Total length: 55744 words / 238 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +
Total length: 58151 words / 248 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 188 messages posted over 174 days since the first +
There have been 189 messages posted over 175 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.08.
This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -385,7 +387,7 @@ Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2
Paths:
Status: timestuck in a fork bomb
@@ -509,7 +511,7 @@ Set, Mountain Range Glyph Ink, Bead of the WereharePaths:
You can subscribe to these updates with the rss feed.
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+++Once back in the Milk Bar, with the airship safely anchored to the +roof of the building, Alex finds himself amongst the old belongings of +his former uncle.
+sigh “Best get a request to HQ for this airship, maybe +they’ll let us operate it for a bit, if not I suppose we have to impound +it..”
++<- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A +-> OP 25120 * LOC ESPER + +CLEARANCE: INFORMATIONAL +REQUEST ENCLOSED. + +REQUESTING PERMISSION TO IMPOUND OR OPERATE. +ONE CYBERPLASM AIRSHIP "The Rusty Maiden"“There’s also the matter of this little hemogoblin..” Alex mutters to +himself while said hemogoblin happily dances around the room, dripping +little pools of blood hither and tither.
++<- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A +-> OP 41154 * LOC ESPER + +CLEARANCE: TOP SECRET +REQUEST ENCLOSED +PACKET ENCLOSED + +REQUESTING ANALYSIS +ONE GDB @gdb-readout.dat +TWO BLOOD @blood-soaked-handkerchief +NOTE GDB INDICATES SOME ANOMALY“Hey little guy, lets go get an empanade. Inky says they’re divine.” +Alex says as he scoops up the little goblin and gently carries him +downstairs.”
+Striding into Enriques kitchen, and availing himself to the +empanadas, ignoring an indignant Enrique’s protests that these were for +paying customers until a small bag of coins is tossed careless over one +shoulder. Alex stride through the kitchen and then out and away into the +garden to enjoy their pilfered treats.
+“I suppose this is more interesting than being on the force at +times”
+
~
+++Inky stepped into the toques’ cabin below deck with a tray of +turmeric ginger tea and lavender biscuits. After checking on Bread’s +bandages and offering the toque reclined on the berth the last bag of +mango croutons — or at least the last one for the next two hours — Inky +perched on a wooden barrel across from where Confidence sat on a +creaking old chair next to the bunk and spoke. “We’ll be landing in +about an hour and getting Bread to a medical facility. You can stay with +him while he heals and rest up.”
+They paused to take a long sip from their cup, as if the liquid was +being used to summon their next words. “On behalf of myself and the +party, I apologise for the … disruption, and for what had befallen the +hotelier. As you may have already noticed, we’re a fair distance away +from the Peak and will be arriving in Vay’Nullar soon. This airship was +taken over from the cyberplasms in the course of getting the crystal out +and the injured to a safe location, and her new captain could hardly fly +it back straight into the pirates’ hands now.
+What we propose is this: you and Bread may take as long as you need +to recover. We can arrange for lodgings and new posts in the city. One +of our party runs a Milk Market that could certainly use some hired +help, and a garden in the back that would benefit from more attention. +Pay will be double your current salary at the hotel. Master Alex may +also recruit you for other tasks. You don’t need to have an answer just +yet — think on it for a bit while you rest and let us know. Afterwards, +if you find that you still wish to return to Kelsun Peak, we will pay +for travel.”
+Inky winked at Bread conspiratorially. “You may be interested to know +there is a bakery on the Milk Market’s first floor. If you like the look +of the place, perhaps we can convince the chef to take on an +assistant.”
+~
+Tess watched her adviser from her position on one end of the plush +chaise lounge in her office, who returned her stare impassively as they +sat in the adjoining armchair to her right. The ornate coffee table +before them had been laid out for tea, but the other cup remained +untouched, which was in itself unusual. Ink rarely turned down tea when +it was offered, which likely meant they were preoccupied with something +they were unwilling to discuss. This had been happening more frequently +since their plans to intercept the Ginnarak Crystals, which was a little +concerning, but she knew it would be no use to question them directly. +The missive she had received this time through Piskin’s people was +brief, almost annoyingly so, but they had returned earlier than expected +with the articles that production had requested, which had fortunately +made up for lost time from the previous delays.
+With this in mind, she settled on a lighter note as she picked up her +own teacup. “Salvia passed on the items to the production team. Thank +you for picking them up from the Runesocesius. I would send my regular +couriers but they are tied up with another event. One of them had to +care for their sick child and couldn’t leave the city. As usual, time +and discretion are of the essence.”
+When her adviser only nodded, she continued. “How is he? He probably +insisted on bringing the manuscripts out for you himself. The man is +cautious with valuables.”
+“Quite dead but managing, or so I heard.” Ink intoned drily.
+Tess caught on immediately. “Didn’t you meet with him? The message +only mentioned the items had been obtained. Did something happen?”
+The imp shrugged. “We met, I delivered the letter and collected the +items. We didn’t get a chance to talk.”
+The hotel was slowly but steadily attracting visitors again, +especially after their last play had prominently featured the +Runesocesius Library as a research partner in the programme credits, but +Tess didn’t think the hotelier was so busy as to entrust this task to +one of his underlings. The man was proud of the first editions the +library had amassed, and the notebooks of Lucidieau that the playwright +sought as a reference were no doubt counted among the treasures, even if +only an expensive commissioned facsimile was permitted out of the +library. Something had happened, she was sure, but decided not to press +further for the moment.
+“And the other matter?” she asked.
+“Someone already knew the crystal was at the hotel and retained a +crew of cyberplasmic pirates to storm the place.” Ink replied flatly. +“And yes, your acquaintance is very much dead, shot by the crew leader +in the scuffle. As the rumour rags have it, his ghost is now overseeing +the building repairs.”
+Tess was about to admonish the imp gently for the tasteless jest when +there was a knock at the door. At her response, the door opened and her +secretary entered with a box of pastries and two sets of tableware, +which she placed on the coffee table before leaving and closing the door +behind her.
+Noticing Ink’s look of recognition, Tess smiled and ventured, “This +is the second time is as many months you awarded that empanada place a +glowing review in The Tiny Toaster. I can count the ratings +higher than a 10 you’ve ever given on one hand — of course I had to try +it. Why don’t you have some as well?”
+Ink blinked. “I didn’t write the latest review.”
+Tess shot them an accusing mock-glare as she lifted a puffy golden +brown pastry onto a plate. “It has your inkprints all over it.”
+“I don’t know what you mean. Surely I’m allowed to treat a colleague +to lunch, and they are free to express their satisfaction with a meal +openly if they wish,” Ink replied smoothly.
+Tess rolled her eyes. “There’s a name for that. It’s called +bribery.”
+Ink smiled faintly. “Just so. However, the selection speaks for +itself.”
+“Oh, absolutely! These mini ambrose apple empanadas are wonderful. In +fact,” Tess prodded the open end of the pastry with her fork, where a +light yellow filling was visible, “they remind me a little of the very +crispy tortelli someone made several years ago just for the +opening reception of The Two Genteelkin of Virdantha.”
+“Any resemblance is coincidental. The chef is very capable.” Ink said +evenly.
+Tess sighed and returned her plate to the table. “We’ve talked about +this before, Ink. You don’t have to hole up in some poor scrub’s excuse +for a kitchen in a closet. If you need more room downstairs then expand +it. Just tell Salvia and she’ll take care of it.”
+Ink lowered their gaze to the teacups. “I appreciate the offer, but +the answer is the same. There will be no rest until the crystals are +secured.”
+
Some time passes.
+The hemogoblin turns out to be a fine housemate and less of a problem +than you thought it would be. Be it because its not in the excitement of +battle onboard a pirate ship, or be it because it is maturing slightly, +it seems in better control of its blood sacs. Barring a few small +accidents, it doesn’t make much of a mess. It has found and claimed as +its own a few unused blankets, and has made a little burrow nest in an +out of the way corner behind the furniture.
+Bread makes a full recovery and in fact is doing better than ever +before. The blood goblin stays by their side during the first hours and +days and keeps them pumped full of clean, synthetic blood. Afterwards +the toque is flushed a healthy pink and has new vigor. Enrique takes +them under his tutelage. And Bread ends up making a fine baker’s +apprentice. Dough seems to rise more and quicker after he kneads it. +“The lad has solar hands,” Enrique boasts of his new protegee.
+Confidence becomes enthralled with the semi-sentient Wandering +Bazaar. The thirteen story building moves with glacial speed up and down +the streets, vendors and stalls and shoppers following in its wake. But +then also it will disappear in the blink of an eye only to reappear in a +totally different part of the area known as the Wandering Bazaar +District. Each floor of the tall, narrow tower is occupied entirely by a +single shop. But which shop it is seems to vary from day to day. One day +the seventh level will be occupied by Fedik’s Butcher shop. And the +next, Lario’s Bakery. It might be days or weeks before one can once +again buy hotlinks from Fedik’s. Where the shops go when they’re not +here is one of Basmentaria’s great mysteries.
+The toque studies the Bazaar’s movements and are able to predict its +route with more and more accuracy. They become a highly sought out +guide. Tourists and visitors trust them to take them to the very spot +the Bazaar will appear that day. Residents appreciate the heads up and +not getting trapped in their houses when the Bazaar wedges its way into +their narrow residential streets, blocking their front doors. And owners +of traditional, less ambulatory shops are able to plan ahead for the +crowds that will appear on “Bazaar Day”.
+~
+Members of the Retrieval Team who sleep in Milk Market HQ start +having dreams of the same mysterious figure. Of course at first nobody +knows their dreams are shared by the others. Not until they become more +frequent, more regular. By the time the figure has visited you every +night for nearly a week, somebody speaks up and you realize the +coincidence.
+The figure is clad in voluminous robes of deep purple. Long, +straight, blonde hair falls around their shoulders. Their soft features +are boyish and womanly. They wear a golden circlet on their head and a +golden eye in the middle of their forehead. Their passive, neutral face +betrays no emotion the entire time.
+The dream is always the same. They reach out to you with one hand and +turn their palm up. And because of dream logic, in the palm of their +hand you can hear the jingling of coins, mirthful laughter, and hushed +stories told around a campfire. They curl their fingers into a loose +first and the sounds stop. They spread their arms wide and in the folds +of their robes you can see three siblings fighting, squabbling over a +broken loom.
+Then you’re standing next to them, and the two of you watch three +friends, Snake, Owl, and Dolphin. Owl tells Snake that he is tired of +flying and hooting, and doesn’t want to be an owl any more, he wants to +be flowers. And Snake laughs and tells him that he is Owl, and an owl he +must remain. And she leaves him to go eat rodents and bake in the sun. +So Owl tells Dolphin that he is tired of flying and hooting, and doesn’t +want to be an owl any more, he wants to be flowers. Dolphin doesn’t want +to help Owl, because if he is flowers, they won’t be able to be together +any longer. But Dolphin finally agrees to help even though they don’t +want to, because Dolphin loves Owl. With all their strength, they create +a great waterspout that will turn Owl into flowers. But the waterspout +is too strong, and Dolphin is too weak to control it. It sprays Owl but +does not turn him into flowers. Owl’s wing is broken and he falls to the +ground in a heap of feathers. The waterspout shakes a great boulder from +the earth and traps Snake under it. And Dolphin sinks to the bottom of +the sea.
+And then you wake up.
+~
+Later you find a letter in the common area of Milk Market HQ. It is +not addressed to anybody. When you open it up, it reads:
+++Time is running out, Retrieval Team 43. Things are starting to draw +to a close. We cannot delay our meeting any longer if we both are to +achieve our goals. We have information that you are looking for. Meet us +at the Harpoon Club next Selday. We will wear the sign.
+
The letter is signed with a white iris and golden apple.
+Anyone in Vay’Nullar would be able to tell you that the Harpoon Club +is a game room and fine dining club, and one of the rotating tenants of +the Wandering Bazaar. But Confidence would tell you, were you to ask +them, that the club won’t be there next Selday. (When the Bazaar will +appear at East and Lowland.) It is in fact not scheduled to appear until +a week and a half after next Selday, on Third Tensday. (When the Bazaar +will appear at Cathedral and Pine.)
+WHAT DO YOU DO
Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria
++Once back in the Milk Bar, with the airship safely anchored + to the roof of the building, Alex finds himself amongst the + old belongings of his former uncle.
+sigh “Best get a request to HQ for this airship, + maybe they’ll let us operate it for a bit, if not I suppose we + have to impound it..”
++<- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A +-> OP 25120 * LOC ESPER + +CLEARANCE: INFORMATIONAL +REQUEST ENCLOSED. + +REQUESTING PERMISSION TO IMPOUND OR OPERATE. +ONE CYBERPLASM AIRSHIP "The Rusty Maiden"“There’s also the matter of this little hemogoblin..” Alex + mutters to himself while said hemogoblin happily dances around + the room, dripping little pools of blood hither and + tither.
++<- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A +-> OP 41154 * LOC ESPER + +CLEARANCE: TOP SECRET +REQUEST ENCLOSED +PACKET ENCLOSED + +REQUESTING ANALYSIS +ONE GDB @gdb-readout.dat +TWO BLOOD @blood-soaked-handkerchief +NOTE GDB INDICATES SOME ANOMALY“Hey little guy, lets go get an empanade. Inky says they’re + divine.” Alex says as he scoops up the little goblin and + gently carries him downstairs.”
+Striding into Enriques kitchen, and availing himself to the + empanadas, ignoring an indignant Enrique’s protests that these + were for paying customers until a small bag of coins is tossed + careless over one shoulder. Alex stride through the kitchen + and then out and away into the garden to enjoy their pilfered + treats.
+“I suppose this is more interesting than being on the force + at times”
+
~
+++Inky stepped into the toques’ cabin below deck with a tray + of turmeric ginger tea and lavender biscuits. After checking + on Bread’s bandages and offering the toque reclined on the + berth the last bag of mango croutons — or at least the last + one for the next two hours — Inky perched on a wooden barrel + across from where Confidence sat on a creaking old chair next + to the bunk and spoke. “We’ll be landing in about an hour and + getting Bread to a medical facility. You can stay with him + while he heals and rest up.”
+They paused to take a long sip from their cup, as if the + liquid was being used to summon their next words. “On behalf + of myself and the party, I apologise for the … disruption, and + for what had befallen the hotelier. As you may have already + noticed, we’re a fair distance away from the Peak and will be + arriving in Vay’Nullar soon. This airship was taken over from + the cyberplasms in the course of getting the crystal out and + the injured to a safe location, and her new captain could + hardly fly it back straight into the pirates’ hands now.
+What we propose is this: you and Bread may take as long as + you need to recover. We can arrange for lodgings and new posts + in the city. One of our party runs a Milk Market that could + certainly use some hired help, and a garden in the back that + would benefit from more attention. Pay will be double your + current salary at the hotel. Master Alex may also recruit you + for other tasks. You don’t need to have an answer just yet — + think on it for a bit while you rest and let us know. + Afterwards, if you find that you still wish to return to + Kelsun Peak, we will pay for travel.”
+Inky winked at Bread conspiratorially. “You may be + interested to know there is a bakery on the Milk Market’s + first floor. If you like the look of the place, perhaps we can + convince the chef to take on an assistant.”
+~
+Tess watched her adviser from her position on one end of + the plush chaise lounge in her office, who returned her stare + impassively as they sat in the adjoining armchair to her + right. The ornate coffee table before them had been laid out + for tea, but the other cup remained untouched, which was in + itself unusual. Ink rarely turned down tea when it was + offered, which likely meant they were preoccupied with + something they were unwilling to discuss. This had been + happening more frequently since their plans to intercept the + Ginnarak Crystals, which was a little concerning, but she knew + it would be no use to question them directly. The missive she + had received this time through Piskin’s people was brief, + almost annoyingly so, but they had returned earlier than + expected with the articles that production had requested, + which had fortunately made up for lost time from the previous + delays.
+With this in mind, she settled on a lighter note as she + picked up her own teacup. “Salvia passed on the items to the + production team. Thank you for picking them up from the + Runesocesius. I would send my regular couriers but they are + tied up with another event. One of them had to care for their + sick child and couldn’t leave the city. As usual, time and + discretion are of the essence.”
+When her adviser only nodded, she continued. “How is he? He + probably insisted on bringing the manuscripts out for you + himself. The man is cautious with valuables.”
+“Quite dead but managing, or so I heard.” Ink intoned + drily.
+Tess caught on immediately. “Didn’t you meet with him? The + message only mentioned the items had been obtained. Did + something happen?”
+The imp shrugged. “We met, I delivered the letter and + collected the items. We didn’t get a chance to talk.”
+The hotel was slowly but steadily attracting visitors + again, especially after their last play had prominently + featured the Runesocesius Library as a research partner in the + programme credits, but Tess didn’t think the hotelier was so + busy as to entrust this task to one of his underlings. The man + was proud of the first editions the library had amassed, and + the notebooks of Lucidieau that the playwright sought as a + reference were no doubt counted among the treasures, even if + only an expensive commissioned facsimile was permitted out of + the library. Something had happened, she was sure, but decided + not to press further for the moment.
+“And the other matter?” she asked.
+“Someone already knew the crystal was at the hotel and + retained a crew of cyberplasmic pirates to storm the place.” + Ink replied flatly. “And yes, your acquaintance is very much + dead, shot by the crew leader in the scuffle. As the rumour + rags have it, his ghost is now overseeing the building + repairs.”
+Tess was about to admonish the imp gently for the tasteless + jest when there was a knock at the door. At her response, the + door opened and her secretary entered with a box of pastries + and two sets of tableware, which she placed on the coffee + table before leaving and closing the door behind her.
+Noticing Ink’s look of recognition, Tess smiled and + ventured, “This is the second time is as many months you + awarded that empanada place a glowing review in The Tiny + Toaster. I can count the ratings higher than a 10 you’ve + ever given on one hand — of course I had to try it. Why don’t + you have some as well?”
+Ink blinked. “I didn’t write the latest review.”
+Tess shot them an accusing mock-glare as she lifted a puffy + golden brown pastry onto a plate. “It has your inkprints all + over it.”
+“I don’t know what you mean. Surely I’m allowed to treat a + colleague to lunch, and they are free to express their + satisfaction with a meal openly if they wish,” Ink replied + smoothly.
+Tess rolled her eyes. “There’s a name for that. It’s called + bribery.”
+Ink smiled faintly. “Just so. However, the selection speaks + for itself.”
+“Oh, absolutely! These mini ambrose apple empanadas are + wonderful. In fact,” Tess prodded the open end of the pastry + with her fork, where a light yellow filling was visible, “they + remind me a little of the very crispy tortelli + someone made several years ago just for the opening + reception of The Two Genteelkin of Virdantha.”
+“Any resemblance is coincidental. The chef is very + capable.” Ink said evenly.
+Tess sighed and returned her plate to the table. “We’ve + talked about this before, Ink. You don’t have to hole up in + some poor scrub’s excuse for a kitchen in a closet. If you + need more room downstairs then expand it. Just tell Salvia and + she’ll take care of it.”
+Ink lowered their gaze to the teacups. “I appreciate the + offer, but the answer is the same. There will be no rest until + the crystals are secured.”
+
Some time passes.
+The hemogoblin turns out to be a fine housemate and less of + a problem than you thought it would be. Be it because its not + in the excitement of battle onboard a pirate ship, or be it + because it is maturing slightly, it seems in better control of + its blood sacs. Barring a few small accidents, it doesn’t make + much of a mess. It has found and claimed as its own a few + unused blankets, and has made a little burrow nest in an out + of the way corner behind the furniture.
+Bread makes a full recovery and in fact is doing better + than ever before. The blood goblin stays by their side during + the first hours and days and keeps them pumped full of clean, + synthetic blood. Afterwards the toque is flushed a healthy + pink and has new vigor. Enrique takes them under his tutelage. + And Bread ends up making a fine baker’s apprentice. Dough + seems to rise more and quicker after he kneads it. “The lad + has solar hands,” Enrique boasts of his new protegee.
+Confidence becomes enthralled with the semi-sentient + Wandering Bazaar. The thirteen story building moves with + glacial speed up and down the streets, vendors and stalls and + shoppers following in its wake. But then also it will + disappear in the blink of an eye only to reappear in a totally + different part of the area known as the Wandering Bazaar + District. Each floor of the tall, narrow tower is occupied + entirely by a single shop. But which shop it is seems to vary + from day to day. One day the seventh level will be occupied by + Fedik’s Butcher shop. And the next, Lario’s Bakery. It might + be days or weeks before one can once again buy hotlinks from + Fedik’s. Where the shops go when they’re not here is one of + Basmentaria’s great mysteries.
+The toque studies the Bazaar’s movements and are able to + predict its route with more and more accuracy. They become a + highly sought out guide. Tourists and visitors trust them to + take them to the very spot the Bazaar will appear that day. + Residents appreciate the heads up and not getting trapped in + their houses when the Bazaar wedges its way into their narrow + residential streets, blocking their front doors. And owners of + traditional, less ambulatory shops are able to plan ahead for + the crowds that will appear on “Bazaar Day”.
+~
+Members of the Retrieval Team who sleep in Milk Market HQ + start having dreams of the same mysterious figure. Of course + at first nobody knows their dreams are shared by the others. + Not until they become more frequent, more regular. By the time + the figure has visited you every night for nearly a week, + somebody speaks up and you realize the coincidence.
+The figure is clad in voluminous robes of deep purple. + Long, straight, blonde hair falls around their shoulders. + Their soft features are boyish and womanly. They wear a golden + circlet on their head and a golden eye in the middle of their + forehead. Their passive, neutral face betrays no emotion the + entire time.
+The dream is always the same. They reach out to you with + one hand and turn their palm up. And because of dream logic, + in the palm of their hand you can hear the jingling of coins, + mirthful laughter, and hushed stories told around a campfire. + They curl their fingers into a loose first and the sounds + stop. They spread their arms wide and in the folds of their + robes you can see three siblings fighting, squabbling over a + broken loom.
+Then you’re standing next to them, and the two of you watch + three friends, Snake, Owl, and Dolphin. Owl tells Snake that + he is tired of flying and hooting, and doesn’t want to be an + owl any more, he wants to be flowers. And Snake laughs and + tells him that he is Owl, and an owl he must remain. And she + leaves him to go eat rodents and bake in the sun. So Owl tells + Dolphin that he is tired of flying and hooting, and doesn’t + want to be an owl any more, he wants to be flowers. Dolphin + doesn’t want to help Owl, because if he is flowers, they won’t + be able to be together any longer. But Dolphin finally agrees + to help even though they don’t want to, because Dolphin loves + Owl. With all their strength, they create a great waterspout + that will turn Owl into flowers. But the waterspout is too + strong, and Dolphin is too weak to control it. It sprays Owl + but does not turn him into flowers. Owl’s wing is broken and + he falls to the ground in a heap of feathers. The waterspout + shakes a great boulder from the earth and traps Snake under + it. And Dolphin sinks to the bottom of the sea.
+And then you wake up.
+~
+Later you find a letter in the common area of Milk Market + HQ. It is not addressed to anybody. When you open it up, it + reads:
+++Time is running out, Retrieval Team 43. Things are starting + to draw to a close. We cannot delay our meeting any longer if + we both are to achieve our goals. We have information that you + are looking for. Meet us at the Harpoon Club next Selday. We + will wear the sign.
+
The letter is signed with a white iris and golden + apple.
+Anyone in Vay’Nullar would be able to tell you that the + Harpoon Club is a game room and fine dining club, and one of + the rotating tenants of the Wandering Bazaar. But Confidence + would tell you, were you to ask them, that the club won’t be + there next Selday. (When the Bazaar will appear at East and + Lowland.) It is in fact not scheduled to appear until a week + and a half after next Selday, on Third Tensday. (When the + Bazaar will appear at Cathedral and Pine.)
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+ ]]> +Total length: 55744 words / 238 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the +
Total length: 58151 words / 248 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 188 messages posted over 174 days since the first +
There have been 189 messages posted over 175 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.08.
This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -388,7 +390,7 @@ Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2
Paths:
Status: timestuck in a fork bomb
@@ -512,7 +514,7 @@ Set, Mountain Range Glyph Ink, Bead of the WereharePaths:
You can subscribe to these updates with the rss feed.
https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml
+++Once back in the Milk Bar, with the airship safely anchored to the +roof of the building, Alex finds himself amongst the old belongings of +his former uncle.
+sigh “Best get a request to HQ for this airship, maybe +they’ll let us operate it for a bit, if not I suppose we have to impound +it..”
++<- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A +-> OP 25120 * LOC ESPER + +CLEARANCE: INFORMATIONAL +REQUEST ENCLOSED. + +REQUESTING PERMISSION TO IMPOUND OR OPERATE. +ONE CYBERPLASM AIRSHIP "The Rusty Maiden"“There’s also the matter of this little hemogoblin..” Alex mutters to +himself while said hemogoblin happily dances around the room, dripping +little pools of blood hither and tither.
++<- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A +-> OP 41154 * LOC ESPER + +CLEARANCE: TOP SECRET +REQUEST ENCLOSED +PACKET ENCLOSED + +REQUESTING ANALYSIS +ONE GDB @gdb-readout.dat +TWO BLOOD @blood-soaked-handkerchief +NOTE GDB INDICATES SOME ANOMALY“Hey little guy, lets go get an empanade. Inky says they’re divine.” +Alex says as he scoops up the little goblin and gently carries him +downstairs.”
+Striding into Enriques kitchen, and availing himself to the +empanadas, ignoring an indignant Enrique’s protests that these were for +paying customers until a small bag of coins is tossed careless over one +shoulder. Alex stride through the kitchen and then out and away into the +garden to enjoy their pilfered treats.
+“I suppose this is more interesting than being on the force at +times”
+
~
+++Inky stepped into the toques’ cabin below deck with a tray of +turmeric ginger tea and lavender biscuits. After checking on Bread’s +bandages and offering the toque reclined on the berth the last bag of +mango croutons — or at least the last one for the next two hours — Inky +perched on a wooden barrel across from where Confidence sat on a +creaking old chair next to the bunk and spoke. “We’ll be landing in +about an hour and getting Bread to a medical facility. You can stay with +him while he heals and rest up.”
+They paused to take a long sip from their cup, as if the liquid was +being used to summon their next words. “On behalf of myself and the +party, I apologise for the … disruption, and for what had befallen the +hotelier. As you may have already noticed, we’re a fair distance away +from the Peak and will be arriving in Vay’Nullar soon. This airship was +taken over from the cyberplasms in the course of getting the crystal out +and the injured to a safe location, and her new captain could hardly fly +it back straight into the pirates’ hands now.
+What we propose is this: you and Bread may take as long as you need +to recover. We can arrange for lodgings and new posts in the city. One +of our party runs a Milk Market that could certainly use some hired +help, and a garden in the back that would benefit from more attention. +Pay will be double your current salary at the hotel. Master Alex may +also recruit you for other tasks. You don’t need to have an answer just +yet — think on it for a bit while you rest and let us know. Afterwards, +if you find that you still wish to return to Kelsun Peak, we will pay +for travel.”
+Inky winked at Bread conspiratorially. “You may be interested to know +there is a bakery on the Milk Market’s first floor. If you like the look +of the place, perhaps we can convince the chef to take on an +assistant.”
+~
+Tess watched her adviser from her position on one end of the plush +chaise lounge in her office, who returned her stare impassively as they +sat in the adjoining armchair to her right. The ornate coffee table +before them had been laid out for tea, but the other cup remained +untouched, which was in itself unusual. Ink rarely turned down tea when +it was offered, which likely meant they were preoccupied with something +they were unwilling to discuss. This had been happening more frequently +since their plans to intercept the Ginnarak Crystals, which was a little +concerning, but she knew it would be no use to question them directly. +The missive she had received this time through Piskin’s people was +brief, almost annoyingly so, but they had returned earlier than expected +with the articles that production had requested, which had fortunately +made up for lost time from the previous delays.
+With this in mind, she settled on a lighter note as she picked up her +own teacup. “Salvia passed on the items to the production team. Thank +you for picking them up from the Runesocesius. I would send my regular +couriers but they are tied up with another event. One of them had to +care for their sick child and couldn’t leave the city. As usual, time +and discretion are of the essence.”
+When her adviser only nodded, she continued. “How is he? He probably +insisted on bringing the manuscripts out for you himself. The man is +cautious with valuables.”
+“Quite dead but managing, or so I heard.” Ink intoned drily.
+Tess caught on immediately. “Didn’t you meet with him? The message +only mentioned the items had been obtained. Did something happen?”
+The imp shrugged. “We met, I delivered the letter and collected the +items. We didn’t get a chance to talk.”
+The hotel was slowly but steadily attracting visitors again, +especially after their last play had prominently featured the +Runesocesius Library as a research partner in the programme credits, but +Tess didn’t think the hotelier was so busy as to entrust this task to +one of his underlings. The man was proud of the first editions the +library had amassed, and the notebooks of Lucidieau that the playwright +sought as a reference were no doubt counted among the treasures, even if +only an expensive commissioned facsimile was permitted out of the +library. Something had happened, she was sure, but decided not to press +further for the moment.
+“And the other matter?” she asked.
+“Someone already knew the crystal was at the hotel and retained a +crew of cyberplasmic pirates to storm the place.” Ink replied flatly. +“And yes, your acquaintance is very much dead, shot by the crew leader +in the scuffle. As the rumour rags have it, his ghost is now overseeing +the building repairs.”
+Tess was about to admonish the imp gently for the tasteless jest when +there was a knock at the door. At her response, the door opened and her +secretary entered with a box of pastries and two sets of tableware, +which she placed on the coffee table before leaving and closing the door +behind her.
+Noticing Ink’s look of recognition, Tess smiled and ventured, “This +is the second time is as many months you awarded that empanada place a +glowing review in The Tiny Toaster. I can count the ratings +higher than a 10 you’ve ever given on one hand — of course I had to try +it. Why don’t you have some as well?”
+Ink blinked. “I didn’t write the latest review.”
+Tess shot them an accusing mock-glare as she lifted a puffy golden +brown pastry onto a plate. “It has your inkprints all over it.”
+“I don’t know what you mean. Surely I’m allowed to treat a colleague +to lunch, and they are free to express their satisfaction with a meal +openly if they wish,” Ink replied smoothly.
+Tess rolled her eyes. “There’s a name for that. It’s called +bribery.”
+Ink smiled faintly. “Just so. However, the selection speaks for +itself.”
+“Oh, absolutely! These mini ambrose apple empanadas are wonderful. In +fact,” Tess prodded the open end of the pastry with her fork, where a +light yellow filling was visible, “they remind me a little of the very +crispy tortelli someone made several years ago just for the +opening reception of The Two Genteelkin of Virdantha.”
+“Any resemblance is coincidental. The chef is very capable.” Ink said +evenly.
+Tess sighed and returned her plate to the table. “We’ve talked about +this before, Ink. You don’t have to hole up in some poor scrub’s excuse +for a kitchen in a closet. If you need more room downstairs then expand +it. Just tell Salvia and she’ll take care of it.”
+Ink lowered their gaze to the teacups. “I appreciate the offer, but +the answer is the same. There will be no rest until the crystals are +secured.”
+
Some time passes.
+The hemogoblin turns out to be a fine housemate and less of a problem +than you thought it would be. Be it because its not in the excitement of +battle onboard a pirate ship, or be it because it is maturing slightly, +it seems in better control of its blood sacs. Barring a few small +accidents, it doesn’t make much of a mess. It has found and claimed as +its own a few unused blankets, and has made a little burrow nest in an +out of the way corner behind the furniture.
+Bread makes a full recovery and in fact is doing better than ever +before. The blood goblin stays by their side during the first hours and +days and keeps them pumped full of clean, synthetic blood. Afterwards +the toque is flushed a healthy pink and has new vigor. Enrique takes +them under his tutelage. And Bread ends up making a fine baker’s +apprentice. Dough seems to rise more and quicker after he kneads it. +“The lad has solar hands,” Enrique boasts of his new protegee.
+Confidence becomes enthralled with the semi-sentient Wandering +Bazaar. The thirteen story building moves with glacial speed up and down +the streets, vendors and stalls and shoppers following in its wake. But +then also it will disappear in the blink of an eye only to reappear in a +totally different part of the area known as the Wandering Bazaar +District. Each floor of the tall, narrow tower is occupied entirely by a +single shop. But which shop it is seems to vary from day to day. One day +the seventh level will be occupied by Fedik’s Butcher shop. And the +next, Lario’s Bakery. It might be days or weeks before one can once +again buy hotlinks from Fedik’s. Where the shops go when they’re not +here is one of Basmentaria’s great mysteries.
+The toque studies the Bazaar’s movements and are able to predict its +route with more and more accuracy. They become a highly sought out +guide. Tourists and visitors trust them to take them to the very spot +the Bazaar will appear that day. Residents appreciate the heads up and +not getting trapped in their houses when the Bazaar wedges its way into +their narrow residential streets, blocking their front doors. And owners +of traditional, less ambulatory shops are able to plan ahead for the +crowds that will appear on “Bazaar Day”.
+~
+Members of the Retrieval Team who sleep in Milk Market HQ start +having dreams of the same mysterious figure. Of course at first nobody +knows their dreams are shared by the others. Not until they become more +frequent, more regular. By the time the figure has visited you every +night for nearly a week, somebody speaks up and you realize the +coincidence.
+The figure is clad in voluminous robes of deep purple. Long, +straight, blonde hair falls around their shoulders. Their soft features +are boyish and womanly. They wear a golden circlet on their head and a +golden eye in the middle of their forehead. Their passive, neutral face +betrays no emotion the entire time.
+The dream is always the same. They reach out to you with one hand and +turn their palm up. And because of dream logic, in the palm of their +hand you can hear the jingling of coins, mirthful laughter, and hushed +stories told around a campfire. They curl their fingers into a loose +first and the sounds stop. They spread their arms wide and in the folds +of their robes you can see three siblings fighting, squabbling over a +broken loom.
+Then you’re standing next to them, and the two of you watch three +friends, Snake, Owl, and Dolphin. Owl tells Snake that he is tired of +flying and hooting, and doesn’t want to be an owl any more, he wants to +be flowers. And Snake laughs and tells him that he is Owl, and an owl he +must remain. And she leaves him to go eat rodents and bake in the sun. +So Owl tells Dolphin that he is tired of flying and hooting, and doesn’t +want to be an owl any more, he wants to be flowers. Dolphin doesn’t want +to help Owl, because if he is flowers, they won’t be able to be together +any longer. But Dolphin finally agrees to help even though they don’t +want to, because Dolphin loves Owl. With all their strength, they create +a great waterspout that will turn Owl into flowers. But the waterspout +is too strong, and Dolphin is too weak to control it. It sprays Owl but +does not turn him into flowers. Owl’s wing is broken and he falls to the +ground in a heap of feathers. The waterspout shakes a great boulder from +the earth and traps Snake under it. And Dolphin sinks to the bottom of +the sea.
+And then you wake up.
+~
+Later you find a letter in the common area of Milk Market HQ. It is +not addressed to anybody. When you open it up, it reads:
+++Time is running out, Retrieval Team 43. Things are starting to draw +to a close. We cannot delay our meeting any longer if we both are to +achieve our goals. We have information that you are looking for. Meet us +at the Harpoon Club next Selday. We will wear the sign.
+
The letter is signed with a white iris and golden apple.
+Anyone in Vay’Nullar would be able to tell you that the Harpoon Club +is a game room and fine dining club, and one of the rotating tenants of +the Wandering Bazaar. But Confidence would tell you, were you to ask +them, that the club won’t be there next Selday. (When the Bazaar will +appear at East and Lowland.) It is in fact not scheduled to appear until +a week and a half after next Selday, on Third Tensday. (When the Bazaar +will appear at Cathedral and Pine.)
+WHAT DO YOU DO
Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria
THREADS
CALENDAR
+The period of Moonmoon’s rotation is 10 days. This is a week. The +period of Selene’s rotation is 30 days (3 weeks). This is a month. The +period of Lua’s rotation is 360 days (12 months). This is a year.
+Days of the week are divided into godsdays, moondays, earthdays, and +‘Tensday’.
+| Day of Month | +Day of Week | +Name | +Moonmoon | +Selene | +
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | +Nedsday | +1st quarter | +1st quarter | +
| 2 | +2 | +Nullday | +waxing gibbous | +1st quarter | +
| 3 | +3 | +Lianday | +full | +1st quarter | +
| 4 | +4 | +Monday | +full | +1st quarter | +
| 5 | +5 | +Selday | +waning gibbous | +waxing gibbous | +
| 6 | +6 | +Luday | +3rd quarter | +waxing gibbous | +
| 7 | +7 | +Primeday | +waning crescent | +waxing gibbous | +
| 8 | +8 | +Agenday | +new | +full | +
| 9 | +9 | +Ginnday | +new | +full | +
| 10 | +10 | +Tensday | +waxing crescent | +full | +
| 11 | +1 | +Nedsday | +1st quarter | +full | +
| 12 | +2 | +Nullday | +waxing gibbous | +full | +
| 13 | +3 | +Lianday | +full | +waning gibbous | +
| 14 | +4 | +Monday | +full | +waning gibbous | +
| 15 | +5 | +Selday | +waning gibbous | +waning gibbous | +
| 16 | +6 | +Luday | +3rd quarter | +3rd quarter | +
| 17 | +7 | +Primeday | +waning crescent | +3rd quarter | +
| 18 | +8 | +Agenday | +new | +3rd quarter | +
| 19 | +9 | +Ginnday | +new | +3rd quarter | +
| 20 | +10 | +Tensday | +waxing crescent | +waning crescent | +
| 21 | +1 | +Nedsday | +1st quarter | +waning crescent | +
| 22 | +2 | +Nullday | +waxing gibbous | +waning crescent | +
| 23 | +3 | +Lianday | +full | +new | +
| 24 | +4 | +Monday | +full | +new | +
| 25 | +5 | +Selday | +waning gibbous | +new | +
| 26 | +6 | +Luday | +3rd quarter | +new | +
| 27 | +7 | +Primeday | +waning crescent | +new | +
| 28 | +8 | +Agenday | +new | +waxing crescent | +
| 29 | +9 | +Ginnday | +new | +waxing crescent | +
| 30 | +10 | +Tensday | +waxing crescent | +waxing crescent | +
The year is defined by Lua, the Red Lady’s phases:
+| # | +Name | +Lua | +Season | +
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +Thawing | +1ST QUARTER | +Spring | +
| 2 | +Icebreak | +waxing gibbous | +Spring | +
| 3 | +Springtide | +waxing gibbous | +Spring | +
| 4 | +Ripeberry | +FULL | +Summer | +
| 5 | +Fullhorn | +waning gibbous | +Summer | +
| 6 | +Fallsrun | +waning gibbous | +Summer | +
| 7 | +Cornreaping | +3RD QUATER | +Autumn | +
| 8 | +Hunters | +waning crescent | +Autumn | +
| 9 | +Beaverlodge | +waning crescent | +Autumn | +
| 10 | +Longnight | +NEW | +Winter | +
| 11 | +Howling | +waxing crescent | +Winter | +
| 12 | +Snowfall | +waxing crescent | +Winter | +
The setting, plot, and major non-player characters of Basement Quest