From 5185a2789ecdd10d9c3b21c21da7e0ad3381cc47 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Christopher P. Brown" Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:12:10 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] 43, 44 --- basement.order | 2 + src/epistolary/00043.md | 110 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ src/epistolary/00044.md | 52 +++++++++++++ www/index.html | 131 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- www/rss.xml | 163 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www/spoilers.html | 131 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- 6 files changed, 583 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) create mode 100644 src/epistolary/00043.md create mode 100644 src/epistolary/00044.md diff --git a/basement.order b/basement.order index 7284721..4a4da0c 100644 --- a/basement.order +++ b/basement.order @@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ src/epistolary/00039.md src/epistolary/00040.md src/epistolary/00041.md src/epistolary/00042.md +src/epistolary/00043.md +src/epistolary/00044.md src/bestiary/index.md src/bestiary/aur.md src/bestiary/blahoblin.md diff --git a/src/epistolary/00043.md b/src/epistolary/00043.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ef30c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/epistolary/00043.md @@ -0,0 +1,110 @@ +--- +title: 00043 +created: Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:03:20 -0700 +updated: Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:03:25 -0700 +syndicated: yes +public: yes +--- +### 00043 {#00043} + +> Pirates?! Again?! Alex groans, unfortunately he's run into this crew +> of dastardly mostly cybernetic punks in the past. Nasty group back +> home, always kept the precinct busy. Not necessarily with the +> detective work, it was always a little obvious when they showed up. +> They have a flair for the dramatic. +> +> Alex shouts to Inky & Jarrod "Come on, we need to get in one of those +> balloons and fast!" he then darts off in the direction of the nearest +> abandoned balloon in the market place, not looking to see if his +> companions had followed him. +> +> *internally* I know these guys have pulled off smaller heists, they +> could just be attacking the hotel to plunder riches from its guests. +> They don't seem the likes of a retrieval team.. Then again, that +> Blavin fellow has multiple teams working for him, and he doesn't seem +> all too picky about how they get the job done, it wouldn't be +> surprising if he'd hired some brigands hoping they'd get the gems +> faster. +> +> Alex conjures up another bug, a stag beetle this time, and casts it +> away at the pirate ship. It'll probably take some time to catch up, +> but once it does we'll be able to keep an eye on the pirate's ship +> and general actions, at least within line of sight of the bug. +> +> As Alex reaches the balloon he grabs the ruby hilted dagger and cuts +> the mooring lines keeping it down, and jumps into the basket +> preparing for take off. + +You spot a balloon that has already been knocked half loose of its +mooring by the pirate attack. The basket is listing to the side and +tugging at the one remaining rope tying it down Its owner scurries +around in circles trying to secure it. + +The vertical panels of the balloon are all different colors, creating +a brilliant rainbow pattern. The large woven basket is large enough +for maybe three people. + +You leap inside, swinging the ruby hilted dagger at the remaining +mooring line. The balloon owner cries out in dismay. The basket +shifts beneath your feet as the balloon tugs it skyward. + +In the burner, a small sunspoke---a minor fire elemental---is merrily +burning away, producing a modest flame that is hot enough to lift the +balloon slowly above the market into the sky. There is a knob valve +on the side of the burner to allow more oxygen to flow in, thereby +feeding the sunspoke and encouraging it to burn more intensely and +raise the balloon higher and faster. The valve is currently only +about one third open. + +A pile of blankets in one corner of the basket---and that area of the +basket itself---is covered in blood. Somebody injured in the pirate +attack must have temporarily climbed into the basket looking for +cover? As you're about to look away, something large-ish (small for a +human, large for an animal) under the blankets shifts and moves. + +> Inky stares after Alex's sprinting figure before shrugging and +> stepping towards one of the stalls selling sandwiches bowled over +> by one of the large boulders. They place some loose change on the +> stall's wooden sign that had tipped over on the ground and pocket +> one of the sandwiches displayed inside an open chest oven. Next, +> they pick up several of the scented candles scattered on the ground +> by the crash, throwing some coins in the direction of the +> disoriented vendor before continuing at a leisurely pace up the +> steps to the hotel, taking in the balloonship and surrounding +> scenery. The members of their merry party arriving first can hold +> their own as well as the fort of a hotel. + +You do a little leisurely shopping as the vendors and other shoppers +put out fires and tend to the injured. With a couple scented candles +and a sandwich safely in your pocket, you start to climb the cloud +steps, enjoying the scenery as you go. Bread and Confidence have +quite a bit of a head start on you, and are nowhere to be seen. As +the stairway winds around the mountainside, the market and its bustle +recede from view, and soon you are quite isolated and alone. + +The majesty of creation is humbling here: the endless, roiling ocean +of cloud; the towering mountain of rock. It's as though this was the +creator's playground when they were still trying to figure out scale. +Before they quite got it right for human-sized creatures. + +About halfway up your climb, it starts raining sheets of paper. You +snatch one and read it. Some heroic fantasy about slaying demons and +facing great peril. You grab another. A bodice-ripping romance. +Another. A gourmand's food tour of Basmentaria, eating their way from +coast to coast. A murder mystery whodunnit. An aetherwael handler's +guide to interplanetary travel. How to grow your own fortified +pumpkins. On the Care and Maintenance of Fortles. The Rise and Fall +and Rise of Palace Runesocesius. Within a minute, you have fists full +of an entire library's worth of snippets and passages. + +~ + +It looks as though Alex will approach the hotel by balloon from the +non-pirate side. And Inky's approach by stair will deposit them at +the hotel entrance, roughly pirate-adjacent. + +WHAT DO YOU DO + +[www](https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00217.html) + + diff --git a/src/epistolary/00044.md b/src/epistolary/00044.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6396b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/epistolary/00044.md @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +--- +title: 00044 +created: Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:47:08 -0700 +updated: Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:47:11 -0700 +syndicated: yes +public: yes +--- +### 00044 {#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](https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00219.html) + + + diff --git a/www/index.html b/www/index.html index 201726b..2aa3039 100644 --- a/www/index.html +++ b/www/index.html @@ -251,6 +251,8 @@ of the Were-Hare
  • 00040
  • 00041
  • 00042
    • +
  • 00043
    • +
  • 00044
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -260,11 +262,11 @@ of the Were-Hare

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 41570 words / 177 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +

    Total length: 42782 words / 182 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 148 messages posted over 157 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .94.

    +

    There have been 155 messages posted over 160 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .96.

    About

    This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over email.

    @@ -4778,6 +4780,129 @@ bounding up the cloudstuff steps.

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    +

    00043

    +
    +

    Pirates?! Again?! Alex groans, unfortunately he’s run into this crew +of dastardly mostly cybernetic punks in the past. Nasty group back home, +always kept the precinct busy. Not necessarily with the detective work, +it was always a little obvious when they showed up. They have a flair +for the dramatic.

    +

    Alex shouts to Inky & Jarrod “Come on, we need to get in one of +those balloons and fast!” he then darts off in the direction of the +nearest abandoned balloon in the market place, not looking to see if his +companions had followed him.

    +

    internally I know these guys have pulled off smaller heists, +they could just be attacking the hotel to plunder riches from its +guests. They don’t seem the likes of a retrieval team.. Then again, that +Blavin fellow has multiple teams working for him, and he doesn’t seem +all too picky about how they get the job done, it wouldn’t be surprising +if he’d hired some brigands hoping they’d get the gems faster.

    +

    Alex conjures up another bug, a stag beetle this time, and casts it +away at the pirate ship. It’ll probably take some time to catch up, but +once it does we’ll be able to keep an eye on the pirate’s ship and +general actions, at least within line of sight of the bug.

    +

    As Alex reaches the balloon he grabs the ruby hilted dagger and cuts +the mooring lines keeping it down, and jumps into the basket preparing +for take off.

    +
    +

    You spot a balloon that has already been knocked half loose of its +mooring by the pirate attack. The basket is listing to the side and +tugging at the one remaining rope tying it down Its owner scurries +around in circles trying to secure it.

    +

    The vertical panels of the balloon are all different colors, creating +a brilliant rainbow pattern. The large woven basket is large enough for +maybe three people.

    +

    You leap inside, swinging the ruby hilted dagger at the remaining +mooring line. The balloon owner cries out in dismay. The basket shifts +beneath your feet as the balloon tugs it skyward.

    +

    In the burner, a small sunspoke—a minor fire elemental—is merrily +burning away, producing a modest flame that is hot enough to lift the +balloon slowly above the market into the sky. There is a knob valve on +the side of the burner to allow more oxygen to flow in, thereby feeding +the sunspoke and encouraging it to burn more intensely and raise the +balloon higher and faster. The valve is currently only about one third +open.

    +

    A pile of blankets in one corner of the basket—and that area of the +basket itself—is covered in blood. Somebody injured in the pirate attack +must have temporarily climbed into the basket looking for cover? As +you’re about to look away, something large-ish (small for a human, large +for an animal) under the blankets shifts and moves.

    +
    +

    Inky stares after Alex’s sprinting figure before shrugging and +stepping towards one of the stalls selling sandwiches bowled over by one +of the large boulders. They place some loose change on the stall’s +wooden sign that had tipped over on the ground and pocket one of the +sandwiches displayed inside an open chest oven. Next, they pick up +several of the scented candles scattered on the ground by the crash, +throwing some coins in the direction of the disoriented vendor before +continuing at a leisurely pace up the steps to the hotel, taking in the +balloonship and surrounding scenery. The members of their merry party +arriving first can hold their own as well as the fort of a hotel.

    +
    +

    You do a little leisurely shopping as the vendors and other shoppers +put out fires and tend to the injured. With a couple scented candles and +a sandwich safely in your pocket, you start to climb the cloud steps, +enjoying the scenery as you go. Bread and Confidence have quite a bit of +a head start on you, and are nowhere to be seen. As the stairway winds +around the mountainside, the market and its bustle recede from view, and +soon you are quite isolated and alone.

    +

    The majesty of creation is humbling here: the endless, roiling ocean +of cloud; the towering mountain of rock. It’s as though this was the +creator’s playground when they were still trying to figure out scale. +Before they quite got it right for human-sized creatures.

    +

    About halfway up your climb, it starts raining sheets of paper. You +snatch one and read it. Some heroic fantasy about slaying demons and +facing great peril. You grab another. A bodice-ripping romance. Another. +A gourmand’s food tour of Basmentaria, eating their way from coast to +coast. A murder mystery whodunnit. An aetherwael handler’s guide to +interplanetary travel. How to grow your own fortified pumpkins. On the +Care and Maintenance of Fortles. The Rise and Fall and Rise of Palace +Runesocesius. Within a minute, you have fists full of an entire +library’s worth of snippets and passages.

    +

    ~

    +

    It looks as though Alex will approach the hotel by balloon from the +non-pirate side. And Inky’s approach by stair will deposit them at the +hotel entrance, roughly pirate-adjacent.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    +

    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

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    diff --git a/www/rss.xml b/www/rss.xml index a5d7590..f907b4e 100644 --- a/www/rss.xml +++ b/www/rss.xml @@ -154,6 +154,169 @@ ]]> + + 43 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 43 - Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:03:20 +-0700 + Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:03:25 -0700 + + 00043 +
    +

    Pirates?! Again?! Alex groans, unfortunately he’s run into + this crew of dastardly mostly cybernetic punks in the past. + Nasty group back home, always kept the precinct busy. Not + necessarily with the detective work, it was always a little + obvious when they showed up. They have a flair for the + dramatic.

    +

    Alex shouts to Inky & Jarrod “Come on, we need to get + in one of those balloons and fast!” he then darts off in the + direction of the nearest abandoned balloon in the market + place, not looking to see if his companions had followed + him.

    +

    internally I know these guys have pulled off + smaller heists, they could just be attacking the hotel to + plunder riches from its guests. They don’t seem the likes of a + retrieval team.. Then again, that Blavin fellow has multiple + teams working for him, and he doesn’t seem all too picky about + how they get the job done, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’d + hired some brigands hoping they’d get the gems faster.

    +

    Alex conjures up another bug, a stag beetle this time, and + casts it away at the pirate ship. It’ll probably take some + time to catch up, but once it does we’ll be able to keep an + eye on the pirate’s ship and general actions, at least within + line of sight of the bug.

    +

    As Alex reaches the balloon he grabs the ruby hilted dagger + and cuts the mooring lines keeping it down, and jumps into the + basket preparing for take off.

    +
    +

    You spot a balloon that has already been knocked half loose + of its mooring by the pirate attack. The basket is listing to + the side and tugging at the one remaining rope tying it down + Its owner scurries around in circles trying to secure it.

    +

    The vertical panels of the balloon are all different + colors, creating a brilliant rainbow pattern. The large woven + basket is large enough for maybe three people.

    +

    You leap inside, swinging the ruby hilted dagger at the + remaining mooring line. The balloon owner cries out in dismay. + The basket shifts beneath your feet as the balloon tugs it + skyward.

    +

    In the burner, a small sunspoke—a minor fire elemental—is + merrily burning away, producing a modest flame that is hot + enough to lift the balloon slowly above the market into the + sky. There is a knob valve on the side of the burner to allow + more oxygen to flow in, thereby feeding the sunspoke and + encouraging it to burn more intensely and raise the balloon + higher and faster. The valve is currently only about one third + open.

    +

    A pile of blankets in one corner of the basket—and that + area of the basket itself—is covered in blood. Somebody + injured in the pirate attack must have temporarily climbed + into the basket looking for cover? As you’re about to look + away, something large-ish (small for a human, large for an + animal) under the blankets shifts and moves.

    +
    +

    Inky stares after Alex’s sprinting figure before shrugging + and stepping towards one of the stalls selling sandwiches + bowled over by one of the large boulders. They place some + loose change on the stall’s wooden sign that had tipped over + on the ground and pocket one of the sandwiches displayed + inside an open chest oven. Next, they pick up several of the + scented candles scattered on the ground by the crash, throwing + some coins in the direction of the disoriented vendor before + continuing at a leisurely pace up the steps to the hotel, + taking in the balloonship and surrounding scenery. The members + of their merry party arriving first can hold their own as well + as the fort of a hotel.

    +
    +

    You do a little leisurely shopping as the vendors and other + shoppers put out fires and tend to the injured. With a couple + scented candles and a sandwich safely in your pocket, you + start to climb the cloud steps, enjoying the scenery as you + go. Bread and Confidence have quite a bit of a head start on + you, and are nowhere to be seen. As the stairway winds around + the mountainside, the market and its bustle recede from view, + and soon you are quite isolated and alone.

    +

    The majesty of creation is humbling here: the endless, + roiling ocean of cloud; the towering mountain of rock. It’s as + though this was the creator’s playground when they were still + trying to figure out scale. Before they quite got it right for + human-sized creatures.

    +

    About halfway up your climb, it starts raining sheets of + paper. You snatch one and read it. Some heroic fantasy about + slaying demons and facing great peril. You grab another. A + bodice-ripping romance. Another. A gourmand’s food tour of + Basmentaria, eating their way from coast to coast. A murder + mystery whodunnit. An aetherwael handler’s guide to + interplanetary travel. How to grow your own fortified + pumpkins. On the Care and Maintenance of Fortles. The Rise and + Fall and Rise of Palace Runesocesius. Within a minute, you + have fists full of an entire library’s worth of snippets and + passages.

    +

    ~

    +

    It looks as though Alex will approach the hotel by balloon + from the non-pirate side. And Inky’s approach by stair will + deposit them at the hotel entrance, roughly + pirate-adjacent.

    +

    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

    + ]]> +     +     39 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) diff --git a/www/spoilers.html b/www/spoilers.html index 0757eab..e665cdc 100644 --- a/www/spoilers.html +++ b/www/spoilers.html @@ -251,6 +251,8 @@ of the Were-Hare
  • 00040
  • 00041
  • 00042
    • +
  • 00043
    • +
  • 00044
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -263,11 +265,11 @@ id="toc-acknowledgements">Acknowledgements

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 41570 words / 177 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +

    Total length: 42782 words / 182 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 148 messages posted over 157 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .94.

    +

    There have been 155 messages posted over 160 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .96.

    About

    This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over email.

    @@ -4781,6 +4783,129 @@ bounding up the cloudstuff steps.

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    +

    00043

    +
    +

    Pirates?! Again?! Alex groans, unfortunately he’s run into this crew +of dastardly mostly cybernetic punks in the past. Nasty group back home, +always kept the precinct busy. Not necessarily with the detective work, +it was always a little obvious when they showed up. They have a flair +for the dramatic.

    +

    Alex shouts to Inky & Jarrod “Come on, we need to get in one of +those balloons and fast!” he then darts off in the direction of the +nearest abandoned balloon in the market place, not looking to see if his +companions had followed him.

    +

    internally I know these guys have pulled off smaller heists, +they could just be attacking the hotel to plunder riches from its +guests. They don’t seem the likes of a retrieval team.. Then again, that +Blavin fellow has multiple teams working for him, and he doesn’t seem +all too picky about how they get the job done, it wouldn’t be surprising +if he’d hired some brigands hoping they’d get the gems faster.

    +

    Alex conjures up another bug, a stag beetle this time, and casts it +away at the pirate ship. It’ll probably take some time to catch up, but +once it does we’ll be able to keep an eye on the pirate’s ship and +general actions, at least within line of sight of the bug.

    +

    As Alex reaches the balloon he grabs the ruby hilted dagger and cuts +the mooring lines keeping it down, and jumps into the basket preparing +for take off.

    +
    +

    You spot a balloon that has already been knocked half loose of its +mooring by the pirate attack. The basket is listing to the side and +tugging at the one remaining rope tying it down Its owner scurries +around in circles trying to secure it.

    +

    The vertical panels of the balloon are all different colors, creating +a brilliant rainbow pattern. The large woven basket is large enough for +maybe three people.

    +

    You leap inside, swinging the ruby hilted dagger at the remaining +mooring line. The balloon owner cries out in dismay. The basket shifts +beneath your feet as the balloon tugs it skyward.

    +

    In the burner, a small sunspoke—a minor fire elemental—is merrily +burning away, producing a modest flame that is hot enough to lift the +balloon slowly above the market into the sky. There is a knob valve on +the side of the burner to allow more oxygen to flow in, thereby feeding +the sunspoke and encouraging it to burn more intensely and raise the +balloon higher and faster. The valve is currently only about one third +open.

    +

    A pile of blankets in one corner of the basket—and that area of the +basket itself—is covered in blood. Somebody injured in the pirate attack +must have temporarily climbed into the basket looking for cover? As +you’re about to look away, something large-ish (small for a human, large +for an animal) under the blankets shifts and moves.

    +
    +

    Inky stares after Alex’s sprinting figure before shrugging and +stepping towards one of the stalls selling sandwiches bowled over by one +of the large boulders. They place some loose change on the stall’s +wooden sign that had tipped over on the ground and pocket one of the +sandwiches displayed inside an open chest oven. Next, they pick up +several of the scented candles scattered on the ground by the crash, +throwing some coins in the direction of the disoriented vendor before +continuing at a leisurely pace up the steps to the hotel, taking in the +balloonship and surrounding scenery. The members of their merry party +arriving first can hold their own as well as the fort of a hotel.

    +
    +

    You do a little leisurely shopping as the vendors and other shoppers +put out fires and tend to the injured. With a couple scented candles and +a sandwich safely in your pocket, you start to climb the cloud steps, +enjoying the scenery as you go. Bread and Confidence have quite a bit of +a head start on you, and are nowhere to be seen. As the stairway winds +around the mountainside, the market and its bustle recede from view, and +soon you are quite isolated and alone.

    +

    The majesty of creation is humbling here: the endless, roiling ocean +of cloud; the towering mountain of rock. It’s as though this was the +creator’s playground when they were still trying to figure out scale. +Before they quite got it right for human-sized creatures.

    +

    About halfway up your climb, it starts raining sheets of paper. You +snatch one and read it. Some heroic fantasy about slaying demons and +facing great peril. You grab another. A bodice-ripping romance. Another. +A gourmand’s food tour of Basmentaria, eating their way from coast to +coast. A murder mystery whodunnit. An aetherwael handler’s guide to +interplanetary travel. How to grow your own fortified pumpkins. On the +Care and Maintenance of Fortles. The Rise and Fall and Rise of Palace +Runesocesius. Within a minute, you have fists full of an entire +library’s worth of snippets and passages.

    +

    ~

    +

    It looks as though Alex will approach the hotel by balloon from the +non-pirate side. And Inky’s approach by stair will deposit them at the +hotel entrance, roughly pirate-adjacent.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    +

    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

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria