From 92ee1e1dbe7ac0a1146684e0ee1f46fffaf1c4e1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Christopher P. Brown" Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:06:24 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] 57 --- basement.order | 1 + src/epistolary/00057.md | 258 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ src/notes.md | 1 + src/paths/sarongfu.md | 42 +++++++ www/index.html | 215 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- www/rss.xml | 252 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ www/spoilers.html | 216 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- 7 files changed, 981 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) create mode 100644 src/epistolary/00057.md create mode 100644 src/paths/sarongfu.md diff --git a/basement.order b/basement.order index a02c4da..8fc082a 100644 --- a/basement.order +++ b/basement.order @@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ src/epistolary/index.md src/epistolary/00054.md src/epistolary/00055.md src/epistolary/00056.md +src/epistolary/00057.md src/bestiary/index.md src/bestiary/aetherwael.md src/bestiary/aur.md diff --git a/src/epistolary/00057.md b/src/epistolary/00057.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3903093 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/epistolary/00057.md @@ -0,0 +1,258 @@ +--- +title: 00057 +created: Mon, 16 Jan 2023 20:30:44 -0700 +updated: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:58:46 -0700 +public: yes +syndicated: yes +--- +### 00057 {#00057} + +> Alex lifts his teacup and sips the fragrantly tea, "perfumed of +> rosehips, and cardamum? An interesting choice. I appreciate it +> Inky, these past few days have been terribly rough, and I'm rather +> tired of field rations." Alex takes a sip, and then continues +> hurridly. "I've been monitoring the Bazar, we are in grave danger. +> It started with just me, but I fear it's bled over to everyone here +> at the Milk Market. I can't be entirely certain." +> +> Alex looks worriedly at Inky. "There's a lot going on here. As soon +> as we got back from Kelsun I was sent on an assignment, normally +> not an issue, but they wanted me to level 3 of the busiest coffee +> shops in the bazar. I planted those bombs, alongside listening +> devices, and then I bugged out. My team appears to have been +> assigned equally bizarre assignments, all rather violent messy +> things. A lot of innocent lives are on the line here." +> +> "We dropped off the grid, I've got an isolated listening post in +> the sewers here, it's heavily reinforced and that's where I've been +> hiding out, but I'm not certain it's safe. Agent 5 found a melon +> vendor dead in the market, and this vendor was specifically seeking +> out the Milk Market, looking for us. I believe it may be an +> assassin, could be from HQ, could be from Blavin. It's entirely +> opaque to me." +> +> "As far as I can tell, my agents are all loyal to me, there's 5 of +> them in total, 6 if you count me. We could man the ship and get the +> hell out of here in a few hours, and it may be our best chance. But +> there's the iris letter we need to attend to, and I cannot for the +> life of me find anything, not a damn trace, of Blavin. And I think +> all of this bodes very poorly for us." +> +> Alex looks worriedly at Inky, and you're telling me we have a +> ritual we have to perform, to find the iris group's meeting place.. +> I'm leery Ink, I have to be you see. But my uncle trusted you, and +> I do as well. If you think this is our best shot, we can hole up in +> the sewers and try to perform this dream walk of your witch +> friend's. But if this iris business turns out to be a trap, well, +> how well can you handle a gun? + +~ + +> "Your courage and concern are admirable, Master Alex. Caution is +> likewise advisable." Inky nods seriously. +> +> The next moment, they gave the sysorcerer a slightly deranged grin. +> "I'm sure you have already seen many grave dangers. What's another +> one for the bucket list? What's life if not violent and messy? So +> many melons dismembered and laid waste daily—" +> +> As if suddenly recalling a detail, Inky pauses and blinks. "Melon +> vendor? Oh, poor Pepo. He has been complaining about his +> neighbour's boa constrictors for years. The serpents were drawn to +> the rodents his fruits typically attracted, which might not have +> been a problem were it not for them hanging out at his stall and +> scaring off his customers. Maybe he finally took matters into his +> own hands, with tragic results." They look at an empty mixing bowl +> across the table glumly. "He had offered to bring over a few of the +> new variety as soon as they arrived, as he was already delivering +> to a household the next district over." +> +> They send Master Alex a sidelong glance. "Someone is after you? You +> didn't do something horrid like help an old grandmother cross the +> street on sockless skates, for instance?" Refilling the +> sysorcerer's cup, Inky continues, "As for Blavin, only 3 of the +> crystals have been recovered. Blavin knows Team 43 is his best +> chance of obtaining the others. Until he has all the crystals, he +> will stay his hand. If he doesn't know that, then he is hardly a +> threat." +> +> Setting down the teapot, Inky shrugs. "They seem eager to get our +> attention. I suppose I could spare them their twelve minutes of +> fame, for the right price. Enlightenment would probably be too much +> to ask of a nightmare. If you'd rather take your team and make a +> run for it instead, that's fine too. If they come knocking I'll +> just tell them you missed the hotel fondue at Kelsun Peak." +> +> Their gaze skips to one of the cups before they shake their head. +> "No gun." They turn around and take down a bamboo walking stick +> hanging from a hook on a wall next to a worn coat. Inky grasps the +> handle and pulls. It slides out quietly to reveal a long, thin, +> tapered surgical steel tube which, if someone were to lean in for a +> closer inspection, is sparsely covered in tiny, needle-like +> protrusions along the surface. On the underside, a transparent +> sliver ran the length of the tube to end about a forefinger's +> length from the handle. Visible through the narrow window is a +> colourless liquid, most likely a sedative or toxin, fills the +> reinforced steel interior. +> +> They smile mirthlessly at Master Alex. "I don't know that Master +> Corraidhín trusted me, because if he did, it would have been the +> most foolhardy thing the wise man has ever done. You would do well +> to not make that mistake." + +~ + +> "It doesn't sound like we have all too much of an option", Alex +> says, as a little Scarab beetle in his pocket chimes, "that'll be +> the dead man's trigger going off in my hideout." +> +> Alex frowns, shame to lose all of that data, those systems, that +> hideout.. but I hope whoever broke in enjoys thermite, assuming +> they don't asphyxiate quickly enough to miss the fun.. +> +> Inky, you're right, life is a bit violent and messy, so lets bring +> the violent mess to these bastards. If you've got a lead on this +> with this dream ritual, then fuck it, lets take the risk. I won't +> run from this fight, my uncle sure as hell wouldn't. And at worst, +> he'd go out with a magnificient bang. Lets give it back tenfold, +> for poor Pepo. +> +> Nodding his own approval Alex continues, I have another hideout in +> the eastern quandrant, near the sysorcerer's guild. It's a little +> risky to head out that way, but none of my Zabbix alerts indicate +> it was compromised. It has automated IDS and IPS systems, so we +> should be safe enough in there once we whole up. At very least +> we'll know if someone comes for us, and we'll have a little bit of +> time to react on it. We should bring the Toques with us, and little +> blod clot, and the duck. +> +> Looking sorrowfully at Enrique, "I think it might be best if you +> got the hell out of dodge too friend, it isn't safe, and I don't +> want to see you become collateral here. Head down to the wharf, +> I'll have agent 5 meet you there, he'll help you and your family +> lay low until all of this blows over." + +~ + +> At Enrique's deep frown, Inky sighs and adds, "Might as well do as +> Master Alex says. He can spot danger twelve blocks away, and turtle +> soup is really out of fashion these days." +> +> Then they excuse themselves to pack a few items, returning about +> fifteen minutes later with a knapsack and a cross-strap carrier +> draped in a black cloth cover. Inky says, "I hope you don't mind if +> I bring along a guest as well." +> +> The cover is pulled back to expose a dome-shaped birdhouse, with +> transparent circular rings at the top partially obscured by sliding +> shutters of the same shape. A wooden hoop with a woven, web-like +> pattern and adorned with a string of feathers hangs from one side. +> On the opposite side is a double door with a miniature knob over +> each door. Inky lightly taps on one of the doors, and at a low +> click coming from within in response, swings the doors wide enough +> for the kitchen lamps to illuminate the great horned owl resting on +> a pillow inside. The bird opens one amber eye for a moment, gaze +> sweeping idly across the occupants in the room before dozing off +> again. +> +> "This is Fuko. She and her twin brother Futa have certain shared +> connections. What one sees, the other will also know. I asked their +> caretaker if I could borrow them for a while. Fuko will accompany +> me for the ritual. Her brother is at another location and can send +> a message if a need arises." Inky explains with a wry expression. +> "Think of it as a minor indulgence of sorts. I was told their kind, +> along with eagle owls, are very good at negotiating with those of +> the ravens." +> +> They give the owl a small smile. "She may be a little +> temperamental, but she is well-trained." Closing the birdhouse +> doors, Inky turns back to Master Alex. "I suppose you'd rather not +> reveal the location of your hideout to any more people than +> necessary. Her carrier will remain covered on the way in and out." + +Gliftwirp stands under the branches of a tree, pooled in shadow, far +from the small gathering. He has been to plenty of funerals. Often +under these very circumstances, in fact. And he always keeps his +distance out of respect. + +For one, he owns no clothes but his vest, sash, and trousers. And his +bright red colors would be a sign of disrespect among the mourners. +Secondly and most importantly, he himself is the one who put the man +in the ground. + +Sadly, he had little choice. He had underestimated the sysorcer. +Didn't realize he had his own agents working for him. When he +realized that one of the agents had been in contact with the melon +vendor, he knew that Popplewick could and would identify the +warpwefter if pressured. + +Gliftwirp had grown to enjoy his daily chats with the melon vendor. +Popplewick was a kind, determined man. A refugee from the +Cinderlands, his family came to Vay'Nullar following the Artifice +Wars when he was just a boy. He grew up poor, and often relied on the +generosity of others. But eventually he was able to support himself +and his small family. He was proud of the life he had built. + +So Gliftwirp took no pleasure in what came next. Late one night when +Popplewick was on his way home from the market, the assassin slipped +a bag over his head and dragged him into a dark alley. He cinched the +bag tight, cutting off his air. There was a brief struggle before +Popplewick passed out and Gliftwirp lowered him down to the ground. +He held him there, unconscious and not breathing, until he was gone. +In only took but a moment. And then Gliftwirp stood up and left. + +Now at the funeral, the mourners leave one by one. Until only the +widow is left, cradling a small sleeping child to her chest. "Oh, +Pepo," she whispers to the headstone. "What can I do now?" + +When she leaves, she does not return to the main path. She meanders +slowly as though in a daze toward the back of the graveyard and down +the hill. She steps into the wood. A flash of red follows her at a +distance. + +She kneels on the banks of the forest river and sets the child down +on wide flat rock. It is awake now and looks up at her with solemn +eyes. "I am sorry, made-of-me," she says to the child. And that is +all the explanation it gets. + +She stands and turns and walks away. The child watches her go. + +When she has been gone for some minutes, Gliftwirp steps out of the +shadows and crouches down beside the child. It looks up and reaches +for him. "Look at you," he says to the child as he scoops it up. "Who +would throw you away? A perfectly good baby!" He stands and bounces +the child. "A sweet little melon rind is what you are. Ha! Very well. +Come, Rind, we have work to do." + +The assassin, child in his arms, walks back toward the city. + +~ + +In the aftermath, Agent 5 is found down by the docks. They clearly +struggled in death. The assassin blamed him for Popplewick's death +and the widow's weakness. + +Down in the sewers, two tiny mittened hands reach up and awkwardly +turn the doorknob to Alex's hideout. The bolt clears the latch with a +faint click. Two tiny cloth hands struggle against the heavy iron +door, pushing it slowly open, inch by inch. A mechanism clicks inside +and there is a whoosh of air and then a boom as the bunker violently +ignites. The tiny figure is incinerated, and blown back into the +sewer tunnel. + +Gliftwirp steps forward into the light of the blaze and crouches down +by the tiny figure. He picks it up, a tattered and burned bundle of +cloth. "Look, Rind," he says to the small child standing at his +elbow. "You must always acknowledge and be grateful for those who +sacrifice for you." He starts to untie and unfold the cloth puppet as +he speaks. It unfurls and smooths out and stitches itself back +together under his touch. Even the burn marks fade, and soon +Gliftwirp is once again holding his red sash. + +"Now, Rind," he says standing up and taking the child's hand, +squinting into the fire. "Let's see what we can salvage here." + +WHAT DO YOU DO + +- The time of the ritual is at hand. +- What final preparations do you make before entering Dreamspace? diff --git a/src/notes.md b/src/notes.md index 18555ad..db223a0 100644 --- a/src/notes.md +++ b/src/notes.md @@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ updated: Sun, 27 Nov 2022 02:24:11 -0700 SPOILERS!! **THREADS** +- scissormen, huskies, dreamforms, gliftwirp the warpwefter - Lady in Red ??? Tess, Piskin, Salvia ; Beaker (and Cio) trailing the BANDits? - Benefactor wants Crystals to kill a god - Golden Iris wants Crystals to make a new god diff --git a/src/paths/sarongfu.md b/src/paths/sarongfu.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9127d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/paths/sarongfu.md @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ +--- +title: sarongfu master +created: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:05:43 -0700 +updated: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:05:43 -0700 +public: yes +--- +### Path of the Sarong-fu Master + + +- 0. **Sarong-fu** (Commit yourself to the Way of Sarong-fu): Vow to carry and use no weapons, other than your sarong or sash. + +- 1. **Light-footed** (Wear no armor and carry no shield): You are agile, nimble, and light of foot. You are exceptionally good at dodging attacks, and are skilled at sneaking. + +- 1. **Whip** (Defeat a foe with nothing but your sash): You can twist a piece of cloth into a dangerous whip that you are proficient with. + +- 1. **Entangle** (Fight dirty): You can use your sash or another cloth to trip up your foe. + +- 1. **Bag** (Mug an unsuspecting victim): Swiftly slip your sash over a foe's head and cinch it, leaving them blind, confused, and disoriented. + +- 1. **Rope** (Scale a building and climb in through a 2nd story window): Twist a cloth into a handy rope. When you're done with it, you can un-twist it back into cloth. + +- 2. **Starch** (Do not bathe or wash your sash for 90 days): You can stiffen cloth for extra protection when worn, or to create hard constructs. + +- 2. **Deflect** (Win hand-to-hand combat with your hands bound together): Grip one end of your sash in either hand. When your foe attacks, you can use your sash to deflect the blow. + +- 2. **Bind** (Win a shoe tying contest three times): Swiftly tie two objects together. Such as a person's wrists. + +- 2. **Mending**: (Wear the same garment until it falls apart): You can repair torn or ripped fabric with a touch. + +- 3. **Glide** (Survive a daring leap): You can use a large square cloth to safely parachute down from tall heights, or to glide over a long distance. + +- 3. **Sewing** (Win 3 sewing bees): You can fashion fabric into different shapes and garments and back with a touch. + +- 3. **Disarm** (Successfully deflect 20 attacks): When you **deflect** an attack, you can attempt to disarm your foe by wrapping your sash around their weapon and yanking. + +- 4. **Garrote** (Strangle a man to death): With a thin piece of cloth, you can silently strangle your foe without leaving a trace + +- 5. **Advanced Bag** (Bag 20 victims): When you **bag** somebody and cinch the bag, you can choose to cut off their air, causing them to suffocate, leading to unconsciousness or even death. + +- 5. **Knot** (Learn every knot in the Encyclopedia of Knots): You can tie a knot that cannot be untied except for another Sarong-fu Master of your level. Similarly, you can swiftly untie any knot, save for one tied by a Sarong-fu Master whose level exceeds your own. + +- 6. **Transcendent Sarong-fu** (Fashion a small cloth puppet. Keep it hidden on your person for 90 days. Speak to it every night.): Fabric obeys your spoken command. diff --git a/www/index.html b/www/index.html index e3b35ba..e5b0073 100644 --- a/www/index.html +++ b/www/index.html @@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ Master
  • 00054
  • 00055
  • 00056
    • +
  • 00057
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -353,10 +354,10 @@ Teale

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 74808 words / 319 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +

    Total length: 75661 words / 323 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 201 messages posted over 191 days since the first +

    There have been 202 messages posted over 191 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.05.

    About

    This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -6625,6 +6626,216 @@ your dreamform from your waking body. Which would leave your body a soulless husk, and leave your consciousness adrift in the Sea of Dreams. But that probably won’t happen! Okay good luck, have fun!

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    00057

    +
    +

    Alex lifts his teacup and sips the fragrantly tea, “perfumed of +rosehips, and cardamum? An interesting choice. I appreciate it Inky, +these past few days have been terribly rough, and I’m rather tired of +field rations.” Alex takes a sip, and then continues hurridly. “I’ve +been monitoring the Bazar, we are in grave danger. It started with just +me, but I fear it’s bled over to everyone here at the Milk Market. I +can’t be entirely certain.”

    +

    Alex looks worriedly at Inky. “There’s a lot going on here. As soon +as we got back from Kelsun I was sent on an assignment, normally not an +issue, but they wanted me to level 3 of the busiest coffee shops in the +bazar. I planted those bombs, alongside listening devices, and then I +bugged out. My team appears to have been assigned equally bizarre +assignments, all rather violent messy things. A lot of innocent lives +are on the line here.”

    +

    “We dropped off the grid, I’ve got an isolated listening post in the +sewers here, it’s heavily reinforced and that’s where I’ve been hiding +out, but I’m not certain it’s safe. Agent 5 found a melon vendor dead in +the market, and this vendor was specifically seeking out the Milk +Market, looking for us. I believe it may be an assassin, could be from +HQ, could be from Blavin. It’s entirely opaque to me.”

    +

    “As far as I can tell, my agents are all loyal to me, there’s 5 of +them in total, 6 if you count me. We could man the ship and get the hell +out of here in a few hours, and it may be our best chance. But there’s +the iris letter we need to attend to, and I cannot for the life of me +find anything, not a damn trace, of Blavin. And I think all of this +bodes very poorly for us.”

    +

    Alex looks worriedly at Inky, and you’re telling me we have a ritual +we have to perform, to find the iris group’s meeting place.. I’m leery +Ink, I have to be you see. But my uncle trusted you, and I do as well. +If you think this is our best shot, we can hole up in the sewers and try +to perform this dream walk of your witch friend’s. But if this iris +business turns out to be a trap, well, how well can you handle a +gun?

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    “Your courage and concern are admirable, Master Alex. Caution is +likewise advisable.” Inky nods seriously.

    +

    The next moment, they gave the sysorcerer a slightly deranged grin. +“I’m sure you have already seen many grave dangers. What’s another one +for the bucket list? What’s life if not violent and messy? So many +melons dismembered and laid waste daily—”

    +

    As if suddenly recalling a detail, Inky pauses and blinks. “Melon +vendor? Oh, poor Pepo. He has been complaining about his neighbour’s boa +constrictors for years. The serpents were drawn to the rodents his +fruits typically attracted, which might not have been a problem were it +not for them hanging out at his stall and scaring off his customers. +Maybe he finally took matters into his own hands, with tragic results.” +They look at an empty mixing bowl across the table glumly. “He had +offered to bring over a few of the new variety as soon as they arrived, +as he was already delivering to a household the next district over.”

    +

    They send Master Alex a sidelong glance. “Someone is after you? You +didn’t do something horrid like help an old grandmother cross the street +on sockless skates, for instance?” Refilling the sysorcerer’s cup, Inky +continues, “As for Blavin, only 3 of the crystals have been recovered. +Blavin knows Team 43 is his best chance of obtaining the others. Until +he has all the crystals, he will stay his hand. If he doesn’t know that, +then he is hardly a threat.”

    +

    Setting down the teapot, Inky shrugs. “They seem eager to get our +attention. I suppose I could spare them their twelve minutes of fame, +for the right price. Enlightenment would probably be too much to ask of +a nightmare. If you’d rather take your team and make a run for it +instead, that’s fine too. If they come knocking I’ll just tell them you +missed the hotel fondue at Kelsun Peak.”

    +

    Their gaze skips to one of the cups before they shake their head. “No +gun.” They turn around and take down a bamboo walking stick hanging from +a hook on a wall next to a worn coat. Inky grasps the handle and pulls. +It slides out quietly to reveal a long, thin, tapered surgical steel +tube which, if someone were to lean in for a closer inspection, is +sparsely covered in tiny, needle-like protrusions along the surface. On +the underside, a transparent sliver ran the length of the tube to end +about a forefinger’s length from the handle. Visible through the narrow +window is a colourless liquid, most likely a sedative or toxin, fills +the reinforced steel interior.

    +

    They smile mirthlessly at Master Alex. “I don’t know that Master +Corraidhín trusted me, because if he did, it would have been the most +foolhardy thing the wise man has ever done. You would do well to not +make that mistake.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    “It doesn’t sound like we have all too much of an option”, Alex says, +as a little Scarab beetle in his pocket chimes, “that’ll be the dead +man’s trigger going off in my hideout.”

    +

    Alex frowns, shame to lose all of that data, those systems, that +hideout.. but I hope whoever broke in enjoys thermite, assuming they +don’t asphyxiate quickly enough to miss the fun..

    +

    Inky, you’re right, life is a bit violent and messy, so lets bring +the violent mess to these bastards. If you’ve got a lead on this with +this dream ritual, then fuck it, lets take the risk. I won’t run from +this fight, my uncle sure as hell wouldn’t. And at worst, he’d go out +with a magnificient bang. Lets give it back tenfold, for poor Pepo.

    +

    Nodding his own approval Alex continues, I have another hideout in +the eastern quandrant, near the sysorcerer’s guild. It’s a little risky +to head out that way, but none of my Zabbix alerts indicate it was +compromised. It has automated IDS and IPS systems, so we should be safe +enough in there once we whole up. At very least we’ll know if someone +comes for us, and we’ll have a little bit of time to react on it. We +should bring the Toques with us, and little blod clot, and the duck.

    +

    Looking sorrowfully at Enrique, “I think it might be best if you got +the hell out of dodge too friend, it isn’t safe, and I don’t want to see +you become collateral here. Head down to the wharf, I’ll have agent 5 +meet you there, he’ll help you and your family lay low until all of this +blows over.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    At Enrique’s deep frown, Inky sighs and adds, “Might as well do as +Master Alex says. He can spot danger twelve blocks away, and turtle soup +is really out of fashion these days.”

    +

    Then they excuse themselves to pack a few items, returning about +fifteen minutes later with a knapsack and a cross-strap carrier draped +in a black cloth cover. Inky says, “I hope you don’t mind if I bring +along a guest as well.”

    +

    The cover is pulled back to expose a dome-shaped birdhouse, with +transparent circular rings at the top partially obscured by sliding +shutters of the same shape. A wooden hoop with a woven, web-like pattern +and adorned with a string of feathers hangs from one side. On the +opposite side is a double door with a miniature knob over each door. +Inky lightly taps on one of the doors, and at a low click coming from +within in response, swings the doors wide enough for the kitchen lamps +to illuminate the great horned owl resting on a pillow inside. The bird +opens one amber eye for a moment, gaze sweeping idly across the +occupants in the room before dozing off again.

    +

    “This is Fuko. She and her twin brother Futa have certain shared +connections. What one sees, the other will also know. I asked their +caretaker if I could borrow them for a while. Fuko will accompany me for +the ritual. Her brother is at another location and can send a message if +a need arises.” Inky explains with a wry expression. “Think of it as a +minor indulgence of sorts. I was told their kind, along with eagle owls, +are very good at negotiating with those of the ravens.”

    +

    They give the owl a small smile. “She may be a little temperamental, +but she is well-trained.” Closing the birdhouse doors, Inky turns back +to Master Alex. “I suppose you’d rather not reveal the location of your +hideout to any more people than necessary. Her carrier will remain +covered on the way in and out.”

    +
    +

    Gliftwirp stands under the branches of a tree, pooled in shadow, far +from the small gathering. He has been to plenty of funerals. Often under +these very circumstances, in fact. And he always keeps his distance out +of respect.

    +

    For one, he owns no clothes but his vest, sash, and trousers. And his +bright red colors would be a sign of disrespect among the mourners. +Secondly and most importantly, he himself is the one who put the man in +the ground.

    +

    Sadly, he had little choice. He had underestimated the sysorcer. +Didn’t realize he had his own agents working for him. When he realized +that one of the agents had been in contact with the melon vendor, he +knew that Popplewick could and would identify the warpwefter if +pressured.

    +

    Gliftwirp had grown to enjoy his daily chats with the melon vendor. +Popplewick was a kind, determined man. A refugee from the Cinderlands, +his family came to Vay’Nullar following the Artifice Wars when he was +just a boy. He grew up poor, and often relied on the generosity of +others. But eventually he was able to support himself and his small +family. He was proud of the life he had built.

    +

    So Gliftwirp took no pleasure in what came next. Late one night when +Popplewick was on his way home from the market, the assassin slipped a +bag over his head and dragged him into a dark alley. He cinched the bag +tight, cutting off his air. There was a brief struggle before Popplewick +passed out and Gliftwirp lowered him down to the ground. He held him +there, unconscious and not breathing, until he was gone. In only took +but a moment. And then Gliftwirp stood up and left.

    +

    Now at the funeral, the mourners leave one by one. Until only the +widow is left, cradling a small sleeping child to her chest. “Oh, Pepo,” +she whispers to the headstone. “What can I do now?”

    +

    When she leaves, she does not return to the main path. She meanders +slowly as though in a daze toward the back of the graveyard and down the +hill. She steps into the wood. A flash of red follows her at a +distance.

    +

    She kneels on the banks of the forest river and sets the child down +on wide flat rock. It is awake now and looks up at her with solemn eyes. +“I am sorry, made-of-me,” she says to the child. And that is all the +explanation it gets.

    +

    She stands and turns and walks away. The child watches her go.

    +

    When she has been gone for some minutes, Gliftwirp steps out of the +shadows and crouches down beside the child. It looks up and reaches for +him. “Look at you,” he says to the child as he scoops it up. “Who would +throw you away? A perfectly good baby!” He stands and bounces the child. +“A sweet little melon rind is what you are. Ha! Very well. Come, Rind, +we have work to do.”

    +

    The assassin, child in his arms, walks back toward the city.

    +

    ~

    +

    In the aftermath, Agent 5 is found down by the docks. They clearly +struggled in death. The assassin blamed him for Popplewick’s death and +the widow’s weakness.

    +

    Down in the sewers, two tiny mittened hands reach up and awkwardly +turn the doorknob to Alex’s hideout. The bolt clears the latch with a +faint click. Two tiny cloth hands struggle against the heavy iron door, +pushing it slowly open, inch by inch. A mechanism clicks inside and +there is a whoosh of air and then a boom as the bunker violently +ignites. The tiny figure is incinerated, and blown back into the sewer +tunnel.

    +

    Gliftwirp steps forward into the light of the blaze and crouches down +by the tiny figure. He picks it up, a tattered and burned bundle of +cloth. “Look, Rind,” he says to the small child standing at his elbow. +“You must always acknowledge and be grateful for those who sacrifice for +you.” He starts to untie and unfold the cloth puppet as he speaks. It +unfurls and smooths out and stitches itself back together under his +touch. Even the burn marks fade, and soon Gliftwirp is once again +holding his red sash.

    +

    “Now, Rind,” he says standing up and taking the child’s hand, +squinting into the fire. “Let’s see what we can salvage here.”

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    diff --git a/www/rss.xml b/www/rss.xml index 85775ac..27472e0 100644 --- a/www/rss.xml +++ b/www/rss.xml @@ -203,6 +203,258 @@ Agent 5 found the melon vendor dead in a back alley, strangled to death, not imm ]]> + + 57 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 57 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 20:30:44 +-0700 + Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:58:46 -0700 + + 00057 +
    +

    Alex lifts his teacup and sips the fragrantly tea, + “perfumed of rosehips, and cardamum? An interesting choice. I + appreciate it Inky, these past few days have been terribly + rough, and I’m rather tired of field rations.” Alex takes a + sip, and then continues hurridly. “I’ve been monitoring the + Bazar, we are in grave danger. It started with just me, but I + fear it’s bled over to everyone here at the Milk Market. I + can’t be entirely certain.”

    +

    Alex looks worriedly at Inky. “There’s a lot going on here. + As soon as we got back from Kelsun I was sent on an + assignment, normally not an issue, but they wanted me to level + 3 of the busiest coffee shops in the bazar. I planted those + bombs, alongside listening devices, and then I bugged out. My + team appears to have been assigned equally bizarre + assignments, all rather violent messy things. A lot of + innocent lives are on the line here.”

    +

    “We dropped off the grid, I’ve got an isolated listening + post in the sewers here, it’s heavily reinforced and that’s + where I’ve been hiding out, but I’m not certain it’s safe. + Agent 5 found a melon vendor dead in the market, and this + vendor was specifically seeking out the Milk Market, looking + for us. I believe it may be an assassin, could be from HQ, + could be from Blavin. It’s entirely opaque to me.”

    +

    “As far as I can tell, my agents are all loyal to me, + there’s 5 of them in total, 6 if you count me. We could man + the ship and get the hell out of here in a few hours, and it + may be our best chance. But there’s the iris letter we need to + attend to, and I cannot for the life of me find anything, not + a damn trace, of Blavin. And I think all of this bodes very + poorly for us.”

    +

    Alex looks worriedly at Inky, and you’re telling me we have + a ritual we have to perform, to find the iris group’s meeting + place.. I’m leery Ink, I have to be you see. But my uncle + trusted you, and I do as well. If you think this is our best + shot, we can hole up in the sewers and try to perform this + dream walk of your witch friend’s. But if this iris business + turns out to be a trap, well, how well can you handle a + gun?

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    “Your courage and concern are admirable, Master Alex. + Caution is likewise advisable.” Inky nods seriously.

    +

    The next moment, they gave the sysorcerer a slightly + deranged grin. “I’m sure you have already seen many grave + dangers. What’s another one for the bucket list? What’s life + if not violent and messy? So many melons dismembered and laid + waste daily—”

    +

    As if suddenly recalling a detail, Inky pauses and blinks. + “Melon vendor? Oh, poor Pepo. He has been complaining about + his neighbour’s boa constrictors for years. The serpents were + drawn to the rodents his fruits typically attracted, which + might not have been a problem were it not for them hanging out + at his stall and scaring off his customers. Maybe he finally + took matters into his own hands, with tragic results.” They + look at an empty mixing bowl across the table glumly. “He had + offered to bring over a few of the new variety as soon as they + arrived, as he was already delivering to a household the next + district over.”

    +

    They send Master Alex a sidelong glance. “Someone is after + you? You didn’t do something horrid like help an old + grandmother cross the street on sockless skates, for + instance?” Refilling the sysorcerer’s cup, Inky continues, “As + for Blavin, only 3 of the crystals have been recovered. Blavin + knows Team 43 is his best chance of obtaining the others. + Until he has all the crystals, he will stay his hand. If he + doesn’t know that, then he is hardly a threat.”

    +

    Setting down the teapot, Inky shrugs. “They seem eager to + get our attention. I suppose I could spare them their twelve + minutes of fame, for the right price. Enlightenment would + probably be too much to ask of a nightmare. If you’d rather + take your team and make a run for it instead, that’s fine too. + If they come knocking I’ll just tell them you missed the hotel + fondue at Kelsun Peak.”

    +

    Their gaze skips to one of the cups before they shake their + head. “No gun.” They turn around and take down a bamboo + walking stick hanging from a hook on a wall next to a worn + coat. Inky grasps the handle and pulls. It slides out quietly + to reveal a long, thin, tapered surgical steel tube which, if + someone were to lean in for a closer inspection, is sparsely + covered in tiny, needle-like protrusions along the surface. On + the underside, a transparent sliver ran the length of the tube + to end about a forefinger’s length from the handle. Visible + through the narrow window is a colourless liquid, most likely + a sedative or toxin, fills the reinforced steel interior.

    +

    They smile mirthlessly at Master Alex. “I don’t know that + Master Corraidhín trusted me, because if he did, it would have + been the most foolhardy thing the wise man has ever done. You + would do well to not make that mistake.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    “It doesn’t sound like we have all too much of an option”, + Alex says, as a little Scarab beetle in his pocket chimes, + “that’ll be the dead man’s trigger going off in my + hideout.”

    +

    Alex frowns, shame to lose all of that data, those systems, + that hideout.. but I hope whoever broke in enjoys thermite, + assuming they don’t asphyxiate quickly enough to miss the + fun..

    +

    Inky, you’re right, life is a bit violent and messy, so + lets bring the violent mess to these bastards. If you’ve got a + lead on this with this dream ritual, then fuck it, lets take + the risk. I won’t run from this fight, my uncle sure as hell + wouldn’t. And at worst, he’d go out with a magnificient bang. + Lets give it back tenfold, for poor Pepo.

    +

    Nodding his own approval Alex continues, I have another + hideout in the eastern quandrant, near the sysorcerer’s guild. + It’s a little risky to head out that way, but none of my + Zabbix alerts indicate it was compromised. It has automated + IDS and IPS systems, so we should be safe enough in there once + we whole up. At very least we’ll know if someone comes for us, + and we’ll have a little bit of time to react on it. We should + bring the Toques with us, and little blod clot, and the + duck.

    +

    Looking sorrowfully at Enrique, “I think it might be best + if you got the hell out of dodge too friend, it isn’t safe, + and I don’t want to see you become collateral here. Head down + to the wharf, I’ll have agent 5 meet you there, he’ll help you + and your family lay low until all of this blows over.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    At Enrique’s deep frown, Inky sighs and adds, “Might as + well do as Master Alex says. He can spot danger twelve blocks + away, and turtle soup is really out of fashion these + days.”

    +

    Then they excuse themselves to pack a few items, returning + about fifteen minutes later with a knapsack and a cross-strap + carrier draped in a black cloth cover. Inky says, “I hope you + don’t mind if I bring along a guest as well.”

    +

    The cover is pulled back to expose a dome-shaped birdhouse, + with transparent circular rings at the top partially obscured + by sliding shutters of the same shape. A wooden hoop with a + woven, web-like pattern and adorned with a string of feathers + hangs from one side. On the opposite side is a double door + with a miniature knob over each door. Inky lightly taps on one + of the doors, and at a low click coming from within in + response, swings the doors wide enough for the kitchen lamps + to illuminate the great horned owl resting on a pillow inside. + The bird opens one amber eye for a moment, gaze sweeping idly + across the occupants in the room before dozing off again.

    +

    “This is Fuko. She and her twin brother Futa have certain + shared connections. What one sees, the other will also know. I + asked their caretaker if I could borrow them for a while. Fuko + will accompany me for the ritual. Her brother is at another + location and can send a message if a need arises.” Inky + explains with a wry expression. “Think of it as a minor + indulgence of sorts. I was told their kind, along with eagle + owls, are very good at negotiating with those of the + ravens.”

    +

    They give the owl a small smile. “She may be a little + temperamental, but she is well-trained.” Closing the birdhouse + doors, Inky turns back to Master Alex. “I suppose you’d rather + not reveal the location of your hideout to any more people + than necessary. Her carrier will remain covered on the way in + and out.”

    +
    +

    Gliftwirp stands under the branches of a tree, pooled in + shadow, far from the small gathering. He has been to plenty of + funerals. Often under these very circumstances, in fact. And + he always keeps his distance out of respect.

    +

    For one, he owns no clothes but his vest, sash, and + trousers. And his bright red colors would be a sign of + disrespect among the mourners. Secondly and most importantly, + he himself is the one who put the man in the ground.

    +

    Sadly, he had little choice. He had underestimated the + sysorcer. Didn’t realize he had his own agents working for + him. When he realized that one of the agents had been in + contact with the melon vendor, he knew that Popplewick could + and would identify the warpwefter if pressured.

    +

    Gliftwirp had grown to enjoy his daily chats with the melon + vendor. Popplewick was a kind, determined man. A refugee from + the Cinderlands, his family came to Vay’Nullar following the + Artifice Wars when he was just a boy. He grew up poor, and + often relied on the generosity of others. But eventually he + was able to support himself and his small family. He was proud + of the life he had built.

    +

    So Gliftwirp took no pleasure in what came next. Late one + night when Popplewick was on his way home from the market, the + assassin slipped a bag over his head and dragged him into a + dark alley. He cinched the bag tight, cutting off his air. + There was a brief struggle before Popplewick passed out and + Gliftwirp lowered him down to the ground. He held him there, + unconscious and not breathing, until he was gone. In only took + but a moment. And then Gliftwirp stood up and left.

    +

    Now at the funeral, the mourners leave one by one. Until + only the widow is left, cradling a small sleeping child to her + chest. “Oh, Pepo,” she whispers to the headstone. “What can I + do now?”

    +

    When she leaves, she does not return to the main path. She + meanders slowly as though in a daze toward the back of the + graveyard and down the hill. She steps into the wood. A flash + of red follows her at a distance.

    +

    She kneels on the banks of the forest river and sets the + child down on wide flat rock. It is awake now and looks up at + her with solemn eyes. “I am sorry, made-of-me,” she says to + the child. And that is all the explanation it gets.

    +

    She stands and turns and walks away. The child watches her + go.

    +

    When she has been gone for some minutes, Gliftwirp steps + out of the shadows and crouches down beside the child. It + looks up and reaches for him. “Look at you,” he says to the + child as he scoops it up. “Who would throw you away? A + perfectly good baby!” He stands and bounces the child. “A + sweet little melon rind is what you are. Ha! Very well. Come, + Rind, we have work to do.”

    +

    The assassin, child in his arms, walks back toward the + city.

    +

    ~

    +

    In the aftermath, Agent 5 is found down by the docks. They + clearly struggled in death. The assassin blamed him for + Popplewick’s death and the widow’s weakness.

    +

    Down in the sewers, two tiny mittened hands reach up and + awkwardly turn the doorknob to Alex’s hideout. The bolt clears + the latch with a faint click. Two tiny cloth hands struggle + against the heavy iron door, pushing it slowly open, inch by + inch. A mechanism clicks inside and there is a whoosh of air + and then a boom as the bunker violently ignites. The tiny + figure is incinerated, and blown back into the sewer + tunnel.

    +

    Gliftwirp steps forward into the light of the blaze and + crouches down by the tiny figure. He picks it up, a tattered + and burned bundle of cloth. “Look, Rind,” he says to the small + child standing at his elbow. “You must always acknowledge and + be grateful for those who sacrifice for you.” He starts to + untie and unfold the cloth puppet as he speaks. It unfurls and + smooths out and stitches itself back together under his touch. + Even the burn marks fade, and soon Gliftwirp is once again + holding his red sash.

    +

    “Now, Rind,” he says standing up and taking the child’s + hand, squinting into the fire. “Let’s see what we can salvage + here.”

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +
      +
    • The time of the ritual is at hand.
      • +
    • What final preparations do you make before entering + Dreamspace?
      • +
    + ]]> +     +     54 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) diff --git a/www/spoilers.html b/www/spoilers.html index 20e8e49..70db321 100644 --- a/www/spoilers.html +++ b/www/spoilers.html @@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ Master
  • 00054
  • 00055
  • 00056
    • +
  • 00057
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -356,10 +357,10 @@ Teale

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 74808 words / 319 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +

    Total length: 75661 words / 323 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 201 messages posted over 191 days since the first +

    There have been 202 messages posted over 191 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.05.

    About

    This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -6628,6 +6629,216 @@ your dreamform from your waking body. Which would leave your body a soulless husk, and leave your consciousness adrift in the Sea of Dreams. But that probably won’t happen! Okay good luck, have fun!

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    00057

    +
    +

    Alex lifts his teacup and sips the fragrantly tea, “perfumed of +rosehips, and cardamum? An interesting choice. I appreciate it Inky, +these past few days have been terribly rough, and I’m rather tired of +field rations.” Alex takes a sip, and then continues hurridly. “I’ve +been monitoring the Bazar, we are in grave danger. It started with just +me, but I fear it’s bled over to everyone here at the Milk Market. I +can’t be entirely certain.”

    +

    Alex looks worriedly at Inky. “There’s a lot going on here. As soon +as we got back from Kelsun I was sent on an assignment, normally not an +issue, but they wanted me to level 3 of the busiest coffee shops in the +bazar. I planted those bombs, alongside listening devices, and then I +bugged out. My team appears to have been assigned equally bizarre +assignments, all rather violent messy things. A lot of innocent lives +are on the line here.”

    +

    “We dropped off the grid, I’ve got an isolated listening post in the +sewers here, it’s heavily reinforced and that’s where I’ve been hiding +out, but I’m not certain it’s safe. Agent 5 found a melon vendor dead in +the market, and this vendor was specifically seeking out the Milk +Market, looking for us. I believe it may be an assassin, could be from +HQ, could be from Blavin. It’s entirely opaque to me.”

    +

    “As far as I can tell, my agents are all loyal to me, there’s 5 of +them in total, 6 if you count me. We could man the ship and get the hell +out of here in a few hours, and it may be our best chance. But there’s +the iris letter we need to attend to, and I cannot for the life of me +find anything, not a damn trace, of Blavin. And I think all of this +bodes very poorly for us.”

    +

    Alex looks worriedly at Inky, and you’re telling me we have a ritual +we have to perform, to find the iris group’s meeting place.. I’m leery +Ink, I have to be you see. But my uncle trusted you, and I do as well. +If you think this is our best shot, we can hole up in the sewers and try +to perform this dream walk of your witch friend’s. But if this iris +business turns out to be a trap, well, how well can you handle a +gun?

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    “Your courage and concern are admirable, Master Alex. Caution is +likewise advisable.” Inky nods seriously.

    +

    The next moment, they gave the sysorcerer a slightly deranged grin. +“I’m sure you have already seen many grave dangers. What’s another one +for the bucket list? What’s life if not violent and messy? So many +melons dismembered and laid waste daily—”

    +

    As if suddenly recalling a detail, Inky pauses and blinks. “Melon +vendor? Oh, poor Pepo. He has been complaining about his neighbour’s boa +constrictors for years. The serpents were drawn to the rodents his +fruits typically attracted, which might not have been a problem were it +not for them hanging out at his stall and scaring off his customers. +Maybe he finally took matters into his own hands, with tragic results.” +They look at an empty mixing bowl across the table glumly. “He had +offered to bring over a few of the new variety as soon as they arrived, +as he was already delivering to a household the next district over.”

    +

    They send Master Alex a sidelong glance. “Someone is after you? You +didn’t do something horrid like help an old grandmother cross the street +on sockless skates, for instance?” Refilling the sysorcerer’s cup, Inky +continues, “As for Blavin, only 3 of the crystals have been recovered. +Blavin knows Team 43 is his best chance of obtaining the others. Until +he has all the crystals, he will stay his hand. If he doesn’t know that, +then he is hardly a threat.”

    +

    Setting down the teapot, Inky shrugs. “They seem eager to get our +attention. I suppose I could spare them their twelve minutes of fame, +for the right price. Enlightenment would probably be too much to ask of +a nightmare. If you’d rather take your team and make a run for it +instead, that’s fine too. If they come knocking I’ll just tell them you +missed the hotel fondue at Kelsun Peak.”

    +

    Their gaze skips to one of the cups before they shake their head. “No +gun.” They turn around and take down a bamboo walking stick hanging from +a hook on a wall next to a worn coat. Inky grasps the handle and pulls. +It slides out quietly to reveal a long, thin, tapered surgical steel +tube which, if someone were to lean in for a closer inspection, is +sparsely covered in tiny, needle-like protrusions along the surface. On +the underside, a transparent sliver ran the length of the tube to end +about a forefinger’s length from the handle. Visible through the narrow +window is a colourless liquid, most likely a sedative or toxin, fills +the reinforced steel interior.

    +

    They smile mirthlessly at Master Alex. “I don’t know that Master +Corraidhín trusted me, because if he did, it would have been the most +foolhardy thing the wise man has ever done. You would do well to not +make that mistake.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    “It doesn’t sound like we have all too much of an option”, Alex says, +as a little Scarab beetle in his pocket chimes, “that’ll be the dead +man’s trigger going off in my hideout.”

    +

    Alex frowns, shame to lose all of that data, those systems, that +hideout.. but I hope whoever broke in enjoys thermite, assuming they +don’t asphyxiate quickly enough to miss the fun..

    +

    Inky, you’re right, life is a bit violent and messy, so lets bring +the violent mess to these bastards. If you’ve got a lead on this with +this dream ritual, then fuck it, lets take the risk. I won’t run from +this fight, my uncle sure as hell wouldn’t. And at worst, he’d go out +with a magnificient bang. Lets give it back tenfold, for poor Pepo.

    +

    Nodding his own approval Alex continues, I have another hideout in +the eastern quandrant, near the sysorcerer’s guild. It’s a little risky +to head out that way, but none of my Zabbix alerts indicate it was +compromised. It has automated IDS and IPS systems, so we should be safe +enough in there once we whole up. At very least we’ll know if someone +comes for us, and we’ll have a little bit of time to react on it. We +should bring the Toques with us, and little blod clot, and the duck.

    +

    Looking sorrowfully at Enrique, “I think it might be best if you got +the hell out of dodge too friend, it isn’t safe, and I don’t want to see +you become collateral here. Head down to the wharf, I’ll have agent 5 +meet you there, he’ll help you and your family lay low until all of this +blows over.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    At Enrique’s deep frown, Inky sighs and adds, “Might as well do as +Master Alex says. He can spot danger twelve blocks away, and turtle soup +is really out of fashion these days.”

    +

    Then they excuse themselves to pack a few items, returning about +fifteen minutes later with a knapsack and a cross-strap carrier draped +in a black cloth cover. Inky says, “I hope you don’t mind if I bring +along a guest as well.”

    +

    The cover is pulled back to expose a dome-shaped birdhouse, with +transparent circular rings at the top partially obscured by sliding +shutters of the same shape. A wooden hoop with a woven, web-like pattern +and adorned with a string of feathers hangs from one side. On the +opposite side is a double door with a miniature knob over each door. +Inky lightly taps on one of the doors, and at a low click coming from +within in response, swings the doors wide enough for the kitchen lamps +to illuminate the great horned owl resting on a pillow inside. The bird +opens one amber eye for a moment, gaze sweeping idly across the +occupants in the room before dozing off again.

    +

    “This is Fuko. She and her twin brother Futa have certain shared +connections. What one sees, the other will also know. I asked their +caretaker if I could borrow them for a while. Fuko will accompany me for +the ritual. Her brother is at another location and can send a message if +a need arises.” Inky explains with a wry expression. “Think of it as a +minor indulgence of sorts. I was told their kind, along with eagle owls, +are very good at negotiating with those of the ravens.”

    +

    They give the owl a small smile. “She may be a little temperamental, +but she is well-trained.” Closing the birdhouse doors, Inky turns back +to Master Alex. “I suppose you’d rather not reveal the location of your +hideout to any more people than necessary. Her carrier will remain +covered on the way in and out.”

    +
    +

    Gliftwirp stands under the branches of a tree, pooled in shadow, far +from the small gathering. He has been to plenty of funerals. Often under +these very circumstances, in fact. And he always keeps his distance out +of respect.

    +

    For one, he owns no clothes but his vest, sash, and trousers. And his +bright red colors would be a sign of disrespect among the mourners. +Secondly and most importantly, he himself is the one who put the man in +the ground.

    +

    Sadly, he had little choice. He had underestimated the sysorcer. +Didn’t realize he had his own agents working for him. When he realized +that one of the agents had been in contact with the melon vendor, he +knew that Popplewick could and would identify the warpwefter if +pressured.

    +

    Gliftwirp had grown to enjoy his daily chats with the melon vendor. +Popplewick was a kind, determined man. A refugee from the Cinderlands, +his family came to Vay’Nullar following the Artifice Wars when he was +just a boy. He grew up poor, and often relied on the generosity of +others. But eventually he was able to support himself and his small +family. He was proud of the life he had built.

    +

    So Gliftwirp took no pleasure in what came next. Late one night when +Popplewick was on his way home from the market, the assassin slipped a +bag over his head and dragged him into a dark alley. He cinched the bag +tight, cutting off his air. There was a brief struggle before Popplewick +passed out and Gliftwirp lowered him down to the ground. He held him +there, unconscious and not breathing, until he was gone. In only took +but a moment. And then Gliftwirp stood up and left.

    +

    Now at the funeral, the mourners leave one by one. Until only the +widow is left, cradling a small sleeping child to her chest. “Oh, Pepo,” +she whispers to the headstone. “What can I do now?”

    +

    When she leaves, she does not return to the main path. She meanders +slowly as though in a daze toward the back of the graveyard and down the +hill. She steps into the wood. A flash of red follows her at a +distance.

    +

    She kneels on the banks of the forest river and sets the child down +on wide flat rock. It is awake now and looks up at her with solemn eyes. +“I am sorry, made-of-me,” she says to the child. And that is all the +explanation it gets.

    +

    She stands and turns and walks away. The child watches her go.

    +

    When she has been gone for some minutes, Gliftwirp steps out of the +shadows and crouches down beside the child. It looks up and reaches for +him. “Look at you,” he says to the child as he scoops it up. “Who would +throw you away? A perfectly good baby!” He stands and bounces the child. +“A sweet little melon rind is what you are. Ha! Very well. Come, Rind, +we have work to do.”

    +

    The assassin, child in his arms, walks back toward the city.

    +

    ~

    +

    In the aftermath, Agent 5 is found down by the docks. They clearly +struggled in death. The assassin blamed him for Popplewick’s death and +the widow’s weakness.

    +

    Down in the sewers, two tiny mittened hands reach up and awkwardly +turn the doorknob to Alex’s hideout. The bolt clears the latch with a +faint click. Two tiny cloth hands struggle against the heavy iron door, +pushing it slowly open, inch by inch. A mechanism clicks inside and +there is a whoosh of air and then a boom as the bunker violently +ignites. The tiny figure is incinerated, and blown back into the sewer +tunnel.

    +

    Gliftwirp steps forward into the light of the blaze and crouches down +by the tiny figure. He picks it up, a tattered and burned bundle of +cloth. “Look, Rind,” he says to the small child standing at his elbow. +“You must always acknowledge and be grateful for those who sacrifice for +you.” He starts to untie and unfold the cloth puppet as he speaks. It +unfurls and smooths out and stitches itself back together under his +touch. Even the burn marks fade, and soon Gliftwirp is once again +holding his red sash.

    +

    “Now, Rind,” he says standing up and taking the child’s hand, +squinting into the fire. “Let’s see what we can salvage here.”

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +
      +
    • The time of the ritual is at hand.
      • +
    • What final preparations do you make before entering Dreamspace?
      • +

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    @@ -7025,6 +7236,7 @@ embers.

    THREADS