diff --git a/assets/aur.png b/assets/aur.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1549d1 Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/aur.png differ diff --git a/assets/kobit.png b/assets/kobit.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45473c0 Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/kobit.png differ diff --git a/basement.order b/basement.order index 2e9cdfd..e83e462 100644 --- a/basement.order +++ b/basement.order @@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ src/epistolary/00011.md src/epistolary/00012.md src/epistolary/00013.md src/epistolary/00014.md +src/epistolary/00015.md src/bestiary/index.md src/bestiary/aur.md src/bestiary/blahoblin.md diff --git a/src/bestiary/aur.md b/src/bestiary/aur.md index bba6e79..dea33c9 100644 --- a/src/bestiary/aur.md +++ b/src/bestiary/aur.md @@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ public: yes ---
WHAT DO YOU DO
+++Jarrod raises his right hand and begins adding a new rhythm to his +beat by slapping his palm against his chest. The resulting beat sounds +eerily like a galloping horse. Jarrod pushes his voice outward and +upward, directing his vocal energy at HORSE.
++"A mighty steed did carry our hero through forest, hill and town: + A comely beast with silky mane and smooth and supple hide. + One would think that such a stallion needs must have renown, + But only our dear hero understood, and so did ride."
Jarrod subtly adjusts the rhythm to a fast, regular beat.
++"Lightning of the hoof! + Fire in the eye! + One with blowing wind! + Strength of mountain high!"
Jarrod slowly calms the beat back down to a heartbeat with his left +hand fingers on his thigh again. However, the right now rests close to +Gertrude’s handle, at the ready.
++"On fated day, our hero does require + Underlings for which a task is set. + And yet, this day the underlings and squires + Have booked their time away from toil and fret."
While continuing the epic, Jarrod makes note of two options, should +he need them:
++
+- Should he need, he can dive behind the giant clam; and
+- He eyes a path back out the vault, should he be able to draw the +Aurs and Kobits out with him.
+Jarrod keeps his eyes on HORSE, attempting to react to whatever HORSE +brings.
+
HORSE gives a snort, a groan, and a sigh as the beat of the poem +accelerates to a trot, and turns its subject to matters of its own +interest. Namely, himself. HORSE likes to hear its own name, and it +likes to hear people pay tribute to it with verse. Which is 100% what it +thinks is going on here.
+HORSE beats its wings a few times and then flaps over to where Jarrod +is delivering his oration. It stands a little too close, basking in the +glory of Jarrod’s verse.
+There is now gathered at Jarrod’s feet three Aurs; one clumsy Kobit +with untied shoe laces; and one naked, winged Kobit named HORSE.
+The blue and gold, melon shaped crystal in the center of the vault +has been left unguarded. It hovers, suspended, beneath its glass dome on +top of its pedestal, revolving slowly in place. It looks like a weird +tiny asteroid. The veins of gold in the stone pulse lightly with +otherworldly energy.
+++Damn it Corraidhin thinks to himself, here I am yet again at the +bottom of some insipid pool stuck by some random magical thing all +because I didn’t pay enough attention in mythical history class. Bloody +hell!
+Good thing I paid attention in sorcery and yesteryears secrecry +administrivia, this little sword won’t stay stuck for too long! My lungs +if I bungle this though..
+Corraidhin quickly invokes a spell with his spare hand, casting +mystical runes with his hand.
++sudo chmod -t sowrd_of_yam\'l +sudo chmod 775 sword_of_yam\'l +sudo chown corraidhin:party sword_of_yam\'l
That should do it corraidhin thinks to himself. If not I’m going to +need to think quick, I’m stuck and there’s no way up without this sword. +I might be able to transmute the water into air around me, but probably +only a small pocket which will surely disappear in a gasp. Alternately I +could try and blast my way down, creating a pocket for the water to flow +into, but I’d be willing to bet I’ll hurt myself in the process..
+
You trace some watery runes, invoking Sudo to bend reality to your +will.
+The unschooled masses sometimes erroneously assume that Sudo is a +deity in its own right. There’s a certain misguided logic to it: an +invisible force that governs the relationships between entities, and +infallibly predicts how they will behave? Certainly, it must be an all +powerful, godlike entity.
+You and your ilk, of course, know that there’s no more intelligence +behind Sudo than there is behind gravity. No need to correct them +though. Sometimes it behooves the mage to allow others to think that +they serve an unfathomable arcane lord.
+There is a dull underwater flash and a muted underwater bang, and you +feel the sword slip from its stony clinch like a knife tearing through +soggy bread.
+You push up off the bottom of the pool and rocket to the surface, +helped–surprisingly–by the sword, which remains glued fast to your hand, +but which also rises above you as though somehow lighter than water.
+You break the surface of the water and hear joyous laughter.
+"Oh, yes! Well done, Hardy Bear! So very well done indeed! Oh, I had spent so long trapped at the bottom of that pool waiting for a new bear to come and free me. And now here you are! Oh, what a very good day this is. What a magnificent pair we shall be.
+
+"Now, let's go stab some evil!"
+You look down at the sword in your hand, and the eye twinkles at you, +full of adoration and zeal.
+A small wine pitcher splashes into the water next to you. It is +attached to a thin hose, at the other end of which Inky sits on dry +land, drinking a cup of tea. They wave.
+++Inky squints at the silhouette underwater, slightly distorted by the +occasional ripple on the surface, trying to decipher the odd hand +gestures and wisps of light coming from below. Why was Master Corraidhín +repeatedly forming semi-circles with his finger, almost like … the +handle of a teacup? Was it a request for tea?
+After a pause, Inky rummages inside a bag and brings out a large +porro and a long rubber hose. The porro is filled with a demi-tasse of +black grapefruit pekoe from a flask and the spout plugged with an +eldarberry-flavoured gummy pen nib. Inky strings together a handful of +brass nuts with twine and ties it to the porro’s handle to act as a +small weight, then affixes the hose tightly to the open top of the +porro. Casting a slightly apologetic look in the direction of the water +for a brew long since gone cold, Inky swings the hose and flings the +drinking vessel into the pool towards Master Corraidhín, watching for a +moment as the porro sinks down into the water to hover near his arm. The +other end of the hose is tied securely to a narrow rock on one side of +the pool with more twine, the end sticking up in the air like a wiggling +snorkel.
+Inky returns to crouching near the vault entrance and looking inside +another small pouch for fresh tea leaves. Waiting is thirsty work!
+
You cast an improvised lifeline to the floundering wizard, and find a +cache of very fine fermented tea leaves wrapped in waxed paper that you +left for yourself at some point in the past. How thoughtful and +considerate of Past You!
+From your vantage point, the sleepy guard Kobit still shows no sign +of stirring. And Jarrod has a throng of captive beasts listening very +intently to his stirring, epic poem. HORSE in particular seems to be +gaining some kind of physical sustenance from the words, snorting and +whinnying and beating its wings with each new stanza.
+If you can slip through the doorway without disturbing them, there +will be nothing between you and the now vulnerable Ginnarak Crystal.
+WHAT DO YOU DOOOOOO
+Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria
A hundred ears with a hundred wings. The size of a small horse. They -can really ruin your day.
+A hundred ears with a hundred wings. The size of a small horse. They can +really ruin your day.Suddenly three anthropomorphic gophers come crashing + through the trees behind you into the dig site. The first is + wearing a sash of many pockets. The second is wearing cargo + shorts of many pockets. The third is wearing a vest of many + pockets. Each wears a pair of goggles with thick smokey black + lenses, and a floppy checkered hat that looks like a + waffle.
+They march up to the zip-line.
+“Out of the way, losers!” Sash cries. It grabs the zip-line + trolley, and immediately dives off the side of the cliff and + zooms down into the deep, deep hole.
+Vest introduces itself, “Retrieval Team 70 here! We are + here to recover the Ginnarak Crystal that is reported to be at + this location. After we collect all five, then it will be + us who get to hang out in the Benefactor’s hot tub! + Not you! Ha!”
+Sash has reached the bottom of the deep, deep hole. Shorts + starts reeling in the pulley.
+Vest leans in close and peers at you through its foggy + lenses. “You must be the new Retrieval Team 43. Hmmph. Shame + what happened to the previous Team 43. Hope you know what + you’re doing! Would hate to see you end up like them!”
+Shorts grabs the trolley and leaps down into the deep, deep + hole. It sails all the way down, and joins Sash at the + bottom.
+“Welp!” Vest concludes with an air of finality. “No hard + feelings, and all that! After we collect this crystal, we just + need four more. And then we get to meet the Benefactor! + Ha!”
+It waddles off and starts reeling in the trolley.
+Meanwhile, another gnome explodes behind you.
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +Suddenly three anthropomorphic gophers come crashing - through the trees behind you into the dig site. The first is - wearing a sash of many pockets. The second is wearing cargo - shorts of many pockets. The third is wearing a vest of many - pockets. Each wears a pair of goggles with thick smokey black - lenses, and a floppy checkered hat that looks like a - waffle.
-They march up to the zip-line.
-“Out of the way, losers!” Sash cries. It grabs the zip-line - trolley, and immediately dives off the side of the cliff and - zooms down into the deep, deep hole.
-Vest introduces itself, “Retrieval Team 70 here! We are - here to recover the Ginnarak Crystal that is reported to be at - this location. After we collect all five, then it will be - us who get to hang out in the Benefactor’s hot tub! - Not you! Ha!”
-Sash has reached the bottom of the deep, deep hole. Shorts - starts reeling in the pulley.
-Vest leans in close and peers at you through its foggy - lenses. “You must be the new Retrieval Team 43. Hmmph. Shame - what happened to the previous Team 43. Hope you know what - you’re doing! Would hate to see you end up like them!”
-Shorts grabs the trolley and leaps down into the deep, deep - hole. It sails all the way down, and joins Sash at the - bottom.
-“Welp!” Vest concludes with an air of finality. “No hard - feelings, and all that! After we collect this crystal, we just - need four more. And then we get to meet the Benefactor! - Ha!”
-It waddles off and starts reeling in the trolley.
-Meanwhile, another gnome explodes behind you.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
- - ]]> -++Harrumph I say as I billow out my mustache. I know exactly + what this is, I’ve seen these silly terminals at the wizarding + academy. Fascinating little babbles really, not that easy to + use, and I find they’re easier to melt with a well placed + fireball or two, but I think I can get us past without that. + Now I might need someone to cover for me if that Kobit catches + onto what I’m doing, and I’ll say the weird sword is starting + to creep me out a bit.
+Corraidhin approaches the terminal, cracks his knuckles, + and enters: 1,$p
+
The printer spits out a piece of paper:
+The door is Locked
+ ++Corraidhin stares at the paper. Well, that’s not right, the + door’s only partially closed. Preposterious thing.
+That’s okay, I know how to fix this.
+19 c there is no door, there never was, and never will be. + Also the Kobit guard forgot to tie his shoes. . w 1,$p
+
The printer spits out a slip of paper.
+there is no door, there never was, and never will be. Also the Kobit guard forgot to tie his shoes.
+ With a soft pop, the thick stone door vanishes.
+The sword at the bottom of the pool widens its eye in + surprise.
+Nothing remains between you and the interior of the + vault.
+Some light from the hall spills in and glints off what + appears to be a mound of gold, gems, and crystals. The rest of + its contents are hidden from view unless you venture + inside.
+You can still hear the guard kobit in the passage, now + whistling a warbling, lamentful tune. It sounds dangerously + close. Best get a move on if you want to avoid a + confrontation.
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+++While the wisened scholar inspects the vault door, Inky + walks a few steps from the antechamber to meet the Kobit + guard, pressure gauge and tiny notebook in hand. Inky proceeds + to ask them about water flow sounds in the surrounding area, + water stains, signs of potential pests that could damage the + pipes, and other rather boring elements pertaining to modern + Basmentia burrow plumbing.
+After a while, seeing as they have been conversing for some + time, Inky pulls out two small bottles of chilled arrowroot + beer from a waist pouch and offers one to the Kobit guard.
+
The big guard kobit’s eyes start to glass over as Inky goes + on about water pressure and structural integrity.
+But it does graciously accept a bottle arrowroot beer.
+“Well, golly, don’t mind if I do!” It cracks the lid off, + toasts to your health and takes a long swig.
+“Aaaaaaaah! That hits the spot!”
+++Corraidhin absentmindedly inspects the terminal and door + while Inky converses with the guard. He’s utterly distracted + and talking to himself.
+By the gods, it’s gone. Just like that! I thought it’d + fizzle or something, but it’s gone! I wonder what else I can + do with this thing.
+Corraidhin wanders back to the terminal and enters another + command.
+19 c The wise and elderly Corraidhin is now a young and + dashing rogue, with a very nice hat. .
+
The printer spits out a slip of paper:
+?
+ Maybe the ed terminal only has jurisdiction over the door + to the vault.
+Or maybe the machine, the universe, or whatever, is telling + you not to push your luck.
+By now the big guard kobit, lulled by Inky’s questions and + finally sedated by the alcohol, is slumped and snoring softly + in the mouth of one of the twisty little passages.
+You stand before the open vault under the ever watchful + gaze of the sword at the bottom of the pool of water in the + center of the room.
+WHAT DO
+ ]]> +++As the blahoblins were packing up, Inky persuades Waistcoat + to sell a few small bottles of shoe polish, a roughly round + piece of broken glass and scraps of cheesecloth from the + mountain of debris previously on the ground. Inky rolls Do + Anything 1 and rolls a 4.
+
Inky successfully persuades Waistcoat to sell a few baubles + and trinkets with the first roll of the game!
+They haggle back and forth a little bit, and Inky ends up + paying a little more than they wanted to, but they get all the + stuff they wanted. Yay commerce!
+Having concluded business, the blahoblins pack up and + disappear into the bushes toting their chair, cheese, and vat + of polish.
+The sound of mechanical droning and periodic explosions + compel you forward to the dig site.
+It is easy to find.
+It is a large hole blasted deep into the ground. There are + drills, and conveyor belts, earth moving machines, and all + kinds of gadgets and gizmos, the purpose of which is not + always readily apparent. And there is a zip line that seems to + be the only way down to the bottom.
+The site is absolutely teeming with gnomes. Diminutive + humanoids with bright red noses and long, long ears, and long, + nimble fingers. All gnomes are compulsive tinkerers and + mechanics, and build fantastic contraptions. All gnomes are + women, and are all highly explosive. Which makes their + combustion powered machines extremely dangerous, both for + themselves and for any unfortunate bystanders close enough to + get caught in the blast.
+A gnome in a white hat comes running up to you. “You there! + Hey! Yes, you!”
+“Are you the retrieval team? We’ve been expecting you! The + whole dig is halted because we accidentally blasted into a + whole nest of Kobits, and they won’t let us get near to keep + digging! They keep sabotaging our machines when we try!”
+“They also stole the Ginnarak Crystal that we found! That + thing could have powered such glorious new machines!” She + pouts.
+In the background, a gnome who had crawled half way into a + coal bin in the side of some kind of excavator suddenly + scrambles quickly out, smoking, and runs around in circles in + a panic. Nearby gnomes dive out of the way as she erupts in a + small ball of fire. The gnomes wait for the smoke to clear and + then immediately return to working on the contraption.
+The foreman continues talking to you as though nothing + happened. She leads you over to the edge of the hole and + points to the bottom.
+“The entrance to their cave is right down there! The zip + line is the second fastest way down.”
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +--Harrumph I say as I billow out my mustache. I know exactly - what this is, I’ve seen these silly terminals at the wizarding - academy. Fascinating little babbles really, not that easy to - use, and I find they’re easier to melt with a well placed - fireball or two, but I think I can get us past without that. - Now I might need someone to cover for me if that Kobit catches - onto what I’m doing, and I’ll say the weird sword is starting - to creep me out a bit.
-Corraidhin approaches the terminal, cracks his knuckles, - and enters: 1,$p
-
The printer spits out a piece of paper:
-The door is Locked
- --Corraidhin stares at the paper. Well, that’s not right, the - door’s only partially closed. Preposterious thing.
-That’s okay, I know how to fix this.
-19 c there is no door, there never was, and never will be. - Also the Kobit guard forgot to tie his shoes. . w 1,$p
-
The printer spits out a slip of paper.
-there is no door, there never was, and never will be. Also the Kobit guard forgot to tie his shoes.
- With a soft pop, the thick stone door vanishes.
-The sword at the bottom of the pool widens its eye in - surprise.
-Nothing remains between you and the interior of the - vault.
-Some light from the hall spills in and glints off what - appears to be a mound of gold, gems, and crystals. The rest of - its contents are hidden from view unless you venture - inside.
-You can still hear the guard kobit in the passage, now - whistling a warbling, lamentful tune. It sounds dangerously - close. Best get a move on if you want to avoid a - confrontation.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
---While the wisened scholar inspects the vault door, Inky - walks a few steps from the antechamber to meet the Kobit - guard, pressure gauge and tiny notebook in hand. Inky proceeds - to ask them about water flow sounds in the surrounding area, - water stains, signs of potential pests that could damage the - pipes, and other rather boring elements pertaining to modern - Basmentia burrow plumbing.
-After a while, seeing as they have been conversing for some - time, Inky pulls out two small bottles of chilled arrowroot - beer from a waist pouch and offers one to the Kobit guard.
-
The big guard kobit’s eyes start to glass over as Inky goes - on about water pressure and structural integrity.
-But it does graciously accept a bottle arrowroot beer.
-“Well, golly, don’t mind if I do!” It cracks the lid off, - toasts to your health and takes a long swig.
-“Aaaaaaaah! That hits the spot!”
---Corraidhin absentmindedly inspects the terminal and door - while Inky converses with the guard. He’s utterly distracted - and talking to himself.
-By the gods, it’s gone. Just like that! I thought it’d - fizzle or something, but it’s gone! I wonder what else I can - do with this thing.
-Corraidhin wanders back to the terminal and enters another - command.
-19 c The wise and elderly Corraidhin is now a young and - dashing rogue, with a very nice hat. .
-
The printer spits out a slip of paper:
-?
- Maybe the ed terminal only has jurisdiction over the door - to the vault.
-Or maybe the machine, the universe, or whatever, is telling - you not to push your luck.
-By now the big guard kobit, lulled by Inky’s questions and - finally sedated by the alcohol, is slumped and snoring softly - in the mouth of one of the twisty little passages.
-You stand before the open vault under the ever watchful - gaze of the sword at the bottom of the pool of water in the - center of the room.
-WHAT DO
- ]]> ---As the blahoblins were packing up, Inky persuades Waistcoat - to sell a few small bottles of shoe polish, a roughly round - piece of broken glass and scraps of cheesecloth from the - mountain of debris previously on the ground. Inky rolls Do - Anything 1 and rolls a 4.
+Jarrod raises his right hand and begins adding a new rhythm + to his beat by slapping his palm against his chest. The + resulting beat sounds eerily like a galloping horse. Jarrod + pushes his voice outward and upward, directing his vocal + energy at HORSE.
++"A mighty steed did carry our hero through forest, hill and town: + A comely beast with silky mane and smooth and supple hide. + One would think that such a stallion needs must have renown, + But only our dear hero understood, and so did ride."
Jarrod subtly adjusts the rhythm to a fast, regular + beat.
++"Lightning of the hoof! + Fire in the eye! + One with blowing wind! + Strength of mountain high!"
Jarrod slowly calms the beat back down to a heartbeat with + his left hand fingers on his thigh again. However, the right + now rests close to Gertrude’s handle, at the ready.
++"On fated day, our hero does require + Underlings for which a task is set. + And yet, this day the underlings and squires + Have booked their time away from toil and fret."
While continuing the epic, Jarrod makes note of two + options, should he need them:
++
+- Should he need, he can dive behind the giant clam; + and
+- He eyes a path back out the vault, should he be able to + draw the Aurs and Kobits out with him.
+Jarrod keeps his eyes on HORSE, attempting to react to + whatever HORSE brings.
Inky successfully persuades Waistcoat to sell a few baubles - and trinkets with the first roll of the game!
-They haggle back and forth a little bit, and Inky ends up - paying a little more than they wanted to, but they get all the - stuff they wanted. Yay commerce!
-Having concluded business, the blahoblins pack up and - disappear into the bushes toting their chair, cheese, and vat - of polish.
-The sound of mechanical droning and periodic explosions - compel you forward to the dig site.
-It is easy to find.
-It is a large hole blasted deep into the ground. There are - drills, and conveyor belts, earth moving machines, and all - kinds of gadgets and gizmos, the purpose of which is not - always readily apparent. And there is a zip line that seems to - be the only way down to the bottom.
-The site is absolutely teeming with gnomes. Diminutive - humanoids with bright red noses and long, long ears, and long, - nimble fingers. All gnomes are compulsive tinkerers and - mechanics, and build fantastic contraptions. All gnomes are - women, and are all highly explosive. Which makes their - combustion powered machines extremely dangerous, both for - themselves and for any unfortunate bystanders close enough to - get caught in the blast.
-A gnome in a white hat comes running up to you. “You there! - Hey! Yes, you!”
-“Are you the retrieval team? We’ve been expecting you! The - whole dig is halted because we accidentally blasted into a - whole nest of Kobits, and they won’t let us get near to keep - digging! They keep sabotaging our machines when we try!”
-“They also stole the Ginnarak Crystal that we found! That - thing could have powered such glorious new machines!” She - pouts.
-In the background, a gnome who had crawled half way into a - coal bin in the side of some kind of excavator suddenly - scrambles quickly out, smoking, and runs around in circles in - a panic. Nearby gnomes dive out of the way as she erupts in a - small ball of fire. The gnomes wait for the smoke to clear and - then immediately return to working on the contraption.
-The foreman continues talking to you as though nothing - happened. She leads you over to the edge of the hole and - points to the bottom.
-“The entrance to their cave is right down there! The zip - line is the second fastest way down.”
-WHAT DO YOU DO
+HORSE gives a snort, a groan, and a sigh as the beat of the + poem accelerates to a trot, and turns its subject to matters + of its own interest. Namely, himself. HORSE likes to hear its + own name, and it likes to hear people pay tribute to it with + verse. Which is 100% what it thinks is going on here.
+HORSE beats its wings a few times and then flaps over to + where Jarrod is delivering his oration. It stands a little too + close, basking in the glory of Jarrod’s verse.
+There is now gathered at Jarrod’s feet three Aurs; one + clumsy Kobit with untied shoe laces; and one naked, winged + Kobit named HORSE.
+The blue and gold, melon shaped crystal in the center of + the vault has been left unguarded. It hovers, suspended, + beneath its glass dome on top of its pedestal, revolving + slowly in place. It looks like a weird tiny asteroid. The + veins of gold in the stone pulse lightly with otherworldly + energy.
+++Damn it Corraidhin thinks to himself, here I am yet again + at the bottom of some insipid pool stuck by some random + magical thing all because I didn’t pay enough attention in + mythical history class. Bloody hell!
+Good thing I paid attention in sorcery and yesteryears + secrecry administrivia, this little sword won’t stay stuck for + too long! My lungs if I bungle this though..
+Corraidhin quickly invokes a spell with his spare hand, + casting mystical runes with his hand.
++sudo chmod -t sowrd_of_yam\'l +sudo chmod 775 sword_of_yam\'l +sudo chown corraidhin:party sword_of_yam\'l
That should do it corraidhin thinks to himself. If not I’m + going to need to think quick, I’m stuck and there’s no way up + without this sword. I might be able to transmute the water + into air around me, but probably only a small pocket which + will surely disappear in a gasp. Alternately I could try and + blast my way down, creating a pocket for the water to flow + into, but I’d be willing to bet I’ll hurt myself in the + process..
+
You trace some watery runes, invoking Sudo to bend reality + to your will.
+The unschooled masses sometimes erroneously assume that + Sudo is a deity in its own right. There’s a certain misguided + logic to it: an invisible force that governs the relationships + between entities, and infallibly predicts how they will + behave? Certainly, it must be an all powerful, godlike + entity.
+You and your ilk, of course, know that there’s no more + intelligence behind Sudo than there is behind gravity. No need + to correct them though. Sometimes it behooves the mage to + allow others to think that they serve an unfathomable arcane + lord.
+There is a dull underwater flash and a muted underwater + bang, and you feel the sword slip from its stony clinch like a + knife tearing through soggy bread.
+You push up off the bottom of the pool and rocket to the + surface, helped–surprisingly–by the sword, which remains glued + fast to your hand, but which also rises above you as though + somehow lighter than water.
+You break the surface of the water and hear joyous + laughter.
+"Oh, yes! Well done, Hardy Bear! So very well done indeed! Oh, I had spent so long trapped at the bottom of that pool waiting for a new bear to come and free me. And now here you are! Oh, what a very good day this is. What a magnificent pair we shall be.
+
+"Now, let's go stab some evil!"
+ You look down at the sword in your hand, and the eye + twinkles at you, full of adoration and zeal.
+A small wine pitcher splashes into the water next to you. + It is attached to a thin hose, at the other end of which Inky + sits on dry land, drinking a cup of tea. They wave.
+++Inky squints at the silhouette underwater, slightly + distorted by the occasional ripple on the surface, trying to + decipher the odd hand gestures and wisps of light coming from + below. Why was Master Corraidhín repeatedly forming + semi-circles with his finger, almost like … the handle of a + teacup? Was it a request for tea?
+After a pause, Inky rummages inside a bag and brings out a + large porro and a long rubber hose. The porro is filled with a + demi-tasse of black grapefruit pekoe from a flask and the + spout plugged with an eldarberry-flavoured gummy pen nib. Inky + strings together a handful of brass nuts with twine and ties + it to the porro’s handle to act as a small weight, then + affixes the hose tightly to the open top of the porro. Casting + a slightly apologetic look in the direction of the water for a + brew long since gone cold, Inky swings the hose and flings the + drinking vessel into the pool towards Master Corraidhín, + watching for a moment as the porro sinks down into the water + to hover near his arm. The other end of the hose is tied + securely to a narrow rock on one side of the pool with more + twine, the end sticking up in the air like a wiggling + snorkel.
+Inky returns to crouching near the vault entrance and + looking inside another small pouch for fresh tea leaves. + Waiting is thirsty work!
+
You cast an improvised lifeline to the floundering wizard, + and find a cache of very fine fermented tea leaves wrapped in + waxed paper that you left for yourself at some point in the + past. How thoughtful and considerate of Past You!
+From your vantage point, the sleepy guard Kobit still shows + no sign of stirring. And Jarrod has a throng of captive beasts + listening very intently to his stirring, epic poem. HORSE in + particular seems to be gaining some kind of physical + sustenance from the words, snorting and whinnying and beating + its wings with each new stanza.
+If you can slip through the doorway without disturbing + them, there will be nothing between you and the now vulnerable + Ginnarak Crystal.
+WHAT DO YOU DOOOOOO
- ]]> -“Congratulations!” The slightly tipsy hobbit grins and - salutes you with his martini. “On Retrieval Team 43’s - inaugural mission! I’m so excited for you, I’m sure you’ll do - fantastic!”
-You are all seated around a table in the corner at Lucy’s - Basement. It is dimly lit and fairly noisy. The walls are - covered in red velvet curtains, and the tablecloths have - little gold tassels. A cloud of purple smoke from candles, - cigars, and pipes hangs in the air. Waiters bustle between - tables refilling drinks.
-“So to recap, the Benefactor has tasked you with retrieving - the five fabled Ginnarak Crystals. I, Blavin Blandfoot, will - be your case manager. You will be paid handsomely for each - crystal you retrieve. And if you retrieve all 5, you’ll get to - meet the Benefactor at be their guest at their glorious - mansion!”
-“The first crystal has been spotted near a Gnomish dig site - in the Tammineaux Forest, just east of here.”
-“I recommend getting started right away!” He polishes off - his drink and squints at his empty glass. “Well, maybe first - thing in the morning. Waiter!”
-“Congratulations!” The slightly tipsy hobbit grins and + salutes you with his martini. “On Retrieval Team 43’s + inaugural mission! I’m so excited for you, I’m sure you’ll do + fantastic!”
+You are all seated around a table in the corner at Lucy’s + Basement. It is dimly lit and fairly noisy. The walls are + covered in red velvet curtains, and the tablecloths have + little gold tassels. A cloud of purple smoke from candles, + cigars, and pipes hangs in the air. Waiters bustle between + tables refilling drinks.
+“So to recap, the Benefactor has tasked you with retrieving + the five fabled Ginnarak Crystals. I, Blavin Blandfoot, will + be your case manager. You will be paid handsomely for each + crystal you retrieve. And if you retrieve all 5, you’ll get to + meet the Benefactor at be their guest at their glorious + mansion!”
+“The first crystal has been spotted near a Gnomish dig site + in the Tammineaux Forest, just east of here.”
+“I recommend getting started right away!” He polishes off + his drink and squints at his empty glass. “Well, maybe first + thing in the morning. Waiter!”
+--“And jolly good polish too, it looks like,” Inky replies, - squinting a bit at the ichor being smeared onto the boots in - Earrings’ large calloused hands. “I hear there be some gnomes - hereabouts? A camp? With your remarkable service, I bet they’d - be coming to you all the time to get their boots cleaned.”
-
“GNOMES!?” Earrings interrobangs loudly and questioningly. - It brings its hands to the sides of its face, covering its ear - holes, and wags its oversized head in dismay, squeezing its - tiny eyes shut. In the process, it smears polish around its - face.
-“Gnomes there!” shouts Waistcoat. Its hands busy polishing, - it tosses its head, gesturing with its prodigious proboscis in - the direction you were heading. You continue to hear bangs and - booms in the distance every once a while.
---Glarg gurgles something to the effect of - “gluggurguuuurglaaaachhhh?” Its stance is one of surprise as - its disposition changes to that of inquisition as its head - cranes down to look at the blahoblin carrying the smelly rock - on its back.
-
Teeth looks questioningly up at Glarg and experimentally - gargles back up at it. “GURGLE BURBLE GLUG GLUG?” It smiles - apologetically (a fearsome sight, its protruding jaws full of - tiny pointy teeth) and shrugs and asks, “Shoe shine?”
---It attempts to pick that whole blahoblin up and bring the - smelly rock to its face for a closer inspection.
-
“WAAAAAAH!” Teeth kicks its feet ineffectively and is quite - helplessly tied to the big smelly rock when Glarg picks it up. - The smelly rock smells pungent, sharp, earthy, moldy. - Definitely could be food.
-By this time the blahoblins have polished the shoes of - everybody who has consented to it, and are packing up. Except - for Teeth who is being detained by the earth elemental.
-Red Shoes reappears from wherever they have been this whole - time with a sly smile and rejoins its comrades.
-Your pockets have successfully been picked while you were - distracted with the shoe shine, but not of anything of - particular value.
-What small item(s) will you notice is missing in the hours - and days to come? How will its absence be a minor - inconvenience?
- - ]]> -++“And jolly good polish too, it looks like,” Inky replies, + squinting a bit at the ichor being smeared onto the boots in + Earrings’ large calloused hands. “I hear there be some gnomes + hereabouts? A camp? With your remarkable service, I bet they’d + be coming to you all the time to get their boots cleaned.”
+
“GNOMES!?” Earrings interrobangs loudly and questioningly. + It brings its hands to the sides of its face, covering its ear + holes, and wags its oversized head in dismay, squeezing its + tiny eyes shut. In the process, it smears polish around its + face.
+“Gnomes there!” shouts Waistcoat. Its hands busy polishing, + it tosses its head, gesturing with its prodigious proboscis in + the direction you were heading. You continue to hear bangs and + booms in the distance every once a while.
+++Glarg gurgles something to the effect of + “gluggurguuuurglaaaachhhh?” Its stance is one of surprise as + its disposition changes to that of inquisition as its head + cranes down to look at the blahoblin carrying the smelly rock + on its back.
+
Teeth looks questioningly up at Glarg and experimentally + gargles back up at it. “GURGLE BURBLE GLUG GLUG?” It smiles + apologetically (a fearsome sight, its protruding jaws full of + tiny pointy teeth) and shrugs and asks, “Shoe shine?”
+++It attempts to pick that whole blahoblin up and bring the + smelly rock to its face for a closer inspection.
+
“WAAAAAAH!” Teeth kicks its feet ineffectively and is quite + helplessly tied to the big smelly rock when Glarg picks it up. + The smelly rock smells pungent, sharp, earthy, moldy. + Definitely could be food.
+By this time the blahoblins have polished the shoes of + everybody who has consented to it, and are packing up. Except + for Teeth who is being detained by the earth elemental.
+Red Shoes reappears from wherever they have been this whole + time with a sly smile and rejoins its comrades.
+Your pockets have successfully been picked while you were + distracted with the shoe shine, but not of anything of + particular value.
+What small item(s) will you notice is missing in the hours + and days to come? How will its absence be a minor + inconvenience?
+ + ]]> +WHAT DO YOU DO
+++Jarrod raises his right hand and begins adding a new rhythm to his +beat by slapping his palm against his chest. The resulting beat sounds +eerily like a galloping horse. Jarrod pushes his voice outward and +upward, directing his vocal energy at HORSE.
++"A mighty steed did carry our hero through forest, hill and town: + A comely beast with silky mane and smooth and supple hide. + One would think that such a stallion needs must have renown, + But only our dear hero understood, and so did ride."
Jarrod subtly adjusts the rhythm to a fast, regular beat.
++"Lightning of the hoof! + Fire in the eye! + One with blowing wind! + Strength of mountain high!"
Jarrod slowly calms the beat back down to a heartbeat with his left +hand fingers on his thigh again. However, the right now rests close to +Gertrude’s handle, at the ready.
++"On fated day, our hero does require + Underlings for which a task is set. + And yet, this day the underlings and squires + Have booked their time away from toil and fret."
While continuing the epic, Jarrod makes note of two options, should +he need them:
++
+- Should he need, he can dive behind the giant clam; and
+- He eyes a path back out the vault, should he be able to draw the +Aurs and Kobits out with him.
+Jarrod keeps his eyes on HORSE, attempting to react to whatever HORSE +brings.
+
HORSE gives a snort, a groan, and a sigh as the beat of the poem +accelerates to a trot, and turns its subject to matters of its own +interest. Namely, himself. HORSE likes to hear its own name, and it +likes to hear people pay tribute to it with verse. Which is 100% what it +thinks is going on here.
+HORSE beats its wings a few times and then flaps over to where Jarrod +is delivering his oration. It stands a little too close, basking in the +glory of Jarrod’s verse.
+There is now gathered at Jarrod’s feet three Aurs; one clumsy Kobit +with untied shoe laces; and one naked, winged Kobit named HORSE.
+The blue and gold, melon shaped crystal in the center of the vault +has been left unguarded. It hovers, suspended, beneath its glass dome on +top of its pedestal, revolving slowly in place. It looks like a weird +tiny asteroid. The veins of gold in the stone pulse lightly with +otherworldly energy.
+++Damn it Corraidhin thinks to himself, here I am yet again at the +bottom of some insipid pool stuck by some random magical thing all +because I didn’t pay enough attention in mythical history class. Bloody +hell!
+Good thing I paid attention in sorcery and yesteryears secrecry +administrivia, this little sword won’t stay stuck for too long! My lungs +if I bungle this though..
+Corraidhin quickly invokes a spell with his spare hand, casting +mystical runes with his hand.
++sudo chmod -t sowrd_of_yam\'l +sudo chmod 775 sword_of_yam\'l +sudo chown corraidhin:party sword_of_yam\'l
That should do it corraidhin thinks to himself. If not I’m going to +need to think quick, I’m stuck and there’s no way up without this sword. +I might be able to transmute the water into air around me, but probably +only a small pocket which will surely disappear in a gasp. Alternately I +could try and blast my way down, creating a pocket for the water to flow +into, but I’d be willing to bet I’ll hurt myself in the process..
+
You trace some watery runes, invoking Sudo to bend reality to your +will.
+The unschooled masses sometimes erroneously assume that Sudo is a +deity in its own right. There’s a certain misguided logic to it: an +invisible force that governs the relationships between entities, and +infallibly predicts how they will behave? Certainly, it must be an all +powerful, godlike entity.
+You and your ilk, of course, know that there’s no more intelligence +behind Sudo than there is behind gravity. No need to correct them +though. Sometimes it behooves the mage to allow others to think that +they serve an unfathomable arcane lord.
+There is a dull underwater flash and a muted underwater bang, and you +feel the sword slip from its stony clinch like a knife tearing through +soggy bread.
+You push up off the bottom of the pool and rocket to the surface, +helped–surprisingly–by the sword, which remains glued fast to your hand, +but which also rises above you as though somehow lighter than water.
+You break the surface of the water and hear joyous laughter.
+"Oh, yes! Well done, Hardy Bear! So very well done indeed! Oh, I had spent so long trapped at the bottom of that pool waiting for a new bear to come and free me. And now here you are! Oh, what a very good day this is. What a magnificent pair we shall be.
+
+"Now, let's go stab some evil!"
+You look down at the sword in your hand, and the eye twinkles at you, +full of adoration and zeal.
+A small wine pitcher splashes into the water next to you. It is +attached to a thin hose, at the other end of which Inky sits on dry +land, drinking a cup of tea. They wave.
+++Inky squints at the silhouette underwater, slightly distorted by the +occasional ripple on the surface, trying to decipher the odd hand +gestures and wisps of light coming from below. Why was Master Corraidhín +repeatedly forming semi-circles with his finger, almost like … the +handle of a teacup? Was it a request for tea?
+After a pause, Inky rummages inside a bag and brings out a large +porro and a long rubber hose. The porro is filled with a demi-tasse of +black grapefruit pekoe from a flask and the spout plugged with an +eldarberry-flavoured gummy pen nib. Inky strings together a handful of +brass nuts with twine and ties it to the porro’s handle to act as a +small weight, then affixes the hose tightly to the open top of the +porro. Casting a slightly apologetic look in the direction of the water +for a brew long since gone cold, Inky swings the hose and flings the +drinking vessel into the pool towards Master Corraidhín, watching for a +moment as the porro sinks down into the water to hover near his arm. The +other end of the hose is tied securely to a narrow rock on one side of +the pool with more twine, the end sticking up in the air like a wiggling +snorkel.
+Inky returns to crouching near the vault entrance and looking inside +another small pouch for fresh tea leaves. Waiting is thirsty work!
+
You cast an improvised lifeline to the floundering wizard, and find a +cache of very fine fermented tea leaves wrapped in waxed paper that you +left for yourself at some point in the past. How thoughtful and +considerate of Past You!
+From your vantage point, the sleepy guard Kobit still shows no sign +of stirring. And Jarrod has a throng of captive beasts listening very +intently to his stirring, epic poem. HORSE in particular seems to be +gaining some kind of physical sustenance from the words, snorting and +whinnying and beating its wings with each new stanza.
+If you can slip through the doorway without disturbing them, there +will be nothing between you and the now vulnerable Ginnarak Crystal.
+WHAT DO YOU DOOOOOO
+Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria
A hundred ears with a hundred wings. The size of a small horse. They -can really ruin your day.
+A hundred ears with a hundred wings. The size of a small horse. They can +really ruin your day.They reduced the once fertile lands of Ginnarak to ash and embers.
Upcoming NPCs and/or monsters?
+07:10 ~mio | lol okay, we can call it zai-ni for a day
+07:10 ~mio | tiny zeyeknee
+Pirates?
+the five Ginnarak crystals:
The Benefactor is Nullar
Blavin is a secret agent, working for the Golden Iris, a secret society that wants to ‘create balance’ by seating a fourth god