Total length: 54985 words / 234 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +
Total length: 55749 words / 238 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 181 messages posted over 173 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.04.
+There have been 185 messages posted over 173 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.06.
This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over email.
@@ -5782,6 +5783,85 @@ instrument over its body. It smiles at you happily.WHAT DO YOU DO
+++The GDB flashes, vibrates, and murmurs electronic static as it +collects information from the Hemogoblin. “Peculiar readings indeed” +Alex mutters, stashing the blood sample and readings from the device. +Best to scp a copy of these for safe keeping.
++scp gdb-readout.dat blood-soaked-handky hq:~Alright little guy, dunno what’s wrong with ya, but you seem just as +sweet and chipper as you were before, best not let anything foul befall +you. Alex scoops the little hemogoblin up and puts him into his pack. +The little goblin chirps happily, soaking the back in blood. “Hmm I +guess I’ll need a new cloak when we get to town.. good thing the STAGS +are water proof.” Taking accord of the situation Alex notices that Ink +has dropped onto the deck, and is hurridly beckoning what looks like a +stretcher and confidence down the zip line. “I guess things went not so +smoothly back in the hotel then..”
+Looking up past confidence along the zip line Alex also notes a set +of cyberplasms making their way clumsily along the zipline. “Shit! Inky, +Confidence! Get the hell on the ship NOW!”
+Alex dashes back up to the helm of the ship and grabs the wheel. As +soon as Inky has Confidence and the stretcher safely on the deck Alex +grabs the wheel and casts the wheel hard to starboard side, ripping the +zipline and moarings from the wall of the hotel. “Inky cut the zipline, +quick a you can, and check the side of the hull for any stow +aways!!”
+
~
+++As the toques slide down the last few feet to the deck of the +balloonship. Inky takes out a sharp knife and saws through the zipline. +As they patrol along the edge to check the side of the hull for +additional company, Inky pulls out a tea strainer from their kit and +opens a bag of limequats, small round fruits they keep around for their +zest and juice to flavour some infusions. They drop a limequat into the +strainer, preparing to fling a ball of citrus at the potential presence +of any stowaways.
+
Inky and Confidence carefully dump Bread onto the deck of the ship. +They grunt at the impact and mutter a weak thank you.
+Inky starts to saw through the zipline with their knife. The closest +cyberplasm can almost reach out for the railing and haul itself up. The +second pirate is not far behind it. Alex yanks the ship hard to +starboard and—thanks to Inky sawing on it—the line snaps cleanly in +two.
+Inky looks over the railing in time to see the second pirate fall +into the sea of clouds with a surprised look on its face. There is no +trace of the first one. As Inky patrols alongside the edge to check for +additional company, they see one ghostly hand and then the other reach +up and grab hold of the rail.
+When the cyberplasm pops its head up and peers over the railing, the +first thing it sees is a tea strainer flying at its face. It tries to +turn away, but ends up with a face full of limequat juice nonetheless. +As the citrus starts to burn, it squeezes its eyes shut tight, even +tighter than its grip on the railing. All of its focus and effort is +concentrated on the burning sensation in its eyes. On autopilot, one of +its hands lets go of the railing to quickly wipe the juice away.
+When it grips the railing again, its hand is now slick with juice, +and it slips. Knocked off balance and unable to get a grip, the pirate +cries out as it too falls into the ocean of clouds, eyes squeezed shut +the whole time.
+Poking its head and arms out of the pack on Alex’s back, the +hemogoblin claps and cheers.
+The balloonship sails away from Runesocesius and from Kelsun Peak. +The sun is starting to set, and the clouds are turning brilliant pinks +and reds. This delights the zephynos, who leap and cavort in the clouds, +and run playfully alongside the ship for a while.
+You have in your possession a stolen pirate airship, a recovered +Ginnarak Crystal, a couple novellas and manhwa, two warrior toque tour +guides, and a childlike hemogoblin who may or may not be possessed by +some kind of spirit.
+END OF CHAPTER 3
+Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria
--Hmm well, that umm, heya little fella. What umm, what did - you find there? Alex moves to pick up Uncle Corraidhin’s - dagger, noting that it’s not nearly as brilliant as it was - before. The ruby gem in the hilt appearing far closer to black - obsidian now, rather unnerving all things considered..
-“There’s definitely something wrong with this Hemogoblin, - this isn’t normal” Alex thinks to himself, “What in the ever - loving run level 0 did Uncle have this dagger for, and why the - hell would he stuff it inside some old book.” He deftly - pockets the dagger, for further inspection once they’re back - at base. Likely someone at HQ can do a deeper analysis of it - then. Thinking ahead, Alex also grabs a handkerchief from his - breast pocket and soaks it in the pool of blood around the - hemogoblin, better than nothing he supposes.
-Pulling a multi pronged instrument labelled “GBD” from his - bag Alex begins to inspect the hemogoblin for magical, - metaphysical, and technological aburations. “Just sit still a - bit little fella, lets see what’s going on”
+The GDB flashes, vibrates, and murmurs electronic static as + it collects information from the Hemogoblin. “Peculiar + readings indeed” Alex mutters, stashing the blood sample and + readings from the device. Best to scp a copy of these for safe + keeping.
++scp gdb-readout.dat blood-soaked-handky hq:~Alright little guy, dunno what’s wrong with ya, but you + seem just as sweet and chipper as you were before, best not + let anything foul befall you. Alex scoops the little + hemogoblin up and puts him into his pack. The little goblin + chirps happily, soaking the back in blood. “Hmm I guess I’ll + need a new cloak when we get to town.. good thing the STAGS + are water proof.” Taking accord of the situation Alex notices + that Ink has dropped onto the deck, and is hurridly beckoning + what looks like a stretcher and confidence down the zip line. + “I guess things went not so smoothly back in the hotel + then..”
+Looking up past confidence along the zip line Alex also + notes a set of cyberplasms making their way clumsily along the + zipline. “Shit! Inky, Confidence! Get the hell on the ship + NOW!”
+Alex dashes back up to the helm of the ship and grabs the + wheel. As soon as Inky has Confidence and the stretcher safely + on the deck Alex grabs the wheel and casts the wheel hard to + starboard side, ripping the zipline and moarings from the wall + of the hotel. “Inky cut the zipline, quick a you can, and + check the side of the hull for any stow aways!!”
The hemogoblin hums merrily as you retrieve the dagger and - fruitlessly attempt to mop up the pool of blood. It wriggles - around—suddenly seemingly boneless—and giggles and blows - raspberries as you try to take measurements with the GBD. It - is kind of annoying but also totally cute.
-Your instrument picks up on an anomaly. You have a clear - vital signal for the hemogoblin. That’s normal. And there is - an extremely high amount of ferrous material inside of it. But - you think that’s also probably normal for a hemogoblin. - Finally, there is a faint signal of some other kind of entity. - And that is not normal.
-Under normal circumstances you would say, given the - measurements, that this second non-goblin entity is in some - kind of stable but near-death or catatonic state. As though it - is a deep sleep. Is there some weird magic at work here? Or is - this some strange, undocumented part of the normal hemogoblin - physiology? Did this little fella just absorb a knife - spirit?
-The hemogoblin reaches up and holds your hand as you pass - the instrument over its body. It smiles at you happily.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
- - ]]> --- -Damn it! I should’ve left the little goblin in the balloon, - this could get tricky..
-Time slows for just the briefest of moments while Alex - calculates his next move. Looking at the position of the - pirates he can probably yeet the middlemost one away from the - group into the left most pirate. Best case this sends both of - them sailing over the edge of the ship, worst case it just - slightly knocks them off balance. In either event this gives - me enough time to dart from cover and quickly dispatch the - right most pirate with Uncle’s dagger. I’ve got to sever each - connection point between the ecotplasm and the cybernetics, - nothing quite as quick and easy as flesh and blood, but a - quick slice to the left most armpit, and another to the right - most leg right above the carotid artery should do it..
-Jumping immediately to action Alex casts -
-yeet.middle_cyberplasm()sending the middle - pirate into the left most pirate away from the hemogoblin - while he dashes forward to take the third right most pirate by - surprise. As he reaches the right most pirate he makes two - quick slices, first at the leg, followed by a quick upper cut - to the left arm.
You channel some of the ambient environmental charge into - your prepared incantation. It’s comforting sometimes to peer - behind the veil and see the world through this lens. It’s so - simple. The separation of self and other is an illusion: - everything is just a table. The concept of time itself is - simplified: coroutines prevent everything from happening all - at once and create the illusion of concurrency. It’s all - really quite elegant.
-Anyway so the hemogoblin sidles up next to the pirates at
- the railing. It’s not tall enough to see over the railing, and
- starts to kind of jump up and down, trying to catch a glimpse.
- The pirates look down at it in confusion just as the
- yeet happens, and they knock into each other. The
- leftmost one almost manages to regain its balance but then
- trips over the little blood gremlin and pitches over the
- railing. The middle pirate yelps as the startled hemogoblin
- darts between its legs to get out of the way. The pirate
- stumbles and then slips in a small puddle of blood. Its feet
- shoot from beneath it and it too tips over the railing.
The hemogoblin dashes right into the waiting arms of the - rightmost Cyberplasm. “Gotcha, you little … ugh! What …” The - pirate is starting to regret snatching up the little furball, - which is defensively gushing blood all over it, when you make - your first slice into its left armpit. Half its cybernetics go - offline. One arm goes limp and it drops the hemogoblin, which - scurries around and hides behind you. The pirate turns toward - you, now full of regrets, and you stab into its right leg, - knocking its tech completely offline and dispersing the - ghostly energies.
-As far as you can tell, the ship is now free of - Cyberplasms.
-The hemogoblin thrusts its tiny fists in the air and - cheers.
---Inky shakes out several large and very fine kerchiefs, - handing two each to the guides and gestures for them to cover - their noses and mouths with them while they perform the action - themselves to demonstrate.
-Donning a pair of skydiving goggles snatched from one of - the souvenir stalls at the gondola station while no one was - looking (replacing it with its approximate weight in silver - coins), Inky retrieves a black metal box that previously - served as a portable camp stove from their knapsack and - removes the lid. The inside of the box is filled with dry wood - chips mixed with a pine green powder, and Inky throws in the - wicks pulled from some of the scented candles that were pushed - into a heater flask to melt fully during the walk up the hotel - steps. Finally, Inky pours another vial of foul-smelling - liquid over the contents, opens the door just wide enough to - slide the metal box through to one side of the door a few - paces away.
-A mildly sweet, cloying smoke emanates from the flameless - heat inside the box, which begin to fill the library hall with - a rapidly thickening cloud. It is also taking on an acrid and - slightly sooty edge. Near the door, Inky fans more of the - smoke in the direction of the cyberplasmic apparition with a - thin bound manuscript laying on the floor.
-
Bread, Confidence, and you all don protective gear. You - push the camp stove through the door like an Olympic curler. - It glides across the library floor a respectable distance - considering the book debris and the lack of sweepers. Much - more quickly than one would think possible, the hall is filled - with a thick, sooty smoke. The Cyberplasm captain groans with - frustration as even the short distance between it and the - hotelier (and the crystal) becomes occluded in the smoke - screen. The hotelier wisely doesn’t make a sound as he - disappears from view.
-Bread nudges you, grins, and gives you a thumbs up.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
- - ]]> ---This seems a bit strange. Certainly Blavin has been pulling - strings from behind the scenes the whole time, but why - coordinate a special escort for us when there are other - retrieval teams, and we’ve been less than amicable with the - bloke the entire time.. Alex thinks to himself.
-DM: I’d like to check for any signs of deceit in the - toques demeanor or communcations with us
-Confidence you said right? What would you do if I simply - chose not to accompany you? I mean, there’s a whole city - around us, perhaps I’d prefer a drink before climbing a - mountains worth of stairs. Or better yet, I could get back on - the boat and ride to the top and same myself the hassle.
-
Bread once again looks confused. Confidence looks - surprised, caught off guard.
- -Confidence sputters, “Well, yes, of course. You’ve been - traveling for some time now, haven’t you? I can assure you - that the food and drink at Runesocesius will be better than - anything you can get here! But the choice is entirely yours. - Feel free to avail yourself of the local offerings. We will - wait here at the steps for you.”
-Bread nods slowly, and seems to trailing behind the - conversation just a second or two.
-Their reactions seem genuine to you despite the - circumstances. They seem like a couple of low level employees - of a luxury hotel earnestly trying to follow the instructions - they’ve been given.
-There are a couple of stalls and vendors set up around the - gondola station. Many of them serve mulled wine and hot - chocolate. There is some edible fare. Hot sandwiches and - pitas. Nothing that an empanada from Enrique’s wouldn’t put to - shame. But they look hot and steamy, and of great comfort to - anybody who might be hungry and cold. There are a few fire - pits, next to which there are long benches with blankets, - where you might sit and warm up for a bit.
-The gondola lift ends here, and does not continue up to the - mountain any further. The cloud steps are the most common way - to get up to the peak, and to the Runesocesius. But you’re - pretty sure one or two of the stalls here offers balloon rides - up to the peak for thrill seekers and for those with - accessibility needs.
---“I think you already know I’m interested in neither bread - nor cheese, the second of which I certainly did not ask for - yet you tried to offer in your hasty pretence.” Inky smiles - thinly at the toques.
-Taking out a small bag of gold coins and weighing it slowly - on one hand to the sound of coins clinking inside the pouch, - Inky continues, “Speak, answer our questions frankly and you - will be rewarded. The hotelier up there need not know. Breathe - a word of our little chat to another soul, however …” Inky’s - gaze cut briefly to four snow ravens perched atop a spiral - lamp post and back, “and you will learn the meaning of - disappearing without a trace.”
-
Bread looks confused. You are starting to believe it is - their default expression. “So, you don’t want no - chee—”
-“Our only desire is to help!” Confidence hastily - interrupts. He smiles pleasingly. “We are your guides! Not - just physically up the steps, but in all things here on Kelsun - Peak. You have but to ask, and if it is within our power to - give it, it will be yours! We are but humble ser—”
-And just then Confidence is also suddenly interrupted. A - thundering boom like a canon sounds from somewhere nearby, - followed quickly by an explosion somewhere up above. Snow - ravens fly off in all directions in a panic. The sound ripples - through the mountaintop, rattling the ground on which you - stand. A bunch of small rocks and two large boulders shake - loose from the mountainside. Shoppers and travelers shout and - duck for cover as they are pelted by the scree. One of the - large boulder bounces clear over the station and plummets down - the side of the mountain before disappearing into the cloud - ocean below. The second one falls straight toward the - platform. A vendor selling wreaths and candles dives out of - the way as his stall is crushed by the boulder. A bench is - toppled over, spilling its blankets into the fire pit, and - catches fire, quickly spreading to another nearby stall.
-Bread looks up at the sky, confused. You see a thin line of - black smoke starting to rise up into the sky from over the - ridge where the Runesocesius lies. Confidence shouts, and you - see him pointing at the sea, where a balloonship is rising up - out of the cloud bank, sailing quickly toward you and the - summit of Kelsun Peak.
-It resembles a seafaring ship, but instead of masts and - sails, it has two large, colorful, patchwork balloons that - provide it lift. A large fan on a pivot at the rear of the - ship provides thrust. As you watch, it fires a second - canon—that is what the sound was!—nearly straight up, - arcing up and over the peak at Palace Runesocesius.
-The crew of the ship bustle around on the deck of the ship, - reloading the canons, firing the balloons, shouting, giving - and following orders.
-“Cyberplasms,” groans Confidence, and Bread whimpers. Alex, - that quiet, dull, static roar that has been constantly - tickling the back of your head ever since you found that - dagger seems to rise in pitch and in tone. It conveys a sense - of urgency, of warning. You can almost hear a - desperate voice behind the static fuzz cautioning you, - “Evil…”
-The only corporeal element of the crew are their cybernetic - enhancements. A mechanical leg. A synthetic eye. A claw, a - hook, a hand. An arm canon. Almost all of them have more than - one, some as many as 3 or 5. The cybernetic pieces of each - individual crew member are held together by plasmic energy - arcs, crackling blue and green. And surrounding the bioware - and the plasmic arcs of each crew member, like a blanket or a - cocoon, is the translucent, wavering, ghostly form of some - humanoid long-dead.
-The figure standing on the deck surveying the work of the - rest of the crew—presumably the captain—has a synthetic eye - rotating freely, 360 degrees in all directions, inside its - skull-like head; a bulky arm canon; and a thin robotic leg - terminating in a thick boot. Plasmic blasts arc through its - core, sometimes disrupting and glitching its ghostly body.
-The captain raises its arm canon and shouts to the crew. - Its voice carried on the breeze sounds like something - otherworldly rising slowly from the murky deep. “Fire the - canon, boys! And fire up the balloons! Drop the ballast! That - crystal is ours!”
-It happens very quickly: the ship ascends to the summit and - soon is firing grappling hooks at it to pull themselves in and - breach the walls of the hotel.
-Bread looks at you, wide-eyed and trembling. They let loose - a pitiful wail and turn and start running up the steps. - “Bread!” Confidence yells after them. They cast a backward - glance at you. “I’ve got to help Bread! We’ve got to save the - hotel!” And they give chase to their fellow toque, bounding up - the cloudstuff steps.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
- - ]]> ---Ah so I suppose those Toques were being honest then, there - was a Ginnarak crystal, and I guess they were going to give it - to us.. oh well, nothing good in life comes easy.
-Alex cranks the dial on the sunspoke, grabs the hemogoblin - from the basket, and jumps out of the balloon and onto the - deck of the ship. He rushes over to the nearest pile of - bundled rope and barrels and stows his new hemo friend. “Just - stay hidden little guy, let me take care of these pirates - first.”
-Alex grabs the dagger from his side as he makes his way - towards the side of the ship, first thing first, best to cut - the mooring lines and zip lines. The static clawing sensation - appears at the back of Alex’s mind, but he attempts to ignore - it. There’s too much that needs to be done too quickly, and - he’s all too aware of the danger he’s put himself in. “What - would Corraidhin do..” Alex thinks to himself, “perhaps a - spell?”.
--function target:new(obj, tbl) - obj = obj or {} - setmetatable(obj, self) - self.__index = self - self.x = 0 - self.y = 0 - self.speed = 0 - reutrn obj -end - -function target:yeet() - self.x = 100 - self.y = 100 - self.speed = 50 - return self -endAfter preparing the spell Alex makes his way towards the - guard rail ready to cut the mooring and zip lines, spell at - the ready should an enemy appear.
-
You crank the dial to 11. The sunspoke squeals in delight - and burns like a tiny star. You grab the hemogoblin, who - chirrups and clings tightly to you, and leap from the balloon - onto the deck of the airship.
-You think you can hear—barely audible—the sunspoke singing - a song of homecoming as the hot air balloon continues to rise - unpiloted up toward the sun.
-You rush over to cover behind a barrel, and deposit your - new hemogoblin friend safely inside the center of a large coil - of rope. It looks up at you quizzically, but nods when you - tell it to stay put.
-You invoke the powers of the moon and prepare a quick but - (hopefully) sufficient Spell of Yeeting.
- -When you draw the dagger, the world develops a faint static - background noise which is easy enough to ignore at the moment - given the state of things. You dash forward and start sawing - at the thick mooring lines. The dagger’s ruby hilt flashes in - the sunlight as you work, and in your mind’s eye you see a - bright red wine, and a drop of blood red ink flowing from the - nib of a fountain pen.
-You shake the images from your head just as you finish - sawing through the rope. A Cyberplasm who was shimmying back - up the rope from the hotel to the ship yelps as the line goes - slack and swings back into the side of the cliff. The pirate - rebounds from the impact, bounces off the mountainside a few - times, and falls from view as it disappears through the clouds - below.
-The ship drifts lazily, rising slightly, and despite your - best sneaking around, the remaining Cyberplasms on board - cannot help but notice that the ship is no longer tethered. - You successfully hide behind a barrel as three cyber ghost - pirates come rushing over to the ship railing and lean over, - looking below at where there are no longer any ropes attaching - the ship to the hotel.
-Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the hemogoblin - toddling across the deck toward the Cyberplasms, no doubt - curious about what they’re looking at over the side of the - ship.
---“Indeed, Bread, it’s me. You have not yet escaped your fate - of untraceable disappearance just yet.” Inky deadpans, then - smiles. “We have much to discuss, but later. I do need a guide - … to your hotelier. Presumably I will find them by following - the racket and trail of ruined decor, but maybe you know of a - quicker route?”
-
Bread smiles at the threat of being untraceably - disappeared, mostly confident that they are on the inside of a - private little joke and that they are presently in no actual - danger from Inky. They grip their hammer a little tighter - nonetheless.
-Confidence slips their trowels into their apron. “Yes, this - way!”
-They hurry down the hall. You know you’re going the right - way because tattered, torn, charred books litter the ground in - increasing numbers. Bits of paper and ash fall like snow.
-Confidence guides you away from the entrance to the - library’s Great Hall, and takes you instead to a smaller, more - discreet staff entrance. They open the door a crack, and as - you look through you are just in time to see the ship captain - with their cybernetic leg, arm canon, and eye. Now that the - crew have cleared the way for them, they stroll across the - library over piles of fallen, damaged books.
-A thin bald man with a neatly trimmed mustache is on the - other side of the hall, his back turned to the pirate. He - wears a fine suit and has just finished unlocking a glass - display case. He retrieves a multifaceted blue and gold stone - and hugs it to his chest with both arms. He throws a panicked - glance over his shoulder at the slowly approaching pirate, and - turns to run away. His retreat is halted by a small explosion - at his feet. He skids to a stop and looks back at the pirate, - who is lowering their arm canon.
-“The crystal,” the captain demands in a voice part ghostly - moan, part mechanical drone. “Hand it over, hotelier.” It - steps closer. “Mother has promised us new bodies if we deliver - the quintessence. You won’t be permitted to stand in our - way.”
-One pirate near the breach tucks a couple volumes of manhwa - under its arm and climbs out onto the mooring line, returning - to the ship with its plunder. It howls as the line suddenly - goes slack, flinging the pirate and its comics into the - mountainside, and then out into space.
-Sunlight pours into the library from outside as the shadow - of the airship shifts as it starts to drift, suddenly - unmoored.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
- - ]]> ---Alex snatches up his new hemo friend cheering huzzah as he - does. We’ve got a pirate ship little guy!
-Rushing about the deck Alex quickly takes stock of what’s - left, plenty of ammo, general supplies, fuel, perfectly - provisioned for a quick crystal kidnapping. Smart move - pirates, but not smart enough.
-Alex heads to the helm and steadies the ship guiding it out - and away from the library, can’t have any of the remaining - cyberplasms easily reboarding it now can we? Once the ship is - out of range Alex checks his S.T.A.G drone’s twtxt feed for - updates.
--@<drone/fhsoa7483/video> Cyberplasm approaching crystal -@<drone/fhsoa7483/gps> approx library, top level -@<drone/fhsoa7483/audio> Cyberplasm threatens violence -@<drone/fhsoa7483/video> Inky, bread, confidence enter subvertly -@<drone/fhsoa7483/video> Visual feed impaired due to unknown smog -@<drone/fhsoa7483/audio> Angry tones, uncertain whoNot particularly helpful, and it rules out my first - thought. I could blindly fire the broadside canons into the - library hoping to hit the cyberplasm, but I’d be just as - likely to hit Inky, Bread, Confidence or any other innocent - bystander. I’ve got to get a message to her.
-Alex quickly dispatches a command to the S.T.A.G
--@<drone/fhsoa7483/cmd> Seek Inky -@<drone/fhsoa7483/relay> Secured ship, inform A.I of intentions, will coordinate rescue via the stolen shipIf all we’ve got is this, then we’d best be ready for a - quick rescue. Alex busies himself preparing a new zipline and - mooring lines. He then loads the boradside canons and the top - deck swivel canons. It’ll need to be quick, but if I’m ready I - can swing the ship in close, deploy a zipline for Inky to zip - down to the ship with, and defend the retreat with the - swivels. If everyone retreats to the ship we can take a note - from the pirates playbook and blast them to hell with the - broadsides while we make our retreat. Or simply run I suppose, - but I dislike the idea of leaving innocent people to deal with - angry pirates
-
The hemogoblin cheers you on as you take possession of the - airship, accidentally squirting a few jets of rust colored - blood in its excitement. Must still be quite young. They don’t - gain full control of their blood sacs until well into - adulthood.
-You check your S.T.A.G. drone’s twtxt feeds. This A.I. - seems especially reliable, you note with satisfaction. Its - updates are regular and detailed. Even when there’s not much - to report.
-You load up the canons and take control of the helm. The - hemogoblin stands at attention at the broadside canons with a - cracklesparkler, ready to light the fuse at your command. You - steer the ship a short distance away from the hotel, hopefully - out of reach of the cyberplasms. But within range of your own - canons and ziplines.
---While Inky has the attention of both guides, they close the - door again until it is slightly ajar, and make a series of - hand gestures. First pointing at themselves, at their own - forearm and fist held stiffly to mimic the shape of the - captain’s arm cannon, to indicate that Inky will handle the - Cyberplasm. Then Inky points the two fingers of a hand at - Bread and Confidence, turns the two fingers downward and - swings them back and forth in opposite directions to convey - walking. This was followed by a single finger pointing in the - general direction they had last seen the hotelier; then the - finger hooks inward, the arm repeating a yanking motion once - or twice before ending the gesture with a thumb tossed over - their shoulder towards the hallway away from the staff - entrance, to ask them to get their boss out of the library to - a safe spot.
-Without waiting for confirmation from the toques, Inky - opens the door, abruptly stops, turns and shoves a compostable - bag of mango-flavoured croutons at Bread, gives them a thumbs - up in return and a mildly disturbing, eye-crinkling smile - behind their kerchief, before slipping inside the smoky room. - One hand is already pulling out a thin, extendable metal - walking pole with a carrying strap visually resembling the - type used by hikers from their courier bag to check for - obstacles amid the lowered visibility.
-
Confidence watches all of your hand gestures closely, and - then nods resolutely. They draw their large hoe, and turn and - start to crouch run toward the main entrance to to the main - hall of the library.
-Bread looks confused, but ready to follow Confidence. They - grab their heavy meat tenderizer and crouch down in imitation - of their fellow toque. Before they can run off, you shove a - bag of croutons into their arms. “Small. Toasted. Bread,” they - intonate slowly in wonder. The confusion falls from their face - as they break into a wide grin. “Now I’ll never disappear - without a trace,” they laugh. They thank you and run like a - duck after Confidence.
---Inside, Inky lobs the empty glass vial that had held the - unpleasantly pungent organic catalyst at a spot the floor - several paces roughly from where the Cyberplasm — presumably - the leader of the group — had been standing earlier, in the - opposite direction of the staff entrance in an attempt to - divert attention from the hotelier’s last location. As they - edge along the wall towards the tower stairs, walking pole - looped over one hand, Inky grabs a few small hardcover - novellas from a wall shelf. Straightening from their crouch, - Inky tosses them one at a time horizontally in quick - succession like a discus, but without the full-body turning - motion, across the hall towards the sounds of frustrated - groans and angry muttering. The first starting higher around - where a human head might have once been, one at waist height - and another at the juncture below where ectoplasmic knees - might meet prosthetic legs.
-
You pick up three hardback novellas. If it wasn’t so smoky, - and if you weren’t so much in the middle of a potentially life - and death struggle with the Cyberplasm captain of a pirate - airship, you might notice their titles: Stop and Smell the - Crystals, Living the Corn, and A Big - Moon.
- -Anyway, you start flinging.
- -After you toss the catalyst, you can see a plasmic form - heavily blurred and obscured by the smoke turn in that - direction. You fling Stop and Smell the Crystals at - it, and it spins like a discus and smashes into the pirate - right in the face, above the chin. It howls and brings its - hand to its face, and turns and charges up its arm cannon.
- -Mostly going on sound now, you fling Living the - Corn at the pirate’s moan and at the electric whine of - the canon charging. You hear the canon discharge but the - half-blind pirate fires wide. You see the flash of the energy - blast hitting something, someone, else obscured by smoke in - the middle distance between the two of you. A man screams out - in pain. Right after the muffled thump of his body hitting the - ground, you hear the clinking and ringing of something heavy - and metallic striking and rolling across the floor.
-Living on Corn strikes the pirate in the elbow, - and with a fizzle and a spark, the arm cannon sputters - offline.
- -The pirate stumbles forward, half-lame and half-blind. It - stoops and scoops up a heavy melon-sized object. It stomps its - cybernetic boot, and small rockets spring out from small - compartments on either side of its ankle. They start to fire - up and the pirate is about to make its escape when A Big - Moon hits it right above knee and severs the ghost’s - final connection to its final enhancement.
-It groans as it starts to dissipate, dropping the heavy - object once more.
-“My crew, it is too late for me! I shall never have a new - body now! But it’s not too late for you! You must bring the - quintessence to Mother!”
-And then the pirate’s essence is diluted in the smoke - filling the library.
---At that moment Inky hears a very low whirring accompanied - by clicking sounds behind them and without glancing backwards, - swings the walking pole at the source of the buzzing. The - stick collides with something, sending it careening backwards - with a light clatter through what is likely a row of - bookshelves around the area already partially emptied of their - contents. From the static noise that ensues, Inky realises - whatever it was may or may not have been one of the wizard’s - bugs hovering in the shadows earlier or a disembodied, - ectoplasm-spewing prosthetic limb after all. Inky calls out - sheepishly, “Sorry, Young Master Alex! Was that yours? Oops? - Haha?” before smashing two more empty glass bottles as a - distraction for any remaining Cyberplasms lurking on the same - floor, and sprints up the tower stairs, using the banisters as - a guide.
-
The Amber Imp is feverishly reporting all the goings on - from inside the S.T.A.G. drone when Inky strikes its - conveyance with their walking pole. The bug is destroyed on - contact. The imp barely manages to fire off one final End Of - Transmission post before ejecting from the craft, which sinks - below like an exploded firework. It drifts on the currents of - smoke and flows out through the hole in the wall into the open - air outside. The imp falls through open space and starts to - think back on its life. So much time and energy spent chasing - its hopes and dreams, its goals and aspirations. So much of - its life wasted in pursuit. Always reaching, never grasping. - Is that all it gets? Is this the end? Did it ever really even - get a chance to really live?
-These thoughts race through its head as it falls, but are - cut short when it abruptly lands on a hard bed of cloudstuff. - It tumbles and rolls and comes to a stop. And when it looks - up, amazed to be alive and vowing to make the most of this - second chance at life, it looks up into the benevolent smiling - face of a pink zephynos.
~
-Inky, you cross the floor to where the pirate had its last - stand. You find what appears to be approximately one-fifth of - the hotelier, and wonder idly where the rest of him might be. - And you notice a conspicuous lack of Ginnarak Crystal.
-You do however notice a soft crunch underfoot. And when you - bend down to inspect it—disorganized cyberplasms running amok - in the smoke behind you—you discover a trail of mango flavored - croutons leading across the hall to the tower stairs.
-You sprint up the stairs using the banisters as a guide. - The breadcrumb trail ends on the seventh level, where - Confidence sits slumped against the wall between two - bookshelves. They have one arm around four-fifths of the - hotelier, his shocked gaze telling you everything you need to - know, that he is entirely dead but just doesn’t know it yet. - Their other arm is around Bread, who has suffered a massive - wound to the chest and is only slightly more alive than the - hotelier. On the ground between Confidence’s legs is the - Ginnarak Crystal. Several loose pages are stuck to its sides, - held in place by drying blood and ectoplasm.
-Confidence looks at you and smiles wearily. “We left a - trail for you. It was Bread’s idea. They were a good - guide.”
-WHAT DO YOU DO
+++As the toques slide down the last few feet to the deck of + the balloonship. Inky takes out a sharp knife and saws through + the zipline. As they patrol along the edge to check the side + of the hull for additional company, Inky pulls out a tea + strainer from their kit and opens a bag of limequats, small + round fruits they keep around for their zest and juice to + flavour some infusions. They drop a limequat into the + strainer, preparing to fling a ball of citrus at the potential + presence of any stowaways.
+
Inky and Confidence carefully dump Bread onto the deck of + the ship. They grunt at the impact and mutter a weak thank + you.
+Inky starts to saw through the zipline with their knife. + The closest cyberplasm can almost reach out for the railing + and haul itself up. The second pirate is not far behind it. + Alex yanks the ship hard to starboard and—thanks to Inky + sawing on it—the line snaps cleanly in two.
+Inky looks over the railing in time to see the second + pirate fall into the sea of clouds with a surprised look on + its face. There is no trace of the first one. As Inky patrols + alongside the edge to check for additional company, they see + one ghostly hand and then the other reach up and grab hold of + the rail.
+When the cyberplasm pops its head up and peers over the + railing, the first thing it sees is a tea strainer flying at + its face. It tries to turn away, but ends up with a face full + of limequat juice nonetheless. As the citrus starts to burn, + it squeezes its eyes shut tight, even tighter than its grip on + the railing. All of its focus and effort is concentrated on + the burning sensation in its eyes. On autopilot, one of its + hands lets go of the railing to quickly wipe the juice + away.
+When it grips the railing again, its hand is now slick with + juice, and it slips. Knocked off balance and unable to get a + grip, the pirate cries out as it too falls into the ocean of + clouds, eyes squeezed shut the whole time.
+Poking its head and arms out of the pack on Alex’s back, + the hemogoblin claps and cheers.
+The balloonship sails away from Runesocesius and from + Kelsun Peak. The sun is starting to set, and the clouds are + turning brilliant pinks and reds. This delights the zephynos, + who leap and cavort in the clouds, and run playfully alongside + the ship for a while.
+You have in your possession a stolen pirate airship, a + recovered Ginnarak Crystal, a couple novellas and manhwa, two + warrior toque tour guides, and a childlike hemogoblin who may + or may not be possessed by some kind of spirit.
+END OF CHAPTER 3
+++Ah so I suppose those Toques were being honest then, there + was a Ginnarak crystal, and I guess they were going to give it + to us.. oh well, nothing good in life comes easy.
+Alex cranks the dial on the sunspoke, grabs the hemogoblin + from the basket, and jumps out of the balloon and onto the + deck of the ship. He rushes over to the nearest pile of + bundled rope and barrels and stows his new hemo friend. “Just + stay hidden little guy, let me take care of these pirates + first.”
+Alex grabs the dagger from his side as he makes his way + towards the side of the ship, first thing first, best to cut + the mooring lines and zip lines. The static clawing sensation + appears at the back of Alex’s mind, but he attempts to ignore + it. There’s too much that needs to be done too quickly, and + he’s all too aware of the danger he’s put himself in. “What + would Corraidhin do..” Alex thinks to himself, “perhaps a + spell?”.
++function target:new(obj, tbl) + obj = obj or {} + setmetatable(obj, self) + self.__index = self + self.x = 0 + self.y = 0 + self.speed = 0 + reutrn obj +end + +function target:yeet() + self.x = 100 + self.y = 100 + self.speed = 50 + return self +endAfter preparing the spell Alex makes his way towards the + guard rail ready to cut the mooring and zip lines, spell at + the ready should an enemy appear.
+
You crank the dial to 11. The sunspoke squeals in delight + and burns like a tiny star. You grab the hemogoblin, who + chirrups and clings tightly to you, and leap from the balloon + onto the deck of the airship.
+You think you can hear—barely audible—the sunspoke singing + a song of homecoming as the hot air balloon continues to rise + unpiloted up toward the sun.
+You rush over to cover behind a barrel, and deposit your + new hemogoblin friend safely inside the center of a large coil + of rope. It looks up at you quizzically, but nods when you + tell it to stay put.
+You invoke the powers of the moon and prepare a quick but + (hopefully) sufficient Spell of Yeeting.
+ +When you draw the dagger, the world develops a faint static + background noise which is easy enough to ignore at the moment + given the state of things. You dash forward and start sawing + at the thick mooring lines. The dagger’s ruby hilt flashes in + the sunlight as you work, and in your mind’s eye you see a + bright red wine, and a drop of blood red ink flowing from the + nib of a fountain pen.
+You shake the images from your head just as you finish + sawing through the rope. A Cyberplasm who was shimmying back + up the rope from the hotel to the ship yelps as the line goes + slack and swings back into the side of the cliff. The pirate + rebounds from the impact, bounces off the mountainside a few + times, and falls from view as it disappears through the clouds + below.
+The ship drifts lazily, rising slightly, and despite your + best sneaking around, the remaining Cyberplasms on board + cannot help but notice that the ship is no longer tethered. + You successfully hide behind a barrel as three cyber ghost + pirates come rushing over to the ship railing and lean over, + looking below at where there are no longer any ropes attaching + the ship to the hotel.
+Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the hemogoblin + toddling across the deck toward the Cyberplasms, no doubt + curious about what they’re looking at over the side of the + ship.
+++“Indeed, Bread, it’s me. You have not yet escaped your fate + of untraceable disappearance just yet.” Inky deadpans, then + smiles. “We have much to discuss, but later. I do need a guide + … to your hotelier. Presumably I will find them by following + the racket and trail of ruined decor, but maybe you know of a + quicker route?”
+
Bread smiles at the threat of being untraceably + disappeared, mostly confident that they are on the inside of a + private little joke and that they are presently in no actual + danger from Inky. They grip their hammer a little tighter + nonetheless.
+Confidence slips their trowels into their apron. “Yes, this + way!”
+They hurry down the hall. You know you’re going the right + way because tattered, torn, charred books litter the ground in + increasing numbers. Bits of paper and ash fall like snow.
+Confidence guides you away from the entrance to the + library’s Great Hall, and takes you instead to a smaller, more + discreet staff entrance. They open the door a crack, and as + you look through you are just in time to see the ship captain + with their cybernetic leg, arm canon, and eye. Now that the + crew have cleared the way for them, they stroll across the + library over piles of fallen, damaged books.
+A thin bald man with a neatly trimmed mustache is on the + other side of the hall, his back turned to the pirate. He + wears a fine suit and has just finished unlocking a glass + display case. He retrieves a multifaceted blue and gold stone + and hugs it to his chest with both arms. He throws a panicked + glance over his shoulder at the slowly approaching pirate, and + turns to run away. His retreat is halted by a small explosion + at his feet. He skids to a stop and looks back at the pirate, + who is lowering their arm canon.
+“The crystal,” the captain demands in a voice part ghostly + moan, part mechanical drone. “Hand it over, hotelier.” It + steps closer. “Mother has promised us new bodies if we deliver + the quintessence. You won’t be permitted to stand in our + way.”
+One pirate near the breach tucks a couple volumes of manhwa + under its arm and climbs out onto the mooring line, returning + to the ship with its plunder. It howls as the line suddenly + goes slack, flinging the pirate and its comics into the + mountainside, and then out into space.
+Sunlight pours into the library from outside as the shadow + of the airship shifts as it starts to drift, suddenly + unmoored.
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +++ +Damn it! I should’ve left the little goblin in the balloon, + this could get tricky..
+Time slows for just the briefest of moments while Alex + calculates his next move. Looking at the position of the + pirates he can probably yeet the middlemost one away from the + group into the left most pirate. Best case this sends both of + them sailing over the edge of the ship, worst case it just + slightly knocks them off balance. In either event this gives + me enough time to dart from cover and quickly dispatch the + right most pirate with Uncle’s dagger. I’ve got to sever each + connection point between the ecotplasm and the cybernetics, + nothing quite as quick and easy as flesh and blood, but a + quick slice to the left most armpit, and another to the right + most leg right above the carotid artery should do it..
+Jumping immediately to action Alex casts +
+yeet.middle_cyberplasm()sending the middle + pirate into the left most pirate away from the hemogoblin + while he dashes forward to take the third right most pirate by + surprise. As he reaches the right most pirate he makes two + quick slices, first at the leg, followed by a quick upper cut + to the left arm.
You channel some of the ambient environmental charge into + your prepared incantation. It’s comforting sometimes to peer + behind the veil and see the world through this lens. It’s so + simple. The separation of self and other is an illusion: + everything is just a table. The concept of time itself is + simplified: coroutines prevent everything from happening all + at once and create the illusion of concurrency. It’s all + really quite elegant.
+Anyway so the hemogoblin sidles up next to the pirates at
+ the railing. It’s not tall enough to see over the railing, and
+ starts to kind of jump up and down, trying to catch a glimpse.
+ The pirates look down at it in confusion just as the
+ yeet happens, and they knock into each other. The
+ leftmost one almost manages to regain its balance but then
+ trips over the little blood gremlin and pitches over the
+ railing. The middle pirate yelps as the startled hemogoblin
+ darts between its legs to get out of the way. The pirate
+ stumbles and then slips in a small puddle of blood. Its feet
+ shoot from beneath it and it too tips over the railing.
The hemogoblin dashes right into the waiting arms of the + rightmost Cyberplasm. “Gotcha, you little … ugh! What …” The + pirate is starting to regret snatching up the little furball, + which is defensively gushing blood all over it, when you make + your first slice into its left armpit. Half its cybernetics go + offline. One arm goes limp and it drops the hemogoblin, which + scurries around and hides behind you. The pirate turns toward + you, now full of regrets, and you stab into its right leg, + knocking its tech completely offline and dispersing the + ghostly energies.
+As far as you can tell, the ship is now free of + Cyberplasms.
+The hemogoblin thrusts its tiny fists in the air and + cheers.
+++Inky shakes out several large and very fine kerchiefs, + handing two each to the guides and gestures for them to cover + their noses and mouths with them while they perform the action + themselves to demonstrate.
+Donning a pair of skydiving goggles snatched from one of + the souvenir stalls at the gondola station while no one was + looking (replacing it with its approximate weight in silver + coins), Inky retrieves a black metal box that previously + served as a portable camp stove from their knapsack and + removes the lid. The inside of the box is filled with dry wood + chips mixed with a pine green powder, and Inky throws in the + wicks pulled from some of the scented candles that were pushed + into a heater flask to melt fully during the walk up the hotel + steps. Finally, Inky pours another vial of foul-smelling + liquid over the contents, opens the door just wide enough to + slide the metal box through to one side of the door a few + paces away.
+A mildly sweet, cloying smoke emanates from the flameless + heat inside the box, which begin to fill the library hall with + a rapidly thickening cloud. It is also taking on an acrid and + slightly sooty edge. Near the door, Inky fans more of the + smoke in the direction of the cyberplasmic apparition with a + thin bound manuscript laying on the floor.
+
Bread, Confidence, and you all don protective gear. You + push the camp stove through the door like an Olympic curler. + It glides across the library floor a respectable distance + considering the book debris and the lack of sweepers. Much + more quickly than one would think possible, the hall is filled + with a thick, sooty smoke. The Cyberplasm captain groans with + frustration as even the short distance between it and the + hotelier (and the crystal) becomes occluded in the smoke + screen. The hotelier wisely doesn’t make a sound as he + disappears from view.
+Bread nudges you, grins, and gives you a thumbs up.
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +++Hmm well, that umm, heya little fella. What umm, what did + you find there? Alex moves to pick up Uncle Corraidhin’s + dagger, noting that it’s not nearly as brilliant as it was + before. The ruby gem in the hilt appearing far closer to black + obsidian now, rather unnerving all things considered..
+“There’s definitely something wrong with this Hemogoblin, + this isn’t normal” Alex thinks to himself, “What in the ever + loving run level 0 did Uncle have this dagger for, and why the + hell would he stuff it inside some old book.” He deftly + pockets the dagger, for further inspection once they’re back + at base. Likely someone at HQ can do a deeper analysis of it + then. Thinking ahead, Alex also grabs a handkerchief from his + breast pocket and soaks it in the pool of blood around the + hemogoblin, better than nothing he supposes.
+Pulling a multi pronged instrument labelled “GBD” from his + bag Alex begins to inspect the hemogoblin for magical, + metaphysical, and technological aburations. “Just sit still a + bit little fella, lets see what’s going on”
+
The hemogoblin hums merrily as you retrieve the dagger and + fruitlessly attempt to mop up the pool of blood. It wriggles + around—suddenly seemingly boneless—and giggles and blows + raspberries as you try to take measurements with the GBD. It + is kind of annoying but also totally cute.
+Your instrument picks up on an anomaly. You have a clear + vital signal for the hemogoblin. That’s normal. And there is + an extremely high amount of ferrous material inside of it. But + you think that’s also probably normal for a hemogoblin. + Finally, there is a faint signal of some other kind of entity. + And that is not normal.
+Under normal circumstances you would say, given the + measurements, that this second non-goblin entity is in some + kind of stable but near-death or catatonic state. As though it + is a deep sleep. Is there some weird magic at work here? Or is + this some strange, undocumented part of the normal hemogoblin + physiology? Did this little fella just absorb a knife + spirit?
+The hemogoblin reaches up and holds your hand as you pass + the instrument over its body. It smiles at you happily.
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +++Alex snatches up his new hemo friend cheering huzzah as he + does. We’ve got a pirate ship little guy!
+Rushing about the deck Alex quickly takes stock of what’s + left, plenty of ammo, general supplies, fuel, perfectly + provisioned for a quick crystal kidnapping. Smart move + pirates, but not smart enough.
+Alex heads to the helm and steadies the ship guiding it out + and away from the library, can’t have any of the remaining + cyberplasms easily reboarding it now can we? Once the ship is + out of range Alex checks his S.T.A.G drone’s twtxt feed for + updates.
++@<drone/fhsoa7483/video> Cyberplasm approaching crystal +@<drone/fhsoa7483/gps> approx library, top level +@<drone/fhsoa7483/audio> Cyberplasm threatens violence +@<drone/fhsoa7483/video> Inky, bread, confidence enter subvertly +@<drone/fhsoa7483/video> Visual feed impaired due to unknown smog +@<drone/fhsoa7483/audio> Angry tones, uncertain whoNot particularly helpful, and it rules out my first + thought. I could blindly fire the broadside canons into the + library hoping to hit the cyberplasm, but I’d be just as + likely to hit Inky, Bread, Confidence or any other innocent + bystander. I’ve got to get a message to her.
+Alex quickly dispatches a command to the S.T.A.G
++@<drone/fhsoa7483/cmd> Seek Inky +@<drone/fhsoa7483/relay> Secured ship, inform A.I of intentions, will coordinate rescue via the stolen shipIf all we’ve got is this, then we’d best be ready for a + quick rescue. Alex busies himself preparing a new zipline and + mooring lines. He then loads the boradside canons and the top + deck swivel canons. It’ll need to be quick, but if I’m ready I + can swing the ship in close, deploy a zipline for Inky to zip + down to the ship with, and defend the retreat with the + swivels. If everyone retreats to the ship we can take a note + from the pirates playbook and blast them to hell with the + broadsides while we make our retreat. Or simply run I suppose, + but I dislike the idea of leaving innocent people to deal with + angry pirates
+
The hemogoblin cheers you on as you take possession of the + airship, accidentally squirting a few jets of rust colored + blood in its excitement. Must still be quite young. They don’t + gain full control of their blood sacs until well into + adulthood.
+You check your S.T.A.G. drone’s twtxt feeds. This A.I. + seems especially reliable, you note with satisfaction. Its + updates are regular and detailed. Even when there’s not much + to report.
+You load up the canons and take control of the helm. The + hemogoblin stands at attention at the broadside canons with a + cracklesparkler, ready to light the fuse at your command. You + steer the ship a short distance away from the hotel, hopefully + out of reach of the cyberplasms. But within range of your own + canons and ziplines.
+++While Inky has the attention of both guides, they close the + door again until it is slightly ajar, and make a series of + hand gestures. First pointing at themselves, at their own + forearm and fist held stiffly to mimic the shape of the + captain’s arm cannon, to indicate that Inky will handle the + Cyberplasm. Then Inky points the two fingers of a hand at + Bread and Confidence, turns the two fingers downward and + swings them back and forth in opposite directions to convey + walking. This was followed by a single finger pointing in the + general direction they had last seen the hotelier; then the + finger hooks inward, the arm repeating a yanking motion once + or twice before ending the gesture with a thumb tossed over + their shoulder towards the hallway away from the staff + entrance, to ask them to get their boss out of the library to + a safe spot.
+Without waiting for confirmation from the toques, Inky + opens the door, abruptly stops, turns and shoves a compostable + bag of mango-flavoured croutons at Bread, gives them a thumbs + up in return and a mildly disturbing, eye-crinkling smile + behind their kerchief, before slipping inside the smoky room. + One hand is already pulling out a thin, extendable metal + walking pole with a carrying strap visually resembling the + type used by hikers from their courier bag to check for + obstacles amid the lowered visibility.
+
Confidence watches all of your hand gestures closely, and + then nods resolutely. They draw their large hoe, and turn and + start to crouch run toward the main entrance to to the main + hall of the library.
+Bread looks confused, but ready to follow Confidence. They + grab their heavy meat tenderizer and crouch down in imitation + of their fellow toque. Before they can run off, you shove a + bag of croutons into their arms. “Small. Toasted. Bread,” they + intonate slowly in wonder. The confusion falls from their face + as they break into a wide grin. “Now I’ll never disappear + without a trace,” they laugh. They thank you and run like a + duck after Confidence.
+++Inside, Inky lobs the empty glass vial that had held the + unpleasantly pungent organic catalyst at a spot the floor + several paces roughly from where the Cyberplasm — presumably + the leader of the group — had been standing earlier, in the + opposite direction of the staff entrance in an attempt to + divert attention from the hotelier’s last location. As they + edge along the wall towards the tower stairs, walking pole + looped over one hand, Inky grabs a few small hardcover + novellas from a wall shelf. Straightening from their crouch, + Inky tosses them one at a time horizontally in quick + succession like a discus, but without the full-body turning + motion, across the hall towards the sounds of frustrated + groans and angry muttering. The first starting higher around + where a human head might have once been, one at waist height + and another at the juncture below where ectoplasmic knees + might meet prosthetic legs.
+
You pick up three hardback novellas. If it wasn’t so smoky, + and if you weren’t so much in the middle of a potentially life + and death struggle with the Cyberplasm captain of a pirate + airship, you might notice their titles: Stop and Smell the + Crystals, Living the Corn, and A Big + Moon.
+ +Anyway, you start flinging.
+ +After you toss the catalyst, you can see a plasmic form + heavily blurred and obscured by the smoke turn in that + direction. You fling Stop and Smell the Crystals at + it, and it spins like a discus and smashes into the pirate + right in the face, above the chin. It howls and brings its + hand to its face, and turns and charges up its arm cannon.
+ +Mostly going on sound now, you fling Living the + Corn at the pirate’s moan and at the electric whine of + the canon charging. You hear the canon discharge but the + half-blind pirate fires wide. You see the flash of the energy + blast hitting something, someone, else obscured by smoke in + the middle distance between the two of you. A man screams out + in pain. Right after the muffled thump of his body hitting the + ground, you hear the clinking and ringing of something heavy + and metallic striking and rolling across the floor.
+Living on Corn strikes the pirate in the elbow, + and with a fizzle and a spark, the arm cannon sputters + offline.
+ +The pirate stumbles forward, half-lame and half-blind. It + stoops and scoops up a heavy melon-sized object. It stomps its + cybernetic boot, and small rockets spring out from small + compartments on either side of its ankle. They start to fire + up and the pirate is about to make its escape when A Big + Moon hits it right above knee and severs the ghost’s + final connection to its final enhancement.
+It groans as it starts to dissipate, dropping the heavy + object once more.
+“My crew, it is too late for me! I shall never have a new + body now! But it’s not too late for you! You must bring the + quintessence to Mother!”
+And then the pirate’s essence is diluted in the smoke + filling the library.
+++At that moment Inky hears a very low whirring accompanied + by clicking sounds behind them and without glancing backwards, + swings the walking pole at the source of the buzzing. The + stick collides with something, sending it careening backwards + with a light clatter through what is likely a row of + bookshelves around the area already partially emptied of their + contents. From the static noise that ensues, Inky realises + whatever it was may or may not have been one of the wizard’s + bugs hovering in the shadows earlier or a disembodied, + ectoplasm-spewing prosthetic limb after all. Inky calls out + sheepishly, “Sorry, Young Master Alex! Was that yours? Oops? + Haha?” before smashing two more empty glass bottles as a + distraction for any remaining Cyberplasms lurking on the same + floor, and sprints up the tower stairs, using the banisters as + a guide.
+
The Amber Imp is feverishly reporting all the goings on + from inside the S.T.A.G. drone when Inky strikes its + conveyance with their walking pole. The bug is destroyed on + contact. The imp barely manages to fire off one final End Of + Transmission post before ejecting from the craft, which sinks + below like an exploded firework. It drifts on the currents of + smoke and flows out through the hole in the wall into the open + air outside. The imp falls through open space and starts to + think back on its life. So much time and energy spent chasing + its hopes and dreams, its goals and aspirations. So much of + its life wasted in pursuit. Always reaching, never grasping. + Is that all it gets? Is this the end? Did it ever really even + get a chance to really live?
+These thoughts race through its head as it falls, but are + cut short when it abruptly lands on a hard bed of cloudstuff. + It tumbles and rolls and comes to a stop. And when it looks + up, amazed to be alive and vowing to make the most of this + second chance at life, it looks up into the benevolent smiling + face of a pink zephynos.
+~
+Inky, you cross the floor to where the pirate had its last + stand. You find what appears to be approximately one-fifth of + the hotelier, and wonder idly where the rest of him might be. + And you notice a conspicuous lack of Ginnarak Crystal.
+You do however notice a soft crunch underfoot. And when you + bend down to inspect it—disorganized cyberplasms running amok + in the smoke behind you—you discover a trail of mango flavored + croutons leading across the hall to the tower stairs.
+You sprint up the stairs using the banisters as a guide. + The breadcrumb trail ends on the seventh level, where + Confidence sits slumped against the wall between two + bookshelves. They have one arm around four-fifths of the + hotelier, his shocked gaze telling you everything you need to + know, that he is entirely dead but just doesn’t know it yet. + Their other arm is around Bread, who has suffered a massive + wound to the chest and is only slightly more alive than the + hotelier. On the ground between Confidence’s legs is the + Ginnarak Crystal. Several loose pages are stuck to its sides, + held in place by drying blood and ectoplasm.
+Confidence looks at you and smiles wearily. “We left a + trail for you. It was Bread’s idea. They were a good + guide.”
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +++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
+ + ]]> +--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.
+This seems a bit strange. Certainly Blavin has been pulling + strings from behind the scenes the whole time, but why + coordinate a special escort for us when there are other + retrieval teams, and we’ve been less than amicable with the + bloke the entire time.. Alex thinks to himself.
+DM: I’d like to check for any signs of deceit in the + toques demeanor or communcations with us
+Confidence you said right? What would you do if I simply + chose not to accompany you? I mean, there’s a whole city + around us, perhaps I’d prefer a drink before climbing a + mountains worth of stairs. Or better yet, I could get back on + the boat and ride to the top and same myself the hassle.
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!
+Bread once again looks confused. Confidence looks + surprised, caught off guard.
+ +Confidence sputters, “Well, yes, of course. You’ve been + traveling for some time now, haven’t you? I can assure you + that the food and drink at Runesocesius will be better than + anything you can get here! But the choice is entirely yours. + Feel free to avail yourself of the local offerings. We will + wait here at the steps for you.”
+Bread nods slowly, and seems to trailing behind the + conversation just a second or two.
+Their reactions seem genuine to you despite the + circumstances. They seem like a couple of low level employees + of a luxury hotel earnestly trying to follow the instructions + they’ve been given.
+There are a couple of stalls and vendors set up around the + gondola station. Many of them serve mulled wine and hot + chocolate. There is some edible fare. Hot sandwiches and + pitas. Nothing that an empanada from Enrique’s wouldn’t put to + shame. But they look hot and steamy, and of great comfort to + anybody who might be hungry and cold. There are a few fire + pits, next to which there are long benches with blankets, + where you might sit and warm up for a bit.
+The gondola lift ends here, and does not continue up to the + mountain any further. The cloud steps are the most common way + to get up to the peak, and to the Runesocesius. But you’re + pretty sure one or two of the stalls here offers balloon rides + up to the peak for thrill seekers and for those with + accessibility needs.
+++“I think you already know I’m interested in neither bread + nor cheese, the second of which I certainly did not ask for + yet you tried to offer in your hasty pretence.” Inky smiles + thinly at the toques.
+Taking out a small bag of gold coins and weighing it slowly + on one hand to the sound of coins clinking inside the pouch, + Inky continues, “Speak, answer our questions frankly and you + will be rewarded. The hotelier up there need not know. Breathe + a word of our little chat to another soul, however …” Inky’s + gaze cut briefly to four snow ravens perched atop a spiral + lamp post and back, “and you will learn the meaning of + disappearing without a trace.”
+
Bread looks confused. You are starting to believe it is + their default expression. “So, you don’t want no + chee—”
+“Our only desire is to help!” Confidence hastily + interrupts. He smiles pleasingly. “We are your guides! Not + just physically up the steps, but in all things here on Kelsun + Peak. You have but to ask, and if it is within our power to + give it, it will be yours! We are but humble ser—”
+And just then Confidence is also suddenly interrupted. A + thundering boom like a canon sounds from somewhere nearby, + followed quickly by an explosion somewhere up above. Snow + ravens fly off in all directions in a panic. The sound ripples + through the mountaintop, rattling the ground on which you + stand. A bunch of small rocks and two large boulders shake + loose from the mountainside. Shoppers and travelers shout and + duck for cover as they are pelted by the scree. One of the + large boulder bounces clear over the station and plummets down + the side of the mountain before disappearing into the cloud + ocean below. The second one falls straight toward the + platform. A vendor selling wreaths and candles dives out of + the way as his stall is crushed by the boulder. A bench is + toppled over, spilling its blankets into the fire pit, and + catches fire, quickly spreading to another nearby stall.
+Bread looks up at the sky, confused. You see a thin line of + black smoke starting to rise up into the sky from over the + ridge where the Runesocesius lies. Confidence shouts, and you + see him pointing at the sea, where a balloonship is rising up + out of the cloud bank, sailing quickly toward you and the + summit of Kelsun Peak.
+It resembles a seafaring ship, but instead of masts and + sails, it has two large, colorful, patchwork balloons that + provide it lift. A large fan on a pivot at the rear of the + ship provides thrust. As you watch, it fires a second + canon—that is what the sound was!—nearly straight up, + arcing up and over the peak at Palace Runesocesius.
+The crew of the ship bustle around on the deck of the ship, + reloading the canons, firing the balloons, shouting, giving + and following orders.
+“Cyberplasms,” groans Confidence, and Bread whimpers. Alex, + that quiet, dull, static roar that has been constantly + tickling the back of your head ever since you found that + dagger seems to rise in pitch and in tone. It conveys a sense + of urgency, of warning. You can almost hear a + desperate voice behind the static fuzz cautioning you, + “Evil…”
+The only corporeal element of the crew are their cybernetic + enhancements. A mechanical leg. A synthetic eye. A claw, a + hook, a hand. An arm canon. Almost all of them have more than + one, some as many as 3 or 5. The cybernetic pieces of each + individual crew member are held together by plasmic energy + arcs, crackling blue and green. And surrounding the bioware + and the plasmic arcs of each crew member, like a blanket or a + cocoon, is the translucent, wavering, ghostly form of some + humanoid long-dead.
+The figure standing on the deck surveying the work of the + rest of the crew—presumably the captain—has a synthetic eye + rotating freely, 360 degrees in all directions, inside its + skull-like head; a bulky arm canon; and a thin robotic leg + terminating in a thick boot. Plasmic blasts arc through its + core, sometimes disrupting and glitching its ghostly body.
+The captain raises its arm canon and shouts to the crew. + Its voice carried on the breeze sounds like something + otherworldly rising slowly from the murky deep. “Fire the + canon, boys! And fire up the balloons! Drop the ballast! That + crystal is ours!”
+It happens very quickly: the ship ascends to the summit and + soon is firing grappling hooks at it to pull themselves in and + breach the walls of the hotel.
+Bread looks at you, wide-eyed and trembling. They let loose + a pitiful wail and turn and start running up the steps. + “Bread!” Confidence yells after them. They cast a backward + glance at you. “I’ve got to help Bread! We’ve got to save the + hotel!” And they give chase to their fellow toque, bounding up + the cloudstuff steps.
WHAT DO YOU DO
+ href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00203.html">www ]]>--As they wait for the balloonship to approach, Inky glances - to the prone remains of the hotelier on the floor and frowns. - There wasn’t much they could do about that now. It was really - inconvenient timing — he hadn’t received the papers yet. Inky - can already picture Cio’s unspoken but palpable disappointment - even as she offered reassurances that it was perfectly fine. - The gnawing guilt she could inflict with a look was worse than - a tenacious terrorier with a bone biscuit. Then Inky recalls - an urban legend from the elderly aunts they sometimes pass by - during teatimes, which claim that it was possible to send - messages and items to the deceased by burning the - articles.
-Ducking momentarily behind another bookshelf, Inky removes - an envelope bearing the seal of a butterfly in red wax, drops - it into a recently-emptied shortbread tin and holds a lit - match to a corner of the paper. Before long the entire - envelope is consumed by the flames and the lid replaced - tightly over the tin. If the paperwork found its way to the - hotelier on the spiritual plane, that would be the formalities - completed. Or if it was reduced to ashes without ever reaching - the recipient, no one had to know.
-Inky walks back to the window to see a flare light and a - zip line ending below the windowsill. They look to the other - end of the line, back to the toques, and around the room. - Their gaze lands on a few cloth covers draped over several - bookshelves near an alcove from top to bottom, possibly to - protect the manuscripts on the shelves from extended exposure - to dust and light. They tie a large red kerchief to the zip - line to indicate they had seen flare signal, before turning to - Confidence. “There’s an airship waiting outside with a zip - line. We should get Bread patched up by a healer in town. It - wouldn’t do to have them walk around like that, unless you - want to turn the hotel into a haunted house attraction.”
-As they finish speaking, Inky pulls off three of the - covers, two iron spears and one of the two decorative flag - poles with flags featuring the crest of Runesocesius, and a - symbol (of the old town, Inky surmises) that stood in a nook - between the wall and a bookshelf. Crossing over to a wall - display of ceremonial chains and maces, they remove two of the - metal chains that hung on from hooks on the wall. Having - gathered the items, they retrieve two zip line harnesses, some - parachute cord and two additional pulley hooks from their - bag.
-They lay the chains on the floor about two feet apart, - followed by the cloth sheets with their outer surfaces facing - down over them, and tie the corners at both ends to the flag - pole to form the base of a makeshift hammock. With - Confidence’s help, they slide Bread onto the sheets, being - cautious to avoid further jostling the toque’s injuries. Inky - wraps the ends of the chains around the flagpole, tying them - and the cloth bundle with loops of parachute cord, and sets - the pulley hooks to links on the top surface of the flag - pole.
-Inky puts on a zip line harness and throws the spare one to - Confidence, directing them to do the same. With some - difficulty, they hoist the bundle of Bread to the window. Inky - descends first, hooking their harness pulley to the zip line - as they brace against the tower wall. As the bundle is slowly - lowered through the window, Inky connects the pulley hooks on - the metal chains to the zip line, Confidence bringing up the - rear while Inky holds the hammock steady.
-While the zephynos play overhead, the three of them prepare - to slide down to the deck of the balloonship along the zip - line.
-
Confidence and Inky, framing the Bread basket between them, - slide down the zipline to the balloonship. The zephynos frolic - up overhead, and the hole in the library wall gapes below. And - beyond that, the endless sea of clouds.
-Inky, having descended the line first, makes it to the ship - ahead of Bread and Confidence. They clambor up over the side, - unhook themself, and reach for the corner of the hammock.
-The 3rd Ginnarak Crystal is now on the deck of the - ship.
-Looking up, Inky sees that two determined cyberplasms have - started following them out the library tower window. Neither - has a harness. One is hanging upside down on the cable, arms - and legs wrapped around it, and has managed to shimmy a couple - feet away from Runesocesius. The other has just swung out of - the window and is holding onto the line with their hands. They - are kicking their legs up over and over, trying to swing high - enough to lock their ankles around the cable.
-In the time that it will take you to unhook the hammock and - get both Bread and Confidence onto the ship, the two pirates - will have closed most of the distance between you and might be - within striking distance.
-Meanwhile on the deck of the ship, the hemogoblin is deeply - entranced by a private conversation it seems to be having with - the ruby-hilt dagger. It nods and chirps and coos as it - continues to strangle the grip in its tiny bloody hands, - singing softly and soothingly. The ruby flashes and glints, - almost strobe-like in the sunlight, as though in the midst of - some kind of struggle. But as the hemogoblin continues its - strange lullaby, the gem eventually fades and grows dull, - until finally it resembles nothing more than a lifeless lump - of stone.
-The hemogoblin releases its death grip on the dagger and - lowers its arms to its sides, allowing the dagger to slip to - the ground. It looks up at you happily with ruby-red eyes that - seem to flash in the sunlight, and it chirps merrily.
-WHAT DO YOU DO
- - ]]> -++As they wait for the balloonship to approach, Inky glances + to the prone remains of the hotelier on the floor and frowns. + There wasn’t much they could do about that now. It was really + inconvenient timing — he hadn’t received the papers yet. Inky + can already picture Cio’s unspoken but palpable disappointment + even as she offered reassurances that it was perfectly fine. + The gnawing guilt she could inflict with a look was worse than + a tenacious terrorier with a bone biscuit. Then Inky recalls + an urban legend from the elderly aunts they sometimes pass by + during teatimes, which claim that it was possible to send + messages and items to the deceased by burning the + articles.
+Ducking momentarily behind another bookshelf, Inky removes + an envelope bearing the seal of a butterfly in red wax, drops + it into a recently-emptied shortbread tin and holds a lit + match to a corner of the paper. Before long the entire + envelope is consumed by the flames and the lid replaced + tightly over the tin. If the paperwork found its way to the + hotelier on the spiritual plane, that would be the formalities + completed. Or if it was reduced to ashes without ever reaching + the recipient, no one had to know.
+Inky walks back to the window to see a flare light and a + zip line ending below the windowsill. They look to the other + end of the line, back to the toques, and around the room. + Their gaze lands on a few cloth covers draped over several + bookshelves near an alcove from top to bottom, possibly to + protect the manuscripts on the shelves from extended exposure + to dust and light. They tie a large red kerchief to the zip + line to indicate they had seen flare signal, before turning to + Confidence. “There’s an airship waiting outside with a zip + line. We should get Bread patched up by a healer in town. It + wouldn’t do to have them walk around like that, unless you + want to turn the hotel into a haunted house attraction.”
+As they finish speaking, Inky pulls off three of the + covers, two iron spears and one of the two decorative flag + poles with flags featuring the crest of Runesocesius, and a + symbol (of the old town, Inky surmises) that stood in a nook + between the wall and a bookshelf. Crossing over to a wall + display of ceremonial chains and maces, they remove two of the + metal chains that hung on from hooks on the wall. Having + gathered the items, they retrieve two zip line harnesses, some + parachute cord and two additional pulley hooks from their + bag.
+They lay the chains on the floor about two feet apart, + followed by the cloth sheets with their outer surfaces facing + down over them, and tie the corners at both ends to the flag + pole to form the base of a makeshift hammock. With + Confidence’s help, they slide Bread onto the sheets, being + cautious to avoid further jostling the toque’s injuries. Inky + wraps the ends of the chains around the flagpole, tying them + and the cloth bundle with loops of parachute cord, and sets + the pulley hooks to links on the top surface of the flag + pole.
+Inky puts on a zip line harness and throws the spare one to + Confidence, directing them to do the same. With some + difficulty, they hoist the bundle of Bread to the window. Inky + descends first, hooking their harness pulley to the zip line + as they brace against the tower wall. As the bundle is slowly + lowered through the window, Inky connects the pulley hooks on + the metal chains to the zip line, Confidence bringing up the + rear while Inky holds the hammock steady.
+While the zephynos play overhead, the three of them prepare + to slide down to the deck of the balloonship along the zip + line.
+
Confidence and Inky, framing the Bread basket between them, + slide down the zipline to the balloonship. The zephynos frolic + up overhead, and the hole in the library wall gapes below. And + beyond that, the endless sea of clouds.
+Inky, having descended the line first, makes it to the ship + ahead of Bread and Confidence. They clambor up over the side, + unhook themself, and reach for the corner of the hammock.
+The 3rd Ginnarak Crystal is now on the deck of the + ship.
+Looking up, Inky sees that two determined cyberplasms have + started following them out the library tower window. Neither + has a harness. One is hanging upside down on the cable, arms + and legs wrapped around it, and has managed to shimmy a couple + feet away from Runesocesius. The other has just swung out of + the window and is holding onto the line with their hands. They + are kicking their legs up over and over, trying to swing high + enough to lock their ankles around the cable.
+In the time that it will take you to unhook the hammock and + get both Bread and Confidence onto the ship, the two pirates + will have closed most of the distance between you and might be + within striking distance.
+Meanwhile on the deck of the ship, the hemogoblin is deeply + entranced by a private conversation it seems to be having with + the ruby-hilt dagger. It nods and chirps and coos as it + continues to strangle the grip in its tiny bloody hands, + singing softly and soothingly. The ruby flashes and glints, + almost strobe-like in the sunlight, as though in the midst of + some kind of struggle. But as the hemogoblin continues its + strange lullaby, the gem eventually fades and grows dull, + until finally it resembles nothing more than a lifeless lump + of stone.
+The hemogoblin releases its death grip on the dagger and + lowers its arms to its sides, allowing the dagger to slip to + the ground. It looks up at you happily with ruby-red eyes that + seem to flash in the sunlight, and it chirps merrily.
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ + ]]> +Total length: 54985 words / 234 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +
Total length: 55749 words / 238 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 181 messages posted over 173 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.04.
+There have been 185 messages posted over 173 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.06.
This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over email.
@@ -5785,6 +5786,85 @@ instrument over its body. It smiles at you happily.WHAT DO YOU DO
+++The GDB flashes, vibrates, and murmurs electronic static as it +collects information from the Hemogoblin. “Peculiar readings indeed” +Alex mutters, stashing the blood sample and readings from the device. +Best to scp a copy of these for safe keeping.
++scp gdb-readout.dat blood-soaked-handky hq:~Alright little guy, dunno what’s wrong with ya, but you seem just as +sweet and chipper as you were before, best not let anything foul befall +you. Alex scoops the little hemogoblin up and puts him into his pack. +The little goblin chirps happily, soaking the back in blood. “Hmm I +guess I’ll need a new cloak when we get to town.. good thing the STAGS +are water proof.” Taking accord of the situation Alex notices that Ink +has dropped onto the deck, and is hurridly beckoning what looks like a +stretcher and confidence down the zip line. “I guess things went not so +smoothly back in the hotel then..”
+Looking up past confidence along the zip line Alex also notes a set +of cyberplasms making their way clumsily along the zipline. “Shit! Inky, +Confidence! Get the hell on the ship NOW!”
+Alex dashes back up to the helm of the ship and grabs the wheel. As +soon as Inky has Confidence and the stretcher safely on the deck Alex +grabs the wheel and casts the wheel hard to starboard side, ripping the +zipline and moarings from the wall of the hotel. “Inky cut the zipline, +quick a you can, and check the side of the hull for any stow +aways!!”
+
~
+++As the toques slide down the last few feet to the deck of the +balloonship. Inky takes out a sharp knife and saws through the zipline. +As they patrol along the edge to check the side of the hull for +additional company, Inky pulls out a tea strainer from their kit and +opens a bag of limequats, small round fruits they keep around for their +zest and juice to flavour some infusions. They drop a limequat into the +strainer, preparing to fling a ball of citrus at the potential presence +of any stowaways.
+
Inky and Confidence carefully dump Bread onto the deck of the ship. +They grunt at the impact and mutter a weak thank you.
+Inky starts to saw through the zipline with their knife. The closest +cyberplasm can almost reach out for the railing and haul itself up. The +second pirate is not far behind it. Alex yanks the ship hard to +starboard and—thanks to Inky sawing on it—the line snaps cleanly in +two.
+Inky looks over the railing in time to see the second pirate fall +into the sea of clouds with a surprised look on its face. There is no +trace of the first one. As Inky patrols alongside the edge to check for +additional company, they see one ghostly hand and then the other reach +up and grab hold of the rail.
+When the cyberplasm pops its head up and peers over the railing, the +first thing it sees is a tea strainer flying at its face. It tries to +turn away, but ends up with a face full of limequat juice nonetheless. +As the citrus starts to burn, it squeezes its eyes shut tight, even +tighter than its grip on the railing. All of its focus and effort is +concentrated on the burning sensation in its eyes. On autopilot, one of +its hands lets go of the railing to quickly wipe the juice away.
+When it grips the railing again, its hand is now slick with juice, +and it slips. Knocked off balance and unable to get a grip, the pirate +cries out as it too falls into the ocean of clouds, eyes squeezed shut +the whole time.
+Poking its head and arms out of the pack on Alex’s back, the +hemogoblin claps and cheers.
+The balloonship sails away from Runesocesius and from Kelsun Peak. +The sun is starting to set, and the clouds are turning brilliant pinks +and reds. This delights the zephynos, who leap and cavort in the clouds, +and run playfully alongside the ship for a while.
+You have in your possession a stolen pirate airship, a recovered +Ginnarak Crystal, a couple novellas and manhwa, two warrior toque tour +guides, and a childlike hemogoblin who may or may not be possessed by +some kind of spirit.
+END OF CHAPTER 3
+Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria