. As you start to drift +slightly up and away, the blue dome of the hotel comes into view. On its +peak you can see a life-sized statue of a stern-faced Runesocesius +wielding a spear, drawn back as though ready to hurl an angry +thunderbolt down at the world below.

    +

    The hemogoblin is still down on the deck by the canons. You see it +waving cheerily at the library tower. You squint in that direction, but +can’t see what has caught its attention.

    +

    A small tufted-ear owl silently lands next to you breaking you from +your reverie. The owl is wearing a small harness with a pouch at the +back. Inside the pouch is a rolled piece of paper signed by Inky, up on +the seventh floor of the tower.

    +

    You count seven windows up the side of the tower from its base. There +seems to be some movement inside, but you can’t make much out from here. +With a lucky shot, you think you might be able to hook the window frame +with a zipline.

    +

    ~

    +

    Outside, a pink zephynos is spinning raw cloud into a minuscule opera +house and performing arts center under the direction of an amber imp +with a new hunger for life. It is an organic looking structure: a +primary concert hall, surrounded by a number of smaller stages and +performance areas spiraling out from the center like a nautilus +shell.

    +

    The imp smiles happily, proudly. What tales will be told here! What +songs will be sung! “Lorehold,” it whispers to itself. “You will tell +the world’s stories.”

    +

    It is already trying out lines in its head, imagining the play it +will write of this day. About the hotel and the library and the pirates +and the cloud dragons. About a pair of adventurers. And a very brave and +lucky drone pilot that dared to chase its dreams.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    @@ -5850,8 +5973,9 @@ more gentle conclusion.

    Appendix A: Barefoot Quackery

    Being apocryphal and supplemental material posted to the Barefoot Quackery thread on tildepals, including depictions of loose pages -torn from books of the Runesocesius Library, and original fictions and -other diversions, and more.

    +torn from books of the Runesocesius Library during the assault by the +Cyberplasms, as well as original works of fiction and other +diversions.

    Cease and Desist

    To: durrendal
    diff --git a/www/rss.xml b/www/rss.xml index a1f48f3..ba45271 100644 --- a/www/rss.xml +++ b/www/rss.xml @@ -5,149 +5,6 @@ BASEMENT QWEST https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml Friends having ADVENTURES! Huzzah! - - 46 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 46 - Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:36:07 --0700 - Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:36:10 -0700 - - 00046 -

    -

    Ah so I suppose those Toques were being honest then, there - was a Ginnarak crystal, and I guess they were going to give it - to us.. oh well, nothing good in life comes easy.

    -

    Alex cranks the dial on the sunspoke, grabs the hemogoblin - from the basket, and jumps out of the balloon and onto the - deck of the ship. He rushes over to the nearest pile of - bundled rope and barrels and stows his new hemo friend. “Just - stay hidden little guy, let me take care of these pirates - first.”

    -

    Alex grabs the dagger from his side as he makes his way - towards the side of the ship, first thing first, best to cut - the mooring lines and zip lines. The static clawing sensation - appears at the back of Alex’s mind, but he attempts to ignore - it. There’s too much that needs to be done too quickly, and - he’s all too aware of the danger he’s put himself in. “What - would Corraidhin do..” Alex thinks to himself, “perhaps a - spell?”.

    - 
    function target:new(obj, tbl)
-  obj = obj or {}
-  setmetatable(obj, self)
-  self.__index = self
-  self.x = 0
-  self.y = 0
-  self.speed = 0
-  reutrn obj
-end
-
-function target:yeet()
-  self.x = 100
-  self.y = 100
-  self.speed = 50
-  return self
-end
    -

    After preparing the spell Alex makes his way towards the - guard rail ready to cut the mooring and zip lines, spell at - the ready should an enemy appear.

    -
    -

    You crank the dial to 11. The sunspoke squeals in delight - and burns like a tiny star. You grab the hemogoblin, who - chirrups and clings tightly to you, and leap from the balloon - onto the deck of the airship.

    -

    You think you can hear—barely audible—the sunspoke singing - a song of homecoming as the hot air balloon continues to rise - unpiloted up toward the sun.

    -

    You rush over to cover behind a barrel, and deposit your - new hemogoblin friend safely inside the center of a large coil - of rope. It looks up at you quizzically, but nods when you - tell it to stay put.

    -

    You invoke the powers of the moon and prepare a quick but - (hopefully) sufficient Spell of Yeeting.

    - -

    When you draw the dagger, the world develops a faint static - background noise which is easy enough to ignore at the moment - given the state of things. You dash forward and start sawing - at the thick mooring lines. The dagger’s ruby hilt flashes in - the sunlight as you work, and in your mind’s eye you see a - bright red wine, and a drop of blood red ink flowing from the - nib of a fountain pen.

    -

    You shake the images from your head just as you finish - sawing through the rope. A Cyberplasm who was shimmying back - up the rope from the hotel to the ship yelps as the line goes - slack and swings back into the side of the cliff. The pirate - rebounds from the impact, bounces off the mountainside a few - times, and falls from view as it disappears through the clouds - below.

    -

    The ship drifts lazily, rising slightly, and despite your - best sneaking around, the remaining Cyberplasms on board - cannot help but notice that the ship is no longer tethered. - You successfully hide behind a barrel as three cyber ghost - pirates come rushing over to the ship railing and lean over, - looking below at where there are no longer any ropes attaching - the ship to the hotel.

    -

    Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the hemogoblin - toddling across the deck toward the Cyberplasms, no doubt - curious about what they’re looking at over the side of the - ship.

    -
    -

    “Indeed, Bread, it’s me. You have not yet escaped your fate - of untraceable disappearance just yet.” Inky deadpans, then - smiles. “We have much to discuss, but later. I do need a guide - … to your hotelier. Presumably I will find them by following - the racket and trail of ruined decor, but maybe you know of a - quicker route?”

    -
    -

    Bread smiles at the threat of being untraceably - disappeared, mostly confident that they are on the inside of a - private little joke and that they are presently in no actual - danger from Inky. They grip their hammer a little tighter - nonetheless.

    -

    Confidence slips their trowels into their apron. “Yes, this - way!”

    -

    They hurry down the hall. You know you’re going the right - way because tattered, torn, charred books litter the ground in - increasing numbers. Bits of paper and ash fall like snow.

    -

    Confidence guides you away from the entrance to the - library’s Great Hall, and takes you instead to a smaller, more - discreet staff entrance. They open the door a crack, and as - you look through you are just in time to see the ship captain - with their cybernetic leg, arm canon, and eye. Now that the - crew have cleared the way for them, they stroll across the - library over piles of fallen, damaged books.

    -

    A thin bald man with a neatly trimmed mustache is on the - other side of the hall, his back turned to the pirate. He - wears a fine suit and has just finished unlocking a glass - display case. He retrieves a multifaceted blue and gold stone - and hugs it to his chest with both arms. He throws a panicked - glance over his shoulder at the slowly approaching pirate, and - turns to run away. His retreat is halted by a small explosion - at his feet. He skids to a stop and looks back at the pirate, - who is lowering their arm canon.

    -

    “The crystal,” the captain demands in a voice part ghostly - moan, part mechanical drone. “Hand it over, hotelier.” It - steps closer. “Mother has promised us new bodies if we deliver - the quintessence. You won’t be permitted to stand in our - way.”

    -

    One pirate near the breach tucks a couple volumes of manhwa - under its arm and climbs out onto the mooring line, returning - to the ship with its plunder. It howls as the line suddenly - goes slack, flinging the pirate and its comics into the - mountainside, and then out into space.

    -

    Sunlight pours into the library from outside as the shadow - of the airship shifts as it starts to drift, suddenly - unmoored.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> - - 42 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -297,6 +154,149 @@ ]]> + + 46 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 46 - Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:36:07 +-0700 + Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:36:10 -0700 + + 00046 +
    +

    Ah so I suppose those Toques were being honest then, there + was a Ginnarak crystal, and I guess they were going to give it + to us.. oh well, nothing good in life comes easy.

    +

    Alex cranks the dial on the sunspoke, grabs the hemogoblin + from the basket, and jumps out of the balloon and onto the + deck of the ship. He rushes over to the nearest pile of + bundled rope and barrels and stows his new hemo friend. “Just + stay hidden little guy, let me take care of these pirates + first.”

    +

    Alex grabs the dagger from his side as he makes his way + towards the side of the ship, first thing first, best to cut + the mooring lines and zip lines. The static clawing sensation + appears at the back of Alex’s mind, but he attempts to ignore + it. There’s too much that needs to be done too quickly, and + he’s all too aware of the danger he’s put himself in. “What + would Corraidhin do..” Alex thinks to himself, “perhaps a + spell?”.

    + 
    function target:new(obj, tbl)
+  obj = obj or {}
+  setmetatable(obj, self)
+  self.__index = self
+  self.x = 0
+  self.y = 0
+  self.speed = 0
+  reutrn obj
+end
+
+function target:yeet()
+  self.x = 100
+  self.y = 100
+  self.speed = 50
+  return self
+end
    +

    After preparing the spell Alex makes his way towards the + guard rail ready to cut the mooring and zip lines, spell at + the ready should an enemy appear.

    +
    +

    You crank the dial to 11. The sunspoke squeals in delight + and burns like a tiny star. You grab the hemogoblin, who + chirrups and clings tightly to you, and leap from the balloon + onto the deck of the airship.

    +

    You think you can hear—barely audible—the sunspoke singing + a song of homecoming as the hot air balloon continues to rise + unpiloted up toward the sun.

    +

    You rush over to cover behind a barrel, and deposit your + new hemogoblin friend safely inside the center of a large coil + of rope. It looks up at you quizzically, but nods when you + tell it to stay put.

    +

    You invoke the powers of the moon and prepare a quick but + (hopefully) sufficient Spell of Yeeting.

    + +

    When you draw the dagger, the world develops a faint static + background noise which is easy enough to ignore at the moment + given the state of things. You dash forward and start sawing + at the thick mooring lines. The dagger’s ruby hilt flashes in + the sunlight as you work, and in your mind’s eye you see a + bright red wine, and a drop of blood red ink flowing from the + nib of a fountain pen.

    +

    You shake the images from your head just as you finish + sawing through the rope. A Cyberplasm who was shimmying back + up the rope from the hotel to the ship yelps as the line goes + slack and swings back into the side of the cliff. The pirate + rebounds from the impact, bounces off the mountainside a few + times, and falls from view as it disappears through the clouds + below.

    +

    The ship drifts lazily, rising slightly, and despite your + best sneaking around, the remaining Cyberplasms on board + cannot help but notice that the ship is no longer tethered. + You successfully hide behind a barrel as three cyber ghost + pirates come rushing over to the ship railing and lean over, + looking below at where there are no longer any ropes attaching + the ship to the hotel.

    +

    Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the hemogoblin + toddling across the deck toward the Cyberplasms, no doubt + curious about what they’re looking at over the side of the + ship.

    +
    +

    “Indeed, Bread, it’s me. You have not yet escaped your fate + of untraceable disappearance just yet.” Inky deadpans, then + smiles. “We have much to discuss, but later. I do need a guide + … to your hotelier. Presumably I will find them by following + the racket and trail of ruined decor, but maybe you know of a + quicker route?”

    +
    +

    Bread smiles at the threat of being untraceably + disappeared, mostly confident that they are on the inside of a + private little joke and that they are presently in no actual + danger from Inky. They grip their hammer a little tighter + nonetheless.

    +

    Confidence slips their trowels into their apron. “Yes, this + way!”

    +

    They hurry down the hall. You know you’re going the right + way because tattered, torn, charred books litter the ground in + increasing numbers. Bits of paper and ash fall like snow.

    +

    Confidence guides you away from the entrance to the + library’s Great Hall, and takes you instead to a smaller, more + discreet staff entrance. They open the door a crack, and as + you look through you are just in time to see the ship captain + with their cybernetic leg, arm canon, and eye. Now that the + crew have cleared the way for them, they stroll across the + library over piles of fallen, damaged books.

    +

    A thin bald man with a neatly trimmed mustache is on the + other side of the hall, his back turned to the pirate. He + wears a fine suit and has just finished unlocking a glass + display case. He retrieves a multifaceted blue and gold stone + and hugs it to his chest with both arms. He throws a panicked + glance over his shoulder at the slowly approaching pirate, and + turns to run away. His retreat is halted by a small explosion + at his feet. He skids to a stop and looks back at the pirate, + who is lowering their arm canon.

    +

    “The crystal,” the captain demands in a voice part ghostly + moan, part mechanical drone. “Hand it over, hotelier.” It + steps closer. “Mother has promised us new bodies if we deliver + the quintessence. You won’t be permitted to stand in our + way.”

    +

    One pirate near the breach tucks a couple volumes of manhwa + under its arm and climbs out onto the mooring line, returning + to the ship with its plunder. It howls as the line suddenly + goes slack, flinging the pirate and its comics into the + mountainside, and then out into space.

    +

    Sunlight pours into the library from outside as the shadow + of the airship shifts as it starts to drift, suddenly + unmoored.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     47 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -525,157 +525,6 @@ ]]> - - 41 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 41 - Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:50:38 --0700 - Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:50:44 -0700 - - 00041 -
    -

    Alex grips the encoded message he received in reply to his - last request firmly in his coat pocket. It was simple, curt, - impactful. “Trust no one”. Which begged the question, could - even it be trusted? Was HQ compromised? His informants in - danger? His allies and leads awash in the dark grey mist of - uncertainity. Or had his message been intercepted, cracked, - and a farsical response been sent in its place. Alex wasn’t - certain which, but the strange format and unusually speedy - response had him on edge.

    -

    This anxiety didn’t boil up to the surface, not a line of - worry or hint of the inner turbulence broke his cold blue - eyes. Outwardly he was just as composed as ever, but between - these uncertainties, the loss of his uncle, and now this - utterly strange dagger he’d found amongst his uncle’s - belongings, he wasn’t certain how long that composure would - last. It didn’t held that he felt this gnawing at the back of - his mind, as though something was probing, attempting to - communicate with him, somewhere between telepathy and utter - magic, and not in any sense that Alex understood.

    -

    And here he stood, a stranger amongst amidst his uncle’s - allies, and very little intention to change that situation at - the moment.

    -

    As the gondola touched down and the Toques rushed to greet - them Alex jumped blithely off the ship and onto firm, but - fluffy, ground. He cast a look around him at what appeared to - be an ordinary port of entry, noting the crowds of people - passing by. As the Toques arrived Alex spoke curtly to them, - “Who sends you to greet us, and where do you wish to take us, - and by what means do we travel?”. Short, cut, information - only. There’s too much unnerving in an unknown situation like - this.

    -
    -

    ~

    -
    -

    Inky greets the toques in turn politely, then turns to the - second toque and says, “A little bit of bread and no - cheese.”

    -
    -

    “Cheese?” Bread cocks their head looks at Inky with a touch - of embarrassment. They start patting at their pockets, - presumably looking for a morsel of cheese to share with the - travelers, but finding none. They groan miserably. Confidence - butts in apologetically, “There will be plenty of food at the - hotel if you want some! Some delicious fondue perhaps? Kelsun - Peak’s famous liquid gold!”

    -

    “Blavin Blandfoot arranged for us to meet you,” Bread - answers Alex. Confidence nods enthusiastically in agreement. - “But I suppose technically the hotelier sent us.” Bread points - up at the sky, in the general direction of the summit of - Kelsun Peak. “We are to escort you to Palace Runesocesius.” - They thumb over their shoulder in the general direction of the - stairs. “By way of the cloud steps. On foot.”

    -

    Confidence leans in close and lowers their voice. “A - Ginnarak Crystal! I can’t hardly believe it! Thought they had - all been lost to the ages. I hear it’s complete dumb random - luck that this one turned up. Story is, an aetherwael beached - itself on some wide zephynos boulevard. Happens sometimes. - Poor things can’t distinguish between clouds and cloudstuff. I - don’t blame ’em! At a distance, you and me can’t either! - Anyway, this aetherwael has got a harpoon stuck in its side. - Dratted poachers. May they all fall out of the sky and be - dashed to a thousand pieces on the rocks below. But it had a - harpoon in its side and was trailing behind it a float bag - tethered to the harpoon. And you probably already guessed what - was inside of it!” By the time Confidence finishes their brief - story, they are trembling and nearly breathless with - excitement.

    -

    “Anyway,” Bread interrupts their excited companion in an - attempt to restore decorum. Both of the toques have been - gently herding you toward the base of the stairs this whole - time. “You know how the zephynos are. You could give them all - the coin in Basmentaria, or something priceless like a - Ginnarak Crystal, and they’d just as quickly misplace it out - of carelessness. If it’s not a cloud they can sculpt into the - shape of seussomorph or the likeness of some fantasy creature, - they just don’t give a fig. Luckily the hotelier caught wind - of the aetherwael and found out about the crystal before they - managed to lose it, or bury it inside of a sculpture or - something silly! He has it safe and sound in the library up at - Runesocesius now.” Bread climbs the first step, his foot - sinking barely a centimeter into wispy cloud before striking - the solid cloudstuff. “Come! The hotelier will be very excited - to greet you!”

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 44 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 44 - Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:47:08 --0700 - Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:47:11 -0700 - - 00044 -
    -

    As Alex spots the sunspoke valve he grabs it and cranks it - up to the 2/3 mark. “Sorry little friend, we’re going to need - a little bit more juice”. The baloon lurches upwards as air - rushes in feeding the sunspoke, causing it to burn more - intensely. After setting the sunspoke ablaze and shouting back - to the balloon’s owner Alex takes account of his surroundings. - It’s during this time he spots the bloodied, moving blankets. - They seem to writhe, as though something beneath them is - injured.

    -

    Gripping the dagger firmly in one hand Alex grabs the - blankets from the corner of the balloon basket revealing - whatever lay beneath.

    -
    -

    The sunspoke stretches its little arms and wriggles its - little fingers. It sighs happily, luxuriating in the extra - fuel. It burns twice as bright, shooting a hot jet of bright - yellow flame up into the parachute. The sunspoke starts to - glow a molten red, and you start to rise faster.

    -

    As you rise up over the peak, you can finally spot the - Runesocesius. The grand hotel is draped over the top of the - mountain, clinging to it like a dragon resting on its - hoard.

    -

    The “cyberplasms” as Confidence called them have docked to - the side of a tower on the other side of the peak from you. - They have shot a large hole in the side of the tower, and you - can see them now starting to zipline into the building. A - thick plume of black smoke billows out of the side of the - tower, carrying pages and pages of loose paper into the air - with it. They rain down like snow. The tower must house an - extensive library.

    -

    You cautiously pull back a corner of the bloody blankets, - jeweled dagger raised and ready to strike. You reveal a small - bloody furry blob. You see two big round eyes, a short-snouted - face, and enormous pointed ears. It quickly looks away from - you, chirps pathetically, and trembles as it cowers in place. - You have found a frightened hemogoblin stowaway!

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     48 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -914,6 +763,203 @@ ]]> + + 44 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 44 - Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:47:08 +-0700 + Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:47:11 -0700 + + 00044 +
    +

    As Alex spots the sunspoke valve he grabs it and cranks it + up to the 2/3 mark. “Sorry little friend, we’re going to need + a little bit more juice”. The baloon lurches upwards as air + rushes in feeding the sunspoke, causing it to burn more + intensely. After setting the sunspoke ablaze and shouting back + to the balloon’s owner Alex takes account of his surroundings. + It’s during this time he spots the bloodied, moving blankets. + They seem to writhe, as though something beneath them is + injured.

    +

    Gripping the dagger firmly in one hand Alex grabs the + blankets from the corner of the balloon basket revealing + whatever lay beneath.

    +
    +

    The sunspoke stretches its little arms and wriggles its + little fingers. It sighs happily, luxuriating in the extra + fuel. It burns twice as bright, shooting a hot jet of bright + yellow flame up into the parachute. The sunspoke starts to + glow a molten red, and you start to rise faster.

    +

    As you rise up over the peak, you can finally spot the + Runesocesius. The grand hotel is draped over the top of the + mountain, clinging to it like a dragon resting on its + hoard.

    +

    The “cyberplasms” as Confidence called them have docked to + the side of a tower on the other side of the peak from you. + They have shot a large hole in the side of the tower, and you + can see them now starting to zipline into the building. A + thick plume of black smoke billows out of the side of the + tower, carrying pages and pages of loose paper into the air + with it. They rain down like snow. The tower must house an + extensive library.

    +

    You cautiously pull back a corner of the bloody blankets, + jeweled dagger raised and ready to strike. You reveal a small + bloody furry blob. You see two big round eyes, a short-snouted + face, and enormous pointed ears. It quickly looks away from + you, chirps pathetically, and trembles as it cowers in place. + You have found a frightened hemogoblin stowaway!

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 49 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 49 - Thu, 29 Dec 2022 18:55:34 +-0700 + Fri, 30 Dec 2022 08:12:55 -0700 + + 00049 +
    +

    “They are a good guide,” Inky corrects adamantly. + “Do you hear that, Bread? You’re not allowed to disappear + until you’ve had an entire bag of these croutons, and even + then you’re still not allowed. If I’d known you’d never had + croutons before I wouldn’t have let you walk a step further + into that hall. That was simultaneously the worst and best + idea ever. Mango! Croutons! What a travesty. Did you even + taste any of it? No? You have to! How can you offer guests + delicious fondue without croutons? Speaking of which, we + haven’t gotten that fondue you promised yet, that’s reason + #144 you can’t disappear. What’s reason #143? Crostinis. Small + toasted bread. Slice of life. You can put cheese on it too, if + you really must …”

    +

    And so on. While Inky talks at Bread in a bid to keep them + conscious, they whisk out a first-aid kit from their courier + bag and kneeling on the floor, proceeds to stem the bleeding + from the chest wound with coagulant-coated bandages. Slowly, + they tip a flask of tea infused with some restorative herbs + down Bread’s open mouth, careful not to pour too quickly. Inky + pauses mid-diatribe and mid-pour to thrust another flask of + tea into Confidence’s hand, the one wrapped four-fifths of the + hotelier and ask, “Are you injured? Please keep an eye on your + companion, I will summon for assistance.”

    +

    Standing up, Inky walks to a window, opens it and peers + out. They look around for a hot air balloon and notice the + unmoored airship. After squinting at it with a mini-spyglass, + they see Alex standing at the helm of the ship with a young + hemogoblin on board. Inky waves, and makes a vertical cross + sign with a fist and thumb on the opposite upper arm a few + times. Next, they pull out a small tin whistle, and toot a few + sharp notes in the same cadence as the one-liner directed at + Bread earlier by the gondola station. After a moment, a scops + owl swoops in to land on the windowsill. Inky inserts a rolled + piece of paper into a small pouch hanging at the bird’s back, + and the bird flies off again.

    +

    Returning to the figures slumped against the wall, Inky + places the Ginnarak crystal in a lightly padded cloth bag, + stowing it away in their knapsack-style backpack. They resume + checking and tending to the toques’ injuries, while expounding + upon various permutations of toasted bread to a captive + audience.

    +
    +

    Bread closes their eyes and smiles dreamily at the + descriptions of various breads. They weakly sip the tea as you + tip it into their mouth and swallow with effort.

    + +

    They sigh and open their eyes. They focus on you and + maintain eye contact as you draw from a seemingly bottomless + well of knowledge on the topic of toasted breads. Bread and + life are clinging fast to each other, neither ready or willing + to let go of the other. They are going to be okay.

    +

    Confidence’s wounds are superficial. They are winded from + dragging Bread and the hotelier up seven flights of stairs. + But they are fine.

    +

    The hotelier’s wounds are sadly quite fatal. Honestly it + was all over for him the moment he took the full force of the + captain’s plasma canon to his chest. He babbles, “It’s not … I + wasn’t …” And then with sudden realization and quiet + resignation, a clear-eyed, “Oh.” And then he is gone.

    +

    His courage in the face of danger is the reason you now + have the third of the five Ginnarak Crystals in your pack. + Whether or not his death was in vain is now largely up to you + and what you decide to do with the crystal.

    +

    ~

    +

    Downstairs in the Great Hall of the library, one of the + remaining Cyberplasms crouches down next to the inert + cybernetic eye that until very recently belonged to their + captain. They pick it up and turn it over in their hand. + “Worry not, my captain,” the ghost mourns. “We will find the + quintessence. And once we do, we will be made anew in the + forge of our Mother.”

    +

    He rolls the orb in palm of his hand. A faint arc of energy + crackles across its surface. And the eye rolls over of its own + volition and looks up at the pirate.

    +

    Suddenly reverent, the pirate gently places the eye on the + ground as a ghostly face begins to form around it. The pirate + waits patiently, attentively. It’s not every day one gets to + bare witness to a new birth. The ectoplasm that gathers around + the eye forms a rail-thin body. Its head is bald and its face + sports a neatly trimmed mustache. It is missing an arm and a + leg.

    +

    Dutifully, the witness fetches a recently discarded arm + canon and leg booster. The exotica tap into the energy + provided by a new crossing over, and come online, and create a + new mesh.

    +

    The hotelier stands and looks down at its new body. As it + were. It looks around at its surroundings. It picks up a few + books and starts shelving them.

    +

    The pirate, mostly wishing to provide companionship and + comfort to the new ghost, assists with tidying up.

    +

    ~

    +

    Alex, you are at the helm of the balloon-ship. As you start + to drift slightly up and away, the blue dome of the hotel + comes into view. On its peak you can see a life-sized statue + of a stern-faced Runesocesius wielding a spear, drawn back as + though ready to hurl an angry thunderbolt down at the world + below.

    +

    The hemogoblin is still down on the deck by the canons. You + see it waving cheerily at the library tower. You squint in + that direction, but can’t see what has caught its + attention.

    +

    A small tufted-ear owl silently lands next to you breaking + you from your reverie. The owl is wearing a small harness with + a pouch at the back. Inside the pouch is a rolled piece of + paper signed by Inky, up on the seventh floor of the + tower.

    +

    You count seven windows up the side of the tower from its + base. There seems to be some movement inside, but you can’t + make much out from here. With a lucky shot, you think you + might be able to hook the window frame with a zipline.

    +

    ~

    +

    Outside, a pink zephynos is spinning raw cloud into a + minuscule opera house and performing arts center under the + direction of an amber imp with a new hunger for life. It is an + organic looking structure: a primary concert hall, surrounded + by a number of smaller stages and performance areas spiraling + out from the center like a nautilus shell.

    +

    The imp smiles happily, proudly. What tales will be told + here! What songs will be sung! “Lorehold,” it whispers to + itself. “You will tell the world’s stories.”

    +

    It is already trying out lines in its head, imagining the + play it will write of this day. About the hotel and the + library and the pirates and the cloud dragons. About a pair of + adventurers. And a very brave and lucky drone pilot that dared + to chase its dreams.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     39 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -1120,6 +1166,199 @@ ]]> + + 45 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 45 - Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:15:23 +-0700 + Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:29:11 -0700 + + 00045 +
    +

    As the blankets draw back from the bloody mass, a cute + little hemogoblin appears. “Aww little fellas just scared.” + Alex lowers the dagger, but otherwise ignores the hemogoblin. + Best to leave it be for now, there’s more important + things.

    +

    As the balloon gets within range of the ship Alex begins to + scan the deck for Cyberplasms. At the same time he checks his + bug to track the location of the cyberplasms more acutely. It + looks like there may be an opporunity to jump from the balloon + to the ship. After that cutting the zip lines would give me + the opporunity to steal the ship, leaving the cyberplasms + trapped at the top of the hotel.

    +
    +

    Just a few Cyberplasms remain on the deck of the airship. + The vast majority of them have zipped into the hotel + tower.

    +

    You check your bug’s feed. It has gone almost entirely + unnoticed in the fracas, and you are able to piece together a + clear picture of the inside of the tower. It is indeed a grand + library, its galleries spanning each floor of the tower. One + of the largest collections in all of Basmentaria.

    +

    The Cyberplasms have breached the tower near its base and + are pouring into the Great Hall. You tune in just in time to + see a rail-thin, bald and mustachioed man standing defensively + in front of a display case. “No! You can’t!” he exclaims as a + disembodied sickle approaches him in a cloud of electricity + and ectoplasm.

    +

    Behind the glass in the display case is a bluish hunk of + rock the size of a melon, with gently pulsing gold veins.

    +
    +

    Inky puts away the papers they caught in passing or picked + up along the path up to read later, including a number that + from a cursory glance appear to be from a culinary collection + and a few from some moth-eaten but finely illustrated + botanical tome, among others.

    +

    Eventually arriving at the hotel entrance, Inky enters and + manages to catch a frantic-looking attendant near the + reception to ask the whereabouts of the hotelier, indicating + they had a business appointment with said manager.

    +
    +

    You walk in through the hotel’s main entrance. The grandeur + would take your breath away were it not for the shouting and + the smoke and the explosions coming from down the hall to your + right.

    +

    You wave down a passing hotel clerk and inquire after the + hotelier. They are hauling a large bucket of hot water, and + carrying an oversized bundle of clean towels under one arm. + They pause for a moment to look at you incredulously before + running off in the opposite direction.

    +

    A cry rings out nearby and a Cyberplasm flies through an + open door down the hallway. It lands in a heap of crackling + energy, smears of ectoplasm streaking the floor as though it + were bleeding heavily. It seems to be barely held together by + the energy stored in its cybernetic leg and a metal skull + plate.

    +

    It scoots backwards on its hands and its butt, trying to + stand up. Two toques leap out of the door after it. You + recognize Bread and Confidence right away.

    +

    Bread has obviously been to the kitchens. They are wearing + tin baking sheets and an oversized pot on their heard as + makeshift armor, and have a couple of dangerous looking + kitchen knives hanging from their belt. At the moment they are + swinging a large meat tenderizer over their head as though it + were a war hammer.

    +

    Confidence, meanwhile, has been to the gardener’s shed. + They are wearing a heavy leather apron and thick leather + gloves, and have a trowel in each hand, and a large hoe or + rake strapped to their back.

    +

    Bread lowers their hammer on Cyberplasms head, denting the + skull plate. And Confidence darts in and stabs with both hands + at the leg. As soon as the prosthetics go offline and the + plasmic arcs cease firing, there is nothing left holding the + ectoplasm together and the ghost kind of dissipates into the + air with a soft wail.

    +

    They look up and notice you at the same time, relaxing + their offensive stances. “Oh!” cries Bread. “It’s you!”

    +

    “You don’t happen,” asks Confidence, “to need a guide, do + you?”

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 41 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 41 - Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:50:38 +-0700 + Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:50:44 -0700 + + 00041 +
    +

    Alex grips the encoded message he received in reply to his + last request firmly in his coat pocket. It was simple, curt, + impactful. “Trust no one”. Which begged the question, could + even it be trusted? Was HQ compromised? His informants in + danger? His allies and leads awash in the dark grey mist of + uncertainity. Or had his message been intercepted, cracked, + and a farsical response been sent in its place. Alex wasn’t + certain which, but the strange format and unusually speedy + response had him on edge.

    +

    This anxiety didn’t boil up to the surface, not a line of + worry or hint of the inner turbulence broke his cold blue + eyes. Outwardly he was just as composed as ever, but between + these uncertainties, the loss of his uncle, and now this + utterly strange dagger he’d found amongst his uncle’s + belongings, he wasn’t certain how long that composure would + last. It didn’t held that he felt this gnawing at the back of + his mind, as though something was probing, attempting to + communicate with him, somewhere between telepathy and utter + magic, and not in any sense that Alex understood.

    +

    And here he stood, a stranger amongst amidst his uncle’s + allies, and very little intention to change that situation at + the moment.

    +

    As the gondola touched down and the Toques rushed to greet + them Alex jumped blithely off the ship and onto firm, but + fluffy, ground. He cast a look around him at what appeared to + be an ordinary port of entry, noting the crowds of people + passing by. As the Toques arrived Alex spoke curtly to them, + “Who sends you to greet us, and where do you wish to take us, + and by what means do we travel?”. Short, cut, information + only. There’s too much unnerving in an unknown situation like + this.

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    Inky greets the toques in turn politely, then turns to the + second toque and says, “A little bit of bread and no + cheese.”

    +
    +

    “Cheese?” Bread cocks their head looks at Inky with a touch + of embarrassment. They start patting at their pockets, + presumably looking for a morsel of cheese to share with the + travelers, but finding none. They groan miserably. Confidence + butts in apologetically, “There will be plenty of food at the + hotel if you want some! Some delicious fondue perhaps? Kelsun + Peak’s famous liquid gold!”

    +

    “Blavin Blandfoot arranged for us to meet you,” Bread + answers Alex. Confidence nods enthusiastically in agreement. + “But I suppose technically the hotelier sent us.” Bread points + up at the sky, in the general direction of the summit of + Kelsun Peak. “We are to escort you to Palace Runesocesius.” + They thumb over their shoulder in the general direction of the + stairs. “By way of the cloud steps. On foot.”

    +

    Confidence leans in close and lowers their voice. “A + Ginnarak Crystal! I can’t hardly believe it! Thought they had + all been lost to the ages. I hear it’s complete dumb random + luck that this one turned up. Story is, an aetherwael beached + itself on some wide zephynos boulevard. Happens sometimes. + Poor things can’t distinguish between clouds and cloudstuff. I + don’t blame ’em! At a distance, you and me can’t either! + Anyway, this aetherwael has got a harpoon stuck in its side. + Dratted poachers. May they all fall out of the sky and be + dashed to a thousand pieces on the rocks below. But it had a + harpoon in its side and was trailing behind it a float bag + tethered to the harpoon. And you probably already guessed what + was inside of it!” By the time Confidence finishes their brief + story, they are trembling and nearly breathless with + excitement.

    +

    “Anyway,” Bread interrupts their excited companion in an + attempt to restore decorum. Both of the toques have been + gently herding you toward the base of the stairs this whole + time. “You know how the zephynos are. You could give them all + the coin in Basmentaria, or something priceless like a + Ginnarak Crystal, and they’d just as quickly misplace it out + of carelessness. If it’s not a cloud they can sculpt into the + shape of seussomorph or the likeness of some fantasy creature, + they just don’t give a fig. Luckily the hotelier caught wind + of the aetherwael and found out about the crystal before they + managed to lose it, or bury it inside of a sculpture or + something silly! He has it safe and sound in the library up at + Runesocesius now.” Bread climbs the first step, his foot + sinking barely a centimeter into wispy cloud before striking + the solid cloudstuff. “Come! The hotelier will be very excited + to greet you!”

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     40 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -1322,100 +1561,6 @@ EXTREME CAUTION IMPERATIVE. ]]> - - 45 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 45 - Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:15:23 --0700 - Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:29:11 -0700 - - 00045 -
    -

    As the blankets draw back from the bloody mass, a cute - little hemogoblin appears. “Aww little fellas just scared.” - Alex lowers the dagger, but otherwise ignores the hemogoblin. - Best to leave it be for now, there’s more important - things.

    -

    As the balloon gets within range of the ship Alex begins to - scan the deck for Cyberplasms. At the same time he checks his - bug to track the location of the cyberplasms more acutely. It - looks like there may be an opporunity to jump from the balloon - to the ship. After that cutting the zip lines would give me - the opporunity to steal the ship, leaving the cyberplasms - trapped at the top of the hotel.

    -
    -

    Just a few Cyberplasms remain on the deck of the airship. - The vast majority of them have zipped into the hotel - tower.

    -

    You check your bug’s feed. It has gone almost entirely - unnoticed in the fracas, and you are able to piece together a - clear picture of the inside of the tower. It is indeed a grand - library, its galleries spanning each floor of the tower. One - of the largest collections in all of Basmentaria.

    -

    The Cyberplasms have breached the tower near its base and - are pouring into the Great Hall. You tune in just in time to - see a rail-thin, bald and mustachioed man standing defensively - in front of a display case. “No! You can’t!” he exclaims as a - disembodied sickle approaches him in a cloud of electricity - and ectoplasm.

    -

    Behind the glass in the display case is a bluish hunk of - rock the size of a melon, with gently pulsing gold veins.

    -
    -

    Inky puts away the papers they caught in passing or picked - up along the path up to read later, including a number that - from a cursory glance appear to be from a culinary collection - and a few from some moth-eaten but finely illustrated - botanical tome, among others.

    -

    Eventually arriving at the hotel entrance, Inky enters and - manages to catch a frantic-looking attendant near the - reception to ask the whereabouts of the hotelier, indicating - they had a business appointment with said manager.

    -
    -

    You walk in through the hotel’s main entrance. The grandeur - would take your breath away were it not for the shouting and - the smoke and the explosions coming from down the hall to your - right.

    -

    You wave down a passing hotel clerk and inquire after the - hotelier. They are hauling a large bucket of hot water, and - carrying an oversized bundle of clean towels under one arm. - They pause for a moment to look at you incredulously before - running off in the opposite direction.

    -

    A cry rings out nearby and a Cyberplasm flies through an - open door down the hallway. It lands in a heap of crackling - energy, smears of ectoplasm streaking the floor as though it - were bleeding heavily. It seems to be barely held together by - the energy stored in its cybernetic leg and a metal skull - plate.

    -

    It scoots backwards on its hands and its butt, trying to - stand up. Two toques leap out of the door after it. You - recognize Bread and Confidence right away.

    -

    Bread has obviously been to the kitchens. They are wearing - tin baking sheets and an oversized pot on their heard as - makeshift armor, and have a couple of dangerous looking - kitchen knives hanging from their belt. At the moment they are - swinging a large meat tenderizer over their head as though it - were a war hammer.

    -

    Confidence, meanwhile, has been to the gardener’s shed. - They are wearing a heavy leather apron and thick leather - gloves, and have a trowel in each hand, and a large hoe or - rake strapped to their back.

    -

    Bread lowers their hammer on Cyberplasms head, denting the - skull plate. And Confidence darts in and stabs with both hands - at the leg. As soon as the prosthetics go offline and the - plasmic arcs cease firing, there is nothing left holding the - ectoplasm together and the ghost kind of dissipates into the - air with a soft wail.

    -

    They look up and notice you at the same time, relaxing - their offensive stances. “Oh!” cries Bread. “It’s you!”

    -

    “You don’t happen,” asks Confidence, “to need a guide, do - you?”

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     38 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) diff --git a/www/spoilers.html b/www/spoilers.html index 6913587..6e6c9de 100644 --- a/www/spoilers.html +++ b/www/spoilers.html @@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ of the Were-Hare
  • 00046
  • 00047
  • 00048
    • +
  • 00049
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -355,10 +356,10 @@ Runesocesius

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 51977 words / 222 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +

    Total length: 53179 words / 227 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not just the story.)

    -

    There have been 171 messages posted over 169 days since the first +

    There have been 173 messages posted over 170 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.01.

    About

    This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -513,8 +514,9 @@ very soon!

    • Player: mio
      • -
    • XP: 1
      • -
    • Skills: Do Anything 1, Persuasive 2, Plantomancy 2, Throwing 2
      • +
    • XP: 0
      • +
    • Skills: Do Anything 1, Persuasive 2, Plantomancy 2, Throwing 2, +Medicine 2
    • Equipment: Handy Duffer Discette, Fine Feathered Quills, Jade Tea Set, Mountain Range Glyph Ink, Bead of the Werehare
    @@ -5479,6 +5481,127 @@ It was Bread’s idea. They were a good guide.”

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    +

    00049

    +
    +

    “They are a good guide,” Inky corrects adamantly. “Do you +hear that, Bread? You’re not allowed to disappear until you’ve had an +entire bag of these croutons, and even then you’re still not allowed. If +I’d known you’d never had croutons before I wouldn’t have let you walk a +step further into that hall. That was simultaneously the worst and best +idea ever. Mango! Croutons! What a travesty. Did you even taste any of +it? No? You have to! How can you offer guests delicious fondue without +croutons? Speaking of which, we haven’t gotten that fondue you promised +yet, that’s reason #144 you can’t disappear. What’s reason #143? +Crostinis. Small toasted bread. Slice of life. You can put cheese on it +too, if you really must …”

    +

    And so on. While Inky talks at Bread in a bid to keep them conscious, +they whisk out a first-aid kit from their courier bag and kneeling on +the floor, proceeds to stem the bleeding from the chest wound with +coagulant-coated bandages. Slowly, they tip a flask of tea infused with +some restorative herbs down Bread’s open mouth, careful not to pour too +quickly. Inky pauses mid-diatribe and mid-pour to thrust another flask +of tea into Confidence’s hand, the one wrapped four-fifths of the +hotelier and ask, “Are you injured? Please keep an eye on your +companion, I will summon for assistance.”

    +

    Standing up, Inky walks to a window, opens it and peers out. They +look around for a hot air balloon and notice the unmoored airship. After +squinting at it with a mini-spyglass, they see Alex standing at the helm +of the ship with a young hemogoblin on board. Inky waves, and makes a +vertical cross sign with a fist and thumb on the opposite upper arm a +few times. Next, they pull out a small tin whistle, and toot a few sharp +notes in the same cadence as the one-liner directed at Bread earlier by +the gondola station. After a moment, a scops owl swoops in to land on +the windowsill. Inky inserts a rolled piece of paper into a small pouch +hanging at the bird’s back, and the bird flies off again.

    +

    Returning to the figures slumped against the wall, Inky places the +Ginnarak crystal in a lightly padded cloth bag, stowing it away in their +knapsack-style backpack. They resume checking and tending to the toques’ +injuries, while expounding upon various permutations of toasted bread to +a captive audience.

    +
    +

    Bread closes their eyes and smiles dreamily at the descriptions of +various breads. They weakly sip the tea as you tip it into their mouth +and swallow with effort.

    + +

    They sigh and open their eyes. They focus on you and maintain eye +contact as you draw from a seemingly bottomless well of knowledge on the +topic of toasted breads. Bread and life are clinging fast to each other, +neither ready or willing to let go of the other. They are going to be +okay.

    +

    Confidence’s wounds are superficial. They are winded from dragging +Bread and the hotelier up seven flights of stairs. But they are +fine.

    +

    The hotelier’s wounds are sadly quite fatal. Honestly it was all over +for him the moment he took the full force of the captain’s plasma canon +to his chest. He babbles, “It’s not … I wasn’t …” And then with sudden +realization and quiet resignation, a clear-eyed, “Oh.” And then he is +gone.

    +

    His courage in the face of danger is the reason you now have the +third of the five Ginnarak Crystals in your pack. Whether or not his +death was in vain is now largely up to you and what you decide to do +with the crystal.

    +

    ~

    +

    Downstairs in the Great Hall of the library, one of the remaining +Cyberplasms crouches down next to the inert cybernetic eye that until +very recently belonged to their captain. They pick it up and turn it +over in their hand. “Worry not, my captain,” the ghost mourns. “We will +find the quintessence. And once we do, we will be made anew in the forge +of our Mother.”

    +

    He rolls the orb in palm of his hand. A faint arc of energy crackles +across its surface. And the eye rolls over of its own volition and looks +up at the pirate.

    +

    Suddenly reverent, the pirate gently places the eye on the ground as +a ghostly face begins to form around it. The pirate waits patiently, +attentively. It’s not every day one gets to bare witness to a new birth. +The ectoplasm that gathers around the eye forms a rail-thin body. Its +head is bald and its face sports a neatly trimmed mustache. It is +missing an arm and a leg.

    +

    Dutifully, the witness fetches a recently discarded arm canon and leg +booster. The exotica tap into the energy provided by a new crossing +over, and come online, and create a new mesh.

    +

    The hotelier stands and looks down at its new body. As it were. It +looks around at its surroundings. It picks up a few books and starts +shelving them.

    +

    The pirate, mostly wishing to provide companionship and comfort to +the new ghost, assists with tidying up.

    +

    ~

    +

    Alex, you are at the helm of the balloon-ship. As you start to drift +slightly up and away, the blue dome of the hotel comes into view. On its +peak you can see a life-sized statue of a stern-faced Runesocesius +wielding a spear, drawn back as though ready to hurl an angry +thunderbolt down at the world below.

    +

    The hemogoblin is still down on the deck by the canons. You see it +waving cheerily at the library tower. You squint in that direction, but +can’t see what has caught its attention.

    +

    A small tufted-ear owl silently lands next to you breaking you from +your reverie. The owl is wearing a small harness with a pouch at the +back. Inside the pouch is a rolled piece of paper signed by Inky, up on +the seventh floor of the tower.

    +

    You count seven windows up the side of the tower from its base. There +seems to be some movement inside, but you can’t make much out from here. +With a lucky shot, you think you might be able to hook the window frame +with a zipline.

    +

    ~

    +

    Outside, a pink zephynos is spinning raw cloud into a minuscule opera +house and performing arts center under the direction of an amber imp +with a new hunger for life. It is an organic looking structure: a +primary concert hall, surrounded by a number of smaller stages and +performance areas spiraling out from the center like a nautilus +shell.

    +

    The imp smiles happily, proudly. What tales will be told here! What +songs will be sung! “Lorehold,” it whispers to itself. “You will tell +the world’s stories.”

    +

    It is already trying out lines in its head, imagining the play it +will write of this day. About the hotel and the library and the pirates +and the cloud dragons. About a pair of adventurers. And a very brave and +lucky drone pilot that dared to chase its dreams.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    @@ -5925,7 +6048,7 @@ guardian and their minions.

    mirth -🚫 +✅ wind cloudstuff lore @@ -6001,8 +6124,9 @@ more gentle conclusion.

    Appendix A: Barefoot Quackery

    Being apocryphal and supplemental material posted to the Barefoot Quackery thread on tildepals, including depictions of loose pages -torn from books of the Runesocesius Library, and original fictions and -other diversions, and more.

    +torn from books of the Runesocesius Library during the assault by the +Cyberplasms, as well as original works of fiction and other +diversions.

    Cease and Desist

    To: durrendal