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@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ src/epistolary/00065.md
src/epistolary/00066.md src/epistolary/00066.md
src/epistolary/00067.md src/epistolary/00067.md
src/epistolary/00068.md src/epistolary/00068.md
src/epistolary/00069.md
src/notes.md src/notes.md
src/acknowledgements.md src/acknowledgements.md
src/afterword.md src/afterword.md

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@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
---
title: 00069
created: Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:16:46 -0700
updated: Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:16:46 -0700
public: yes
syndicated: yes
---
### 00069 {#00069}
> Inky offers the cat person a bemused half-smile, then turns to the
> sysorcerer. "We hope you are well. Young Master Alex has been
> searching for you. He had planned on coming, but had to attend to an
> urgent matter on short notice."
>
> A pause, then Inky slides an open envelope — a plain affair with a
> grid of tiny blue dots, and a single sheet of a similar pattern
> inside — across the table towards the wizard. They continue, "If
> there is anything you wish to tell him, you can write it in a
> language only you two understand and seal the envelope. This one will
> do their best to pass on the message." They wave another identical
> envelope, indicating the message will be copied once sealed before
> pocketing it again.
>
> "If you do decide to write, please do it promptly. This one will be
> departing shortly, and the envelope in front of you will disappear,"
> they inform the sysorcerer with an apologetic look and a tinge of
> sadness.
>
> To the self-proclaimed double agent, Inky replies, "Thanks for the
> information. Master Alex will be positively ecstatic with the news."
> They send the hobbit a lopsided smile. "Nevertheless, you will
> understand if the party would like to consider your proposal further
> before providing an answer. Haste makes waste, as proverbs say.
> Perhaps your pirate captain would agree. My condolences."
>
> Ignoring the proffered dice, Inky bids the group at the table good
> evening and exits the club by the same route with which they had
> entered, trying to stave off the growing unease at the back of their
> mind.
>
> ~
>
> Three corridors later, one with a high vaulted ceiling away from the
> din of the gambling club, Inky slows their brisk trot and hands Fuko
> the envelope. The owl grips the item, dives down and drops it onto
> the thick carpet. She places the back of one feet lightly over a
> corner of the envelope, deftly slicing open the top layer along one
> edge with a claw. Working quickly, she pulls out the contents with
> her beak, smoothing out the sheet with a brush of her wings. Next,
> she flies in a slow circle above the papers a few times before
> descending again upon the papers and dragging them into a cake tin.
> Finally, the bird pops the lid over the container, where the paper
> within turns into dry compost.
>
> "It's confidential. Please do not decode." Inky says as a reminder
> from their spot near the end of the corridor.
>
> Fuko levels an unimpressed look at her companion, as if to say, *Yes,
> for the twenty-fourth time.* Inky smiles back at her and asks, "Is
> your *boss* satisfied now?" The smile widens briefly at the indignant
> screech and clicks in response, then vanish as the events of the past
> few moments caught up to them again. Here in a hallway brightly lit
> by glow lamps away from any windows, the howling winds are a distant
> echo, but it did not stop Inky from wondering.
>
> It had been a risk, dallying around longer to give the elder wizard
> time to say his piece in writing. No one could have missed the
> disappointment written clearly on his face when he realised his
> nephew hadn't come. Now, from Fuko's sparse recount of what their
> tails had found, the candle had burned down, releasing something
> somewhere, yet none of the others had woken up. It would appear that
> Master Alex had not left the Dreaming at all, but was in another area
> doing Neddas-only-knows-what.
>
> They stare up at the large central chandelier in the next room with
> thousands of crystal beads that gleam like tiny droplets suspended in
> the air. Orange shirt and blue shorts have since been replaced with a
> red brimmed hat and blue duffel coat, the drawstring pouch tied below
> the collar, and running shoes with red rain boots. The mess of ginger
> hair is trimmed to a caramel crop.
>
> When the owl settles again on their shoulder, stirring Inky from
> their thoughts, they collect the cake tin, remove the lid and look
> inside. From a pocket of their coat, they pull out three seeds and
> nudge them with two fingers into the soil. Descending a flight of
> stairs, Inky sets the dousojin, grown to the size of a boulder, and
> the tin on a side table. They pour seaweed tea into the tin from a
> glass bottle, then refill the bottle with small fish-shaped crackers,
> corking and placing it beside the tin.
>
> "Thank you, Great Spirit. This useless one will take their leave now,
> and apologises if they have accidentally 'left the door open' for
> something to blow in that should not be here." Inky says.
>
> They turn to the great horned owl. "Impeccable as ever, both of you.
> Thanks for coming along tonight. You may go, Fuko. When you wake
> yourself or with Futa's help, please get into the carrier as quickly
> as you can, activate the connection and leave immediately. Sever it
> as soon as you arrive safely. Forget about pulling off the patch
> under my forearm, it can be delivered later, or he can have the body
> sent over eventually. Leave and don't look back." Then, more airily,
> "Should we meet again, Inky the Insolent shall bring you a large 'rat
> at two eels'. How's that for a handsome reward?"
~
> Alex takes the amulet solemnly "Alright, now that's something I can
> believe in." he says as he turns the locket over in his hand. The
> golden veins shimmer and pulse inside of the pale blue. Alex dons the
> necklace, noting that the stone is warm, almost exactly body
> temperature. "Alright Neddas, you've got yourself a deal. I'll finish
> assembling the crystals, we'll haul you back out to Basementaria. And
> it sounds like we're cracking a few eggs along the way thanks to
> this".
>
> The howling interrupts, growing louder, becoming a cacaphony of
> tormented banshee wails. The gray expanse of sand fills with a vile
> wind, a thick almost physical wall of dark black smog closes in.
> Neddas, is nowhere to be found.
>
> Alex dips down and scoops up the little Katsuva, tucking him into the
> ruck sack at his side. "Hang tight little guy, I think the ride out
> of here's going to get bumpy.."
>
> In a single swift motion Alex pulls back the bolt on his AK74u and
> levels it at the smog, letting loose a sustained volley of gunfire.
> Bullets whiz with a defeaning RATATATAT. While laying down
> suppressing fire, he pulls the little console back up to his side
> with a short wave of the hand. A single command is all he needs here.
When Alex pulls up his terminal he sees a notification blinking in
the corner of the screen. A message from Corraidhín?
The howling wind abruptly stops and the smog quickly dissipates.
~
In the fish market, Alex and Inky both wake with a start, gasping for
breath as though drowning.
It is dark. The lights are all out but it looks as through Marvelo
has dropped some flairs on the ground. They fill the room with an
eerie, crackling red glow.
It is not quiet. The antiques dealer / spymaster has a couple of
cords of rope and a couple loose blankets coiled around his arms and
legs. He is shaking them off while screaming obscenities and
repeatedly firing a blaster pistol at a large, roaring abomination
standing in the center of the room.
The nightmare has an almost fetal-looking head with a long, bulbous
skull that looks far too large for its body. A single eye glares
malevolently from the center of its small face. Oily feathers drip
from a thin, sagging membrane that runs from wrist to ankle. Its
leathery skin cracks and oozes from repeated shots to the torso from
Marvelo's blaster, but it seems unbothered by the attack.
It screeches and lunges forward and swings one massive arm at
Marvelo. Its leathery, feathery wing slices through the air like a
billowing cape behind its claws. Marvelo jumps to the side at the
last moment, firing another shot right into the creature's chest
while in midair, and lands on the ground.
Now prone and helpless on the floor, he looks up as the beast looms
over him. It screeches and falls on top of him, shoving its slender
hands into his mouth. Marvelo's muffled screams become pitiful
whimpers as the creature pulls out teeth by the handful and crams
them into its own mouth.
WHAT DO YOU DO?

144
www/index.html
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@ -259,6 +259,10 @@
summary p { summary p {
display: inline; display: inline;
} }
li:has(> input[checked]) {
text-decoration: line-through;
color: lightgray;
}
</style> </style>
<!--[if lt IE 9]> <!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/html5shiv/3.7.3/html5shiv-printshiv.min.js"></script> <script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/html5shiv/3.7.3/html5shiv-printshiv.min.js"></script>
@ -292,6 +296,7 @@
<li><a href="#00066" id="toc-00066">00066</a></li> <li><a href="#00066" id="toc-00066">00066</a></li>
<li><a href="#00067" id="toc-00067">00067</a></li> <li><a href="#00067" id="toc-00067">00067</a></li>
<li><a href="#00068" id="toc-00068">00068</a></li> <li><a href="#00068" id="toc-00068">00068</a></li>
<li><a href="#00069" id="toc-00069">00069</a></li>
</ul></li> </ul></li>
<li><a href="#afterword" id="toc-afterword">Afterword</a></li> <li><a href="#afterword" id="toc-afterword">Afterword</a></li>
<li><a href="#appendix-a-dramatis-personae" <li><a href="#appendix-a-dramatis-personae"
@ -365,10 +370,10 @@ into the <a href="#current-story">current story arc</a>.</p>
you can <a href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml">subscribe to you can <a href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml">subscribe to
the rss feed</a>.</p> the rss feed</a>.</p>
<h2 id="stats">Stats</h2> <h2 id="stats">Stats</h2>
<p>Total length: 87969 words / 375 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the <p>Total length: 89395 words / 382 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not
just the story.)</p> just the story.)</p>
<p>There have been 236 messages posted over 231 days since the first <p>There have been 238 messages posted over 233 days since the first
post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.02.</p> post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.02.</p>
<h2 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h2> <h2 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h2>
<p>This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.</p> <p>This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.</p>
@ -7392,6 +7397,141 @@ red standard has been</code></pre>
<p>You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and <p>You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and
battering at the windows.</p> battering at the windows.</p>
<p>“Well?” Balvin prompts. “What do you do?”</p> <p>“Well?” Balvin prompts. “What do you do?”</p>
<h3 id="00069">00069</h3>
<blockquote>
<p>Inky offers the cat person a bemused half-smile, then turns to the
sysorcerer. “We hope you are well. Young Master Alex has been searching
for you. He had planned on coming, but had to attend to an urgent matter
on short notice.”</p>
<p>A pause, then Inky slides an open envelope — a plain affair with a
grid of tiny blue dots, and a single sheet of a similar pattern inside —
across the table towards the wizard. They continue, “If there is
anything you wish to tell him, you can write it in a language only you
two understand and seal the envelope. This one will do their best to
pass on the message.” They wave another identical envelope, indicating
the message will be copied once sealed before pocketing it again.</p>
<p>“If you do decide to write, please do it promptly. This one will be
departing shortly, and the envelope in front of you will disappear,”
they inform the sysorcerer with an apologetic look and a tinge of
sadness.</p>
<p>To the self-proclaimed double agent, Inky replies, “Thanks for the
information. Master Alex will be positively ecstatic with the news.”
They send the hobbit a lopsided smile. “Nevertheless, you will
understand if the party would like to consider your proposal further
before providing an answer. Haste makes waste, as proverbs say. Perhaps
your pirate captain would agree. My condolences.”</p>
<p>Ignoring the proffered dice, Inky bids the group at the table good
evening and exits the club by the same route with which they had
entered, trying to stave off the growing unease at the back of their
mind.</p>
<p>~</p>
<p>Three corridors later, one with a high vaulted ceiling away from the
din of the gambling club, Inky slows their brisk trot and hands Fuko the
envelope. The owl grips the item, dives down and drops it onto the thick
carpet. She places the back of one feet lightly over a corner of the
envelope, deftly slicing open the top layer along one edge with a claw.
Working quickly, she pulls out the contents with her beak, smoothing out
the sheet with a brush of her wings. Next, she flies in a slow circle
above the papers a few times before descending again upon the papers and
dragging them into a cake tin. Finally, the bird pops the lid over the
container, where the paper within turns into dry compost.</p>
<p>“It’s confidential. Please do not decode.” Inky says as a reminder
from their spot near the end of the corridor.</p>
<p>Fuko levels an unimpressed look at her companion, as if to say,
<em>Yes, for the twenty-fourth time.</em> Inky smiles back at her and
asks, “Is your <em>boss</em> satisfied now?” The smile widens briefly at
the indignant screech and clicks in response, then vanish as the events
of the past few moments caught up to them again. Here in a hallway
brightly lit by glow lamps away from any windows, the howling winds are
a distant echo, but it did not stop Inky from wondering.</p>
<p>It had been a risk, dallying around longer to give the elder wizard
time to say his piece in writing. No one could have missed the
disappointment written clearly on his face when he realised his nephew
hadn’t come. Now, from Fuko’s sparse recount of what their tails had
found, the candle had burned down, releasing something somewhere, yet
none of the others had woken up. It would appear that Master Alex had
not left the Dreaming at all, but was in another area doing
Neddas-only-knows-what.</p>
<p>They stare up at the large central chandelier in the next room with
thousands of crystal beads that gleam like tiny droplets suspended in
the air. Orange shirt and blue shorts have since been replaced with a
red brimmed hat and blue duffel coat, the drawstring pouch tied below
the collar, and running shoes with red rain boots. The mess of ginger
hair is trimmed to a caramel crop.</p>
<p>When the owl settles again on their shoulder, stirring Inky from
their thoughts, they collect the cake tin, remove the lid and look
inside. From a pocket of their coat, they pull out three seeds and nudge
them with two fingers into the soil. Descending a flight of stairs, Inky
sets the dousojin, grown to the size of a boulder, and the tin on a side
table. They pour seaweed tea into the tin from a glass bottle, then
refill the bottle with small fish-shaped crackers, corking and placing
it beside the tin.</p>
<p>“Thank you, Great Spirit. This useless one will take their leave now,
and apologises if they have accidentally ‘left the door open’ for
something to blow in that should not be here.” Inky says.</p>
<p>They turn to the great horned owl. “Impeccable as ever, both of you.
Thanks for coming along tonight. You may go, Fuko. When you wake
yourself or with Futa’s help, please get into the carrier as quickly as
you can, activate the connection and leave immediately. Sever it as soon
as you arrive safely. Forget about pulling off the patch under my
forearm, it can be delivered later, or he can have the body sent over
eventually. Leave and don’t look back.” Then, more airily, “Should we
meet again, Inky the Insolent shall bring you a large ‘rat at two eels’.
How’s that for a handsome reward?”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Alex takes the amulet solemnly “Alright, now that’s something I can
believe in.” he says as he turns the locket over in his hand. The golden
veins shimmer and pulse inside of the pale blue. Alex dons the necklace,
noting that the stone is warm, almost exactly body temperature. “Alright
Neddas, you’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll finish assembling the crystals,
we’ll haul you back out to Basementaria. And it sounds like we’re
cracking a few eggs along the way thanks to this”.</p>
<p>The howling interrupts, growing louder, becoming a cacaphony of
tormented banshee wails. The gray expanse of sand fills with a vile
wind, a thick almost physical wall of dark black smog closes in. Neddas,
is nowhere to be found.</p>
<p>Alex dips down and scoops up the little Katsuva, tucking him into the
ruck sack at his side. “Hang tight little guy, I think the ride out of
here’s going to get bumpy..”</p>
<p>In a single swift motion Alex pulls back the bolt on his AK74u and
levels it at the smog, letting loose a sustained volley of gunfire.
Bullets whiz with a defeaning RATATATAT. While laying down suppressing
fire, he pulls the little console back up to his side with a short wave
of the hand. A single command is all he needs here.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When Alex pulls up his terminal he sees a notification blinking in
the corner of the screen. A message from Corraidhín?</p>
<p>The howling wind abruptly stops and the smog quickly dissipates.</p>
<p>~</p>
<p>In the fish market, Alex and Inky both wake with a start, gasping for
breath as though drowning.</p>
<p>It is dark. The lights are all out but it looks as through Marvelo
has dropped some flairs on the ground. They fill the room with an eerie,
crackling red glow.</p>
<p>It is not quiet. The antiques dealer / spymaster has a couple of
cords of rope and a couple loose blankets coiled around his arms and
legs. He is shaking them off while screaming obscenities and repeatedly
firing a blaster pistol at a large, roaring abomination standing in the
center of the room.</p>
<p>The nightmare has an almost fetal-looking head with a long, bulbous
skull that looks far too large for its body. A single eye glares
malevolently from the center of its small face. Oily feathers drip from
a thin, sagging membrane that runs from wrist to ankle. Its leathery
skin cracks and oozes from repeated shots to the torso from Marvelo’s
blaster, but it seems unbothered by the attack.</p>
<p>It screeches and lunges forward and swings one massive arm at
Marvelo. Its leathery, feathery wing slices through the air like a
billowing cape behind its claws. Marvelo jumps to the side at the last
moment, firing another shot right into the creature’s chest while in
midair, and lands on the ground.</p>
<p>Now prone and helpless on the floor, he looks up as the beast looms
over him. It screeches and falls on top of him, shoving its slender
hands into his mouth. Marvelo’s muffled screams become pitiful whimpers
as the creature pulls out teeth by the handful and crams them into its
own mouth.</p>
<p>WHAT DO YOU DO?</p>
<h2 id="afterword">Afterword</h2> <h2 id="afterword">Afterword</h2>
<p>I don’t know what I’m going to put here, but I didn’t want this <p>I don’t know what I’m going to put here, but I didn’t want this
document to just abruptly end. So here you go: a kind farewell and a document to just abruptly end. So here you go: a kind farewell and a

1476
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146
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@ -296,6 +296,7 @@
<li><a href="#00066" id="toc-00066">00066</a></li> <li><a href="#00066" id="toc-00066">00066</a></li>
<li><a href="#00067" id="toc-00067">00067</a></li> <li><a href="#00067" id="toc-00067">00067</a></li>
<li><a href="#00068" id="toc-00068">00068</a></li> <li><a href="#00068" id="toc-00068">00068</a></li>
<li><a href="#00069" id="toc-00069">00069</a></li>
</ul></li> </ul></li>
<li><a href="#spoilers" id="toc-spoilers">Spoilers</a></li> <li><a href="#spoilers" id="toc-spoilers">Spoilers</a></li>
<li><a href="#acknowledgements" <li><a href="#acknowledgements"
@ -372,10 +373,10 @@ into the <a href="#current-story">current story arc</a>.</p>
you can <a href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml">subscribe to you can <a href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml">subscribe to
the rss feed</a>.</p> the rss feed</a>.</p>
<h2 id="stats">Stats</h2> <h2 id="stats">Stats</h2>
<p>Total length: 87972 words / 375 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the <p>Total length: 89395 words / 382 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not
just the story.)</p> just the story.)</p>
<p>There have been 236 messages posted over 231 days since the first <p>There have been 238 messages posted over 233 days since the first
post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.02.</p> post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.02.</p>
<h2 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h2> <h2 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h2>
<p>This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.</p> <p>This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.</p>
@ -7399,6 +7400,141 @@ red standard has been</code></pre>
<p>You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and <p>You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and
battering at the windows.</p> battering at the windows.</p>
<p>“Well?” Balvin prompts. “What do you do?”</p> <p>“Well?” Balvin prompts. “What do you do?”</p>
<h3 id="00069">00069</h3>
<blockquote>
<p>Inky offers the cat person a bemused half-smile, then turns to the
sysorcerer. “We hope you are well. Young Master Alex has been searching
for you. He had planned on coming, but had to attend to an urgent matter
on short notice.”</p>
<p>A pause, then Inky slides an open envelope — a plain affair with a
grid of tiny blue dots, and a single sheet of a similar pattern inside —
across the table towards the wizard. They continue, “If there is
anything you wish to tell him, you can write it in a language only you
two understand and seal the envelope. This one will do their best to
pass on the message.” They wave another identical envelope, indicating
the message will be copied once sealed before pocketing it again.</p>
<p>“If you do decide to write, please do it promptly. This one will be
departing shortly, and the envelope in front of you will disappear,”
they inform the sysorcerer with an apologetic look and a tinge of
sadness.</p>
<p>To the self-proclaimed double agent, Inky replies, “Thanks for the
information. Master Alex will be positively ecstatic with the news.”
They send the hobbit a lopsided smile. “Nevertheless, you will
understand if the party would like to consider your proposal further
before providing an answer. Haste makes waste, as proverbs say. Perhaps
your pirate captain would agree. My condolences.”</p>
<p>Ignoring the proffered dice, Inky bids the group at the table good
evening and exits the club by the same route with which they had
entered, trying to stave off the growing unease at the back of their
mind.</p>
<p>~</p>
<p>Three corridors later, one with a high vaulted ceiling away from the
din of the gambling club, Inky slows their brisk trot and hands Fuko the
envelope. The owl grips the item, dives down and drops it onto the thick
carpet. She places the back of one feet lightly over a corner of the
envelope, deftly slicing open the top layer along one edge with a claw.
Working quickly, she pulls out the contents with her beak, smoothing out
the sheet with a brush of her wings. Next, she flies in a slow circle
above the papers a few times before descending again upon the papers and
dragging them into a cake tin. Finally, the bird pops the lid over the
container, where the paper within turns into dry compost.</p>
<p>“It’s confidential. Please do not decode.” Inky says as a reminder
from their spot near the end of the corridor.</p>
<p>Fuko levels an unimpressed look at her companion, as if to say,
<em>Yes, for the twenty-fourth time.</em> Inky smiles back at her and
asks, “Is your <em>boss</em> satisfied now?” The smile widens briefly at
the indignant screech and clicks in response, then vanish as the events
of the past few moments caught up to them again. Here in a hallway
brightly lit by glow lamps away from any windows, the howling winds are
a distant echo, but it did not stop Inky from wondering.</p>
<p>It had been a risk, dallying around longer to give the elder wizard
time to say his piece in writing. No one could have missed the
disappointment written clearly on his face when he realised his nephew
hadn’t come. Now, from Fuko’s sparse recount of what their tails had
found, the candle had burned down, releasing something somewhere, yet
none of the others had woken up. It would appear that Master Alex had
not left the Dreaming at all, but was in another area doing
Neddas-only-knows-what.</p>
<p>They stare up at the large central chandelier in the next room with
thousands of crystal beads that gleam like tiny droplets suspended in
the air. Orange shirt and blue shorts have since been replaced with a
red brimmed hat and blue duffel coat, the drawstring pouch tied below
the collar, and running shoes with red rain boots. The mess of ginger
hair is trimmed to a caramel crop.</p>
<p>When the owl settles again on their shoulder, stirring Inky from
their thoughts, they collect the cake tin, remove the lid and look
inside. From a pocket of their coat, they pull out three seeds and nudge
them with two fingers into the soil. Descending a flight of stairs, Inky
sets the dousojin, grown to the size of a boulder, and the tin on a side
table. They pour seaweed tea into the tin from a glass bottle, then
refill the bottle with small fish-shaped crackers, corking and placing
it beside the tin.</p>
<p>“Thank you, Great Spirit. This useless one will take their leave now,
and apologises if they have accidentally ‘left the door open’ for
something to blow in that should not be here.” Inky says.</p>
<p>They turn to the great horned owl. “Impeccable as ever, both of you.
Thanks for coming along tonight. You may go, Fuko. When you wake
yourself or with Futa’s help, please get into the carrier as quickly as
you can, activate the connection and leave immediately. Sever it as soon
as you arrive safely. Forget about pulling off the patch under my
forearm, it can be delivered later, or he can have the body sent over
eventually. Leave and don’t look back.” Then, more airily, “Should we
meet again, Inky the Insolent shall bring you a large ‘rat at two eels’.
How’s that for a handsome reward?”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Alex takes the amulet solemnly “Alright, now that’s something I can
believe in.” he says as he turns the locket over in his hand. The golden
veins shimmer and pulse inside of the pale blue. Alex dons the necklace,
noting that the stone is warm, almost exactly body temperature. “Alright
Neddas, you’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll finish assembling the crystals,
we’ll haul you back out to Basementaria. And it sounds like we’re
cracking a few eggs along the way thanks to this”.</p>
<p>The howling interrupts, growing louder, becoming a cacaphony of
tormented banshee wails. The gray expanse of sand fills with a vile
wind, a thick almost physical wall of dark black smog closes in. Neddas,
is nowhere to be found.</p>
<p>Alex dips down and scoops up the little Katsuva, tucking him into the
ruck sack at his side. “Hang tight little guy, I think the ride out of
here’s going to get bumpy..”</p>
<p>In a single swift motion Alex pulls back the bolt on his AK74u and
levels it at the smog, letting loose a sustained volley of gunfire.
Bullets whiz with a defeaning RATATATAT. While laying down suppressing
fire, he pulls the little console back up to his side with a short wave
of the hand. A single command is all he needs here.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When Alex pulls up his terminal he sees a notification blinking in
the corner of the screen. A message from Corraidhín?</p>
<p>The howling wind abruptly stops and the smog quickly dissipates.</p>
<p>~</p>
<p>In the fish market, Alex and Inky both wake with a start, gasping for
breath as though drowning.</p>
<p>It is dark. The lights are all out but it looks as through Marvelo
has dropped some flairs on the ground. They fill the room with an eerie,
crackling red glow.</p>
<p>It is not quiet. The antiques dealer / spymaster has a couple of
cords of rope and a couple loose blankets coiled around his arms and
legs. He is shaking them off while screaming obscenities and repeatedly
firing a blaster pistol at a large, roaring abomination standing in the
center of the room.</p>
<p>The nightmare has an almost fetal-looking head with a long, bulbous
skull that looks far too large for its body. A single eye glares
malevolently from the center of its small face. Oily feathers drip from
a thin, sagging membrane that runs from wrist to ankle. Its leathery
skin cracks and oozes from repeated shots to the torso from Marvelo’s
blaster, but it seems unbothered by the attack.</p>
<p>It screeches and lunges forward and swings one massive arm at
Marvelo. Its leathery, feathery wing slices through the air like a
billowing cape behind its claws. Marvelo jumps to the side at the last
moment, firing another shot right into the creature’s chest while in
midair, and lands on the ground.</p>
<p>Now prone and helpless on the floor, he looks up as the beast looms
over him. It screeches and falls on top of him, shoving its slender
hands into his mouth. Marvelo’s muffled screams become pitiful whimpers
as the creature pulls out teeth by the handful and crams them into its
own mouth.</p>
<p>WHAT DO YOU DO?</p>
<h2 id="spoilers">Spoilers</h2> <h2 id="spoilers">Spoilers</h2>
<details> <details>
<summary> <summary>
@ -7526,14 +7662,14 @@ blood, demon</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />palindromes: taco cat, reward <li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />palindromes: taco cat, reward
drawer, tin unit, lap pal, evil olive</li> drawer, tin unit, lap pal, evil olive</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />The Benefactor is Nullar</li> <li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />The Benefactor is Nullar</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />Blavin is a secret agent,
working for the Golden Iris, a secret society that wants to ‘create
balance’ by creating a fourth god</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />Nullar got tired of being a god <li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" />Nullar got tired of being a god
and wanted to die, and Neddas agreed to help him. Shit went bad and and wanted to die, and Neddas agreed to help him. Shit went bad and
turned Liandt to stone, and Nullar’s leg to stone. Now Nullar is trying turned Liandt to stone, and Nullar’s leg to stone. Now Nullar is trying
to gather the Ginnarak crystals to assemble the <em>God Slayer</em> to to gather the Ginnarak crystals to assemble the <em>God Slayer</em> to
attempt once more to end his own life.</li> attempt once more to end his own life.</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" checked="" />Blavin is a secret
agent, working for the Golden Iris, a secret society that wants to
‘create balance’ by creating a fourth god</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" checked="" />the BAND (Birds Are <li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" checked="" />the BAND (Birds Are
Not Dinosaurs) and the BATT (Birds Are Time Travelers) conspiracy</li> Not Dinosaurs) and the BATT (Birds Are Time Travelers) conspiracy</li>
<li><input type="checkbox" disabled="" <li><input type="checkbox" disabled=""