From a19483f6d44f2da7f3aae9687aaae3414f0c2ddb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Christopher P. Brown" Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2022 09:18:11 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] 36 --- basement.order | 1 + src/about.md | 2 +- src/characters/corraidhin.md | 2 + src/epistolary/00036.md | 186 +++ src/notes.md | 70 +- www/index.html | 153 +- www/rss.xml | 2544 ++++++++++++++++++---------------- www/spoilers.html | 269 +++- 8 files changed, 2013 insertions(+), 1214 deletions(-) create mode 100644 src/epistolary/00036.md diff --git a/basement.order b/basement.order index 0d4f43a..892da41 100644 --- a/basement.order +++ b/basement.order @@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ src/epistolary/00032.md src/epistolary/00033.md src/epistolary/00034.md src/epistolary/00035.md +src/epistolary/00036.md src/bestiary/index.md src/bestiary/aur.md src/bestiary/blahoblin.md diff --git a/src/about.md b/src/about.md index c1d10b1..cd87308 100644 --- a/src/about.md +++ b/src/about.md @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ public: yes --- ## Stats -Total length: zxWORDS words / zxMINUTES minute read. +Total length: zxWORDS words / zxMINUTES 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 zxNOMESSAGES messages posted over zxDAYS days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of zxPOSTRATE. diff --git a/src/characters/corraidhin.md b/src/characters/corraidhin.md index 535543c..6d8694c 100644 --- a/src/characters/corraidhin.md +++ b/src/characters/corraidhin.md @@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ public: yes --- ### Corraidhín +Status: timestuck in a fork bomb +
Bio They call me Corraidhín, and while my wisened age may seem an impediment to our expedition I assure you I make up for it with my sharp wit and intellect! By trade I am a scholar, master of the histories of this realm, and a dabbler in the arcane and mystic arts. diff --git a/src/epistolary/00036.md b/src/epistolary/00036.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebb698c --- /dev/null +++ b/src/epistolary/00036.md @@ -0,0 +1,186 @@ +--- +title: 00036 +created: Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:02:38 -0700 +updated: Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:02:44 -0700 +public: yes +syndicated: yes +--- +### 00036 {#00036} + +Prelude: + +The gods are missing now. But before they went into hiding, the Trine +walked the earth and actively participated in the affairs of mortals. + +Sweet, tenderhearted Neddas---god of sages and starlight---fell in +love with the worldkin and often gave away trivial little bits of +their divinity as gifts to the people. Chief among these gifts were +the divine aspects of coin, mirth, lore, craft, and tact. With these +gifts, civilizations grew and flourished and accomplished great +things. + +Then the Artifice Wars rocked all of Basmentaria and the gods +vanished. And even with Neddas's gifts, civilization still struggles +to reach its former heights. + +> I watch as the magical bolt sails away overhead meeting its target, +> receding back into the depths of the hull of the ship as the +> skeleton drags me down. The fork bomb goes off flawlessly, and the +> world comes to a screching halt around me, only to slowly rewind +> itself. +> +> I contemplate the absolutely absurd position I've put myself into +> as the skeleton pulls me back down into the depths and I watch the +> would be theif take a direct hit again. +> +> "Okay, THAT was a good shot." I say to myself as the scene repeats +> again. I could probably watch that a few times. But after about the +> hundredth time the feat seems a little less epic. And the skeleton +> a lot less frightful and a lot more dull. +> +> *Sigh* +> +> Kevin always said this would happen. "Corraidhin, you can't play +> with dangerous scripts like that, you'll crash your systems". Right +> you were Kevin, right you were. Corraidhin casts his eyes around +> wistfully. I guess I got that boat I always wanted? And it's filled +> with treasure. That's a positive. Oh and um I'm not alone, yeah, +> that's right. You're stuck here too Mr. Skelly. (The skeleton does +> not reply). Oh come on now, don't be rude. (still no reply). *sigh* +> right, sorta dead, I shouldn't expext more than a loving embrace +> from you as you try and invite me to look at your treasure right? +> +> After about the thousandth time the Sysorcerer was still in a rut. +> +> I'm stuck insid the crash, not from without. It seems this moment +> is just going to idle on perpetually. (he rummages in his pockets), +> okay I guess I still have the Ginnarak crystal, and stabby. Those +> seem safe enough here with me. +> +> So long as I don't go crazy I guess there's hope. If not, what a +> damn foolish way to die. +> +> +> MEANWHILE +> +> An automated alert system triggers as the Sysorceror blips out of +> existence. And then on, and then off, and then on, and then off. +> +> ``` +> (Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found) +> Problem started at 19:37 on 2281.67.43 +> Porblem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found +> Host: Corraidhin +> Severity: Critical +> Operation Data: (corrupted) +> Problem ID: 92746027498 +> +> (Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found) +> Resolved in 1d 0h 0m 0s: Entity not found +> Problem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found +> Problem Duration: 1d 0h 0m 0s +> Severity: Critical +> Original Problem ID: 92746027498 +> ``` +> +> Bloody Zabbix alerts flapping again, what the hell does it mean +> that Uncle Corraidhin is gone. You can't Die then Live over and +> over and over. Stupid broken monitoring system. Guess I had been +> check in on him, bloody fool constantly gets himself in trouble. +> +> Alex grabs his shortsword and backpack and shoulders them. If +> anyone will know what's foolhearty issue his uncle has gotten into, +> it'll be Kevin as the Sysorcerors Guild. + +Corraidhín settles in for what may or may not be a lifetime of stasis +aboard the glitch formerly known as the SS RSS. At least Stabby will +be good company if it ever wakes up from its blood coma. Hmm, +actually that's debatable. Now that you think of it, you're not sure +you're up for a lifetime of ranting about blood and evil. + +The merbear and the tardigrade are on the ship deck, also trapped in +the fork bomb. You're not sure whether you can reach them or not. + +You see a flickering of motion and a flash of light outside the ship +as what looks like a small school of fish moves darts in and out of +view. It rushes past, doubles back, and swims past again, passing +close enough that one or two get sucked into the fork bomb with you. + +Impossibly, what you thought were fish were apparently small birds? +Or, perhaps they were fish after all and some quality of passing +through the boundary of the fork bomb simply turns them into birds? +Either way, two small blue songbirds with red heads and forked tails +hop around inside the ship chirping incessantly. You watch as one of +them hops toward one of the sea bunny slugs and pecks at it, and then +scoops it up in its beak and swallows it whole. The second does the +same. They hop from side to side a bit, and then set to feasting on +the slugs. A couple more birds pop through the membrane separating +you from the outside world and join in. + +~ + +Alex grabs his perfectly normal, blissfully non-sentient shortsword +and heads off to the Cabinet, where the Sysorcerers Guild is. He has +to detour around the Wandering Bazaar, which decided to plop down in +the middle of the street, but nonetheless arrives in short order. + +He finds Kevin working in the library on Kevin's Document Language. + +Alex describes the errors and Kevin groans, "Ugh, I told him! I told +him you can’t play with dangerous scripts like that, you'll crash +your systems! We'll have to try a manual reboot. Well don't just +stand there, young person. Come on, come on, try to keep up. We have +work to do!" + +> Inky follows the bundle's path as it sinks downwards and maneuvers +> the bubblebee to retrieve it along with the eye. +> +> Floating to a stop above the ledge of the trench, Inky looks at the +> small golden orb, then removes an empty lunch pail from their +> knapsack and drops the eye and several small glass marbles into it. +> The contents jostle around inside the pail in a cacophony of whirs, +> clicks and clatters. With the lid firmly closed, Inky tosses the +> makeshift percussive instrument into the trench for the harrowkrake +> so it could jam with its new tanokuma buddies. +> +> Staring at the bundle, Inky suddenly recalls the projectile that +> had come from the general direction of the SS RSS shortly before +> the horkosgrampus got to Mr. Not-So-Lucky. Master Corraidhín! They +> turn back to the shipwreck, only to find the entire ship had turned +> eerily translucent, like a ghost ship from some tipsy sailor's +> tale. Inky halts a short distance from the wreckage for a closer +> look, though something about the apparition told them it would be a +> terrible idea to enter the ship's hull now. Something had happened +> to the ship's remains, with the sysorcerer trapped inside. Maybe it +> was all part of the sysorcerer's plan, that he had teleported +> himself back to a safe location and this was a mirage, just a +> remnant from the moment of teleportation. +> +> Or at least Inky hopes so. + +Inky drops the improvised goldeneye noisemaker down into the trench. +The rattling as it falls is reminiscent of Gerald's laughter. One +slender tendril reaches up out of the abyss and grabs the rattle, and +then disappears once more into the murky dark. + +You are now in possession of the second Ginnarak Crystal. A blue +stone with lightly pulsing gold veins. As you gaze at it, it's almost +as though you can hear peals of tinkling laughter in the back of your +head. + +The horkosgrampus, temporarily sated having removed the liar from +this timeline, drift lazily away. + +The giant, candy-seeking manta ray passes closely by and fondly +caresses the bubblebee with one wing in passing. Its little manta +face pulled up into a chubby smile. + +The bear facsimiles join you and begin crying when they see their +"brothers" trapped on the deck of the ship. + +You see a small school of fish making multiple passes by the SS RSS +like birds skimming insects from the sky. + +WHAT DO YOU DO + +[www](https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-11/msg00083.html) diff --git a/src/notes.md b/src/notes.md index cea4a48..df68330 100644 --- a/src/notes.md +++ b/src/notes.md @@ -7,18 +7,20 @@ updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600
SPOILERS!! -NAMES AND NPCS +**NAMES AND NPCS** Upcoming NPCs and/or monsters -- [ ] zai-ni -- [ ] zeyeknee +- [ ] Jorunna Parva, sea bunny time lord +- [ ] Hap-n-stance, moon rabbit: +- [ ] time swallows: It is a common misconception that barn swallows are the most widespread species of swallow. That distinction belongs to the *time* swallow. Although---if you're lucky---you'll never actually see one. +- [ ] zai-ni (zine) +- [ ] zeyeknee (zine) - [ ] standard ed - [ ] paladin of emacs - [ ] monks of vim - [ ] hinderbloke, gnu - [ ] falterchap, gnu -- [ ] Hap-n-stance, moon rabbit: - [ ] Cyber Woman With Corn! -- - [ ] oracle - - [ ] corn smut? - @@ -27,27 +29,69 @@ Upcoming NPCs and/or monsters - [x] three fingered gerald -CRYSTALS +**LIBRARIAN** + +Back when the Trine walked among the people, before the Artifice Wars, the gods used to tell stories to help man understand the cosmos and other things beyond their understanding. Neddas, god of sages and starlight, was particularly fond of mortals and would spend time with them, giving them small gifts of trifling divinity and telling them stories. + +Due to rather unique circumstances, time in Basmentaria is both an extremely rare and finite resource, and also an illusion, a hallucination shared by all its inhabitants. + +The truth of the matter is that everything---past, present, and future---all happens at once. + +Imagine a book. You can flip open to any page at random and begin reading. This is what we would call in the moment "the present." The preceding pages are "the past", and the pages that follow are "the future". + +But all of the pages---the past, present, and future---are already all there. And I think you can already see that such labels are completely arbitrary. You can quite easily flip back a few pages into the "past", establishing a new, relative present. Just as easily as you can skip ahead into the future. + +Now, the more interesting part of this whole analogy is existence of multiple books. Many books do in fact exist, numerous complete timelines. Volumes of them. + +Every time you make a choice between two options, a new book---a separate timeline---is created. One in which you choose option A, and its consequences play out. And a second one in which you choose option B and suffer all the consequences of that decision, good or bad. + +This is known as the Many Worlds theory. + +Basmentaria is absolutely lousy with worlds. Always has been. And consequently at some point in its infancy it attracted the attention of a sentient concept known to the gods of Basmentaria only by euphemisms and neologisms such as The Bookwyrm, or The Librarian. + +The entity coils around Basmentaria like a great snake. And it consumes all these extra books, all these many worlds, all these alternative timelines. Whether these other timelines are wholly consumed and lost forever, or merely collected and stored carefully away, is unknown. What we do know is that Basmentaria only has the one, single book's worth of time. + +Back to the shared hallucination. It is said that experiential time is a peculiar side effect of The Librarian's unique biology. (Truthfully the whole tapestry kind of starts to unravel at this point, because how does a sentient concept even have a biology in the first place?) The gods believe that the entity coils itself tightly around the present moment and devours the past. And then it shits out the future. + +Whether this is metaphor or not is a hotly debated question. But thus is it explained that the past is irretrievably behind us. The present is short and fleeting. The future is merely the processed remains of the past. And just out of sight, ever beyond our ability to perceive it, lies The Bookwyrm. + +**BIRDS ARE TIME TRAVELERS** + +A fringe movement of lunatic paleornithologists and crackpots of other professions has slowly been gaining traction over the last few decades. The movement was born when Modern Fuchsia, at the time a budding young scientist on a dig yearning to make a name for himself, found a fossil of a modern feathered bird---probably some kind of swallow---alongside a theropod, the variety of dinosaur widely accepted to be the ancestor of modern birds. Faced with what he believed to be irrefutable evidence of a modern descendant coexisting alongside its own ancestor, Fuchsia was only able to conclude that Birds Are Not Dinosaurs. And thus BAND came into being. + +Ever since, BANDits have spent considerable amounts of time and energy attending conferences and publishing papers, pouting and demanding to be taken seriously be the wider scientific community. A community which, if they pay them any attention at all, it is only to mock and ridicule their crackpot theories. + +Modern Fuschia is of course wrong. But neither he nor his BANDits know how dangerously close he came to the actual truth. + +For much, much deeper in the shadowy fringes of paleornithology---itself kind of a fringe field to begin with---there is a clandestine operation called BATT. And only BATT knows the actual explanation for how a modern descendant might coexist alongside its own ancestor. Birds Are Time Travelers. + +In the far future when birds are the dominant intelligent life on Basmentaria, they do indeed invent time travel. The end result was catastrophic and is the real reason that the dinosaurs went extinct. + +It is a common misconception that barn swallows are the most widespread species of swallow. That distinction in fact belongs to the *time swallow*. Although---if you're lucky---you'll never actually see one. Since the Incident, the secret agents of BATT have vowed never again to interfere with or try to alter the time stream. Nor to allow anyone else to. The time swallows are special bred, special trained, appearing wherever and whenever an anomaly appears to remove it and restore the proper timeline. The tiny birds quite literally swallow, consume, and destroy anything that meddles with time. + + +**CRYSTALS** Each crystal has an associated *element*, a *location* appropriate to the element, and an *aspect* of Neddas for the guardian and their minions. -| Element | Location | Aspect | -|---------|-----------------------------|--------| -| earth | cave | coin | -| water | underwater pirate shipwreck | mirth | -| wind | cloudstuff | lore | -| void | spaaaaace | craft | -| fire | volcano | tact | +| ? | Element | Location | Aspect | +| -- |---------|-----------------------------|--------| +| ✅ | earth | cave | coin | +| ✅ | water | underwater pirate shipwreck | mirth | +| 🚫 | wind | cloudstuff | lore | +| 🚫 | void | spaaaaace | craft | +| 🚫 | fire | volcano | tact | The crystals will eventually lead them to Neddas -IDEAS +**IDEAS** todo: - [ ] mio's (Inky's) Handy Duffer Discette = HD Diskette = better stay away from magnets!! - [ ] tea omen: abacus, feather, wide building, lynx +- [ ] the BAND (Birds Are Not Dinosaurs) and the BATT (Birds Are Time Travelers) conspiracy - [ ] MidJourney omen: priestly blood, demon - [ ] palindromes: taco cat, reward drawer, tin unit, lap pal, evil olive - [ ] The Benefactor is Nullar diff --git a/www/index.html b/www/index.html index cf39f46..cae3d54 100644 --- a/www/index.html +++ b/www/index.html @@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ of the Were-Hare
  • 00033
  • 00034
  • 00035
    • +
  • 00036
  • Bestiary
  • Geography
    • @@ -266,9 +267,11 @@ of the Were-Hare

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 29826 words / 127 minute read.

    -

    There have been 122 messages posted over 120 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.01.

    +

    Total length: 31204 words / 133 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 126 messages posted over 121 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.04.

    About

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

    @@ -282,6 +285,7 @@ you can subscribe to the rss feed.

    Characters

    Corraidhín

    +

    Status: timestuck in a fork bomb

    Bio

    @@ -3538,6 +3542,149 @@ it starts to lose its footing in this plane of reality.

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    +

    00036

    +

    Prelude:

    +

    The gods are missing now. But before they went into hiding, the Trine +walked the earth and actively participated in the affairs of +mortals.

    +

    Sweet, tenderhearted Neddas—god of sages and starlight—fell in love +with the worldkin and often gave away trivial little bits of their +divinity as gifts to the people. Chief among these gifts were the divine +aspects of coin, mirth, lore, craft, and tact. With these gifts, +civilizations grew and flourished and accomplished great things.

    +

    Then the Artifice Wars rocked all of Basmentaria and the gods +vanished. And even with Neddas’s gifts, civilization still struggles to +reach its former heights.

    +
    +

    I watch as the magical bolt sails away overhead meeting its target, +receding back into the depths of the hull of the ship as the skeleton +drags me down. The fork bomb goes off flawlessly, and the world comes to +a screching halt around me, only to slowly rewind itself.

    +

    I contemplate the absolutely absurd position I’ve put myself into as +the skeleton pulls me back down into the depths and I watch the would be +theif take a direct hit again.

    +

    “Okay, THAT was a good shot.” I say to myself as the scene repeats +again. I could probably watch that a few times. But after about the +hundredth time the feat seems a little less epic. And the skeleton a lot +less frightful and a lot more dull.

    +

    Sigh

    +

    Kevin always said this would happen. “Corraidhin, you can’t play with +dangerous scripts like that, you’ll crash your systems”. Right you were +Kevin, right you were. Corraidhin casts his eyes around wistfully. I +guess I got that boat I always wanted? And it’s filled with treasure. +That’s a positive. Oh and um I’m not alone, yeah, that’s right. You’re +stuck here too Mr. Skelly. (The skeleton does not reply). Oh come on +now, don’t be rude. (still no reply). sigh right, sorta dead, I +shouldn’t expext more than a loving embrace from you as you try and +invite me to look at your treasure right?

    +

    After about the thousandth time the Sysorcerer was still in a +rut.

    +

    I’m stuck insid the crash, not from without. It seems this moment is +just going to idle on perpetually. (he rummages in his pockets), okay I +guess I still have the Ginnarak crystal, and stabby. Those seem safe +enough here with me.

    +

    So long as I don’t go crazy I guess there’s hope. If not, what a damn +foolish way to die.

    +

    MEANWHILE

    +

    An automated alert system triggers as the Sysorceror blips out of +existence. And then on, and then off, and then on, and then off.

    +
    (Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found)
+Problem started at 19:37 on 2281.67.43
+Porblem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found
+Host: Corraidhin
+Severity: Critical
+Operation Data: (corrupted)
+Problem ID: 92746027498
+
+(Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found)
+Resolved in 1d 0h 0m 0s: Entity not found
+Problem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found
+Problem Duration: 1d 0h 0m 0s
+Severity: Critical
+Original Problem ID: 92746027498
    +

    Bloody Zabbix alerts flapping again, what the hell does it mean that +Uncle Corraidhin is gone. You can’t Die then Live over and over and +over. Stupid broken monitoring system. Guess I had been check in on him, +bloody fool constantly gets himself in trouble.

    +

    Alex grabs his shortsword and backpack and shoulders them. If anyone +will know what’s foolhearty issue his uncle has gotten into, it’ll be +Kevin as the Sysorcerors Guild.

    +
    +

    Corraidhín settles in for what may or may not be a lifetime of stasis +aboard the glitch formerly known as the SS RSS. At least Stabby will be +good company if it ever wakes up from its blood coma. Hmm, actually +that’s debatable. Now that you think of it, you’re not sure you’re up +for a lifetime of ranting about blood and evil.

    +

    The merbear and the tardigrade are on the ship deck, also trapped in +the fork bomb. You’re not sure whether you can reach them or not.

    +

    You see a flickering of motion and a flash of light outside the ship +as what looks like a small school of fish moves darts in and out of +view. It rushes past, doubles back, and swims past again, passing close +enough that one or two get sucked into the fork bomb with you.

    +

    Impossibly, what you thought were fish were apparently small birds? +Or, perhaps they were fish after all and some quality of passing through +the boundary of the fork bomb simply turns them into birds? Either way, +two small blue songbirds with red heads and forked tails hop around +inside the ship chirping incessantly. You watch as one of them hops +toward one of the sea bunny slugs and pecks at it, and then scoops it up +in its beak and swallows it whole. The second does the same. They hop +from side to side a bit, and then set to feasting on the slugs. A couple +more birds pop through the membrane separating you from the outside +world and join in.

    +

    ~

    +

    Alex grabs his perfectly normal, blissfully non-sentient shortsword +and heads off to the Cabinet, where the Sysorcerers Guild is. He has to +detour around the Wandering Bazaar, which decided to plop down in the +middle of the street, but nonetheless arrives in short order.

    +

    He finds Kevin working in the library on Kevin’s Document +Language.

    +

    Alex describes the errors and Kevin groans, “Ugh, I told him! I told +him you can’t play with dangerous scripts like that, you’ll crash your +systems! We’ll have to try a manual reboot. Well don’t just stand there, +young person. Come on, come on, try to keep up. We have work to do!”

    +
    +

    Inky follows the bundle’s path as it sinks downwards and maneuvers +the bubblebee to retrieve it along with the eye.

    +

    Floating to a stop above the ledge of the trench, Inky looks at the +small golden orb, then removes an empty lunch pail from their knapsack +and drops the eye and several small glass marbles into it. The contents +jostle around inside the pail in a cacophony of whirs, clicks and +clatters. With the lid firmly closed, Inky tosses the makeshift +percussive instrument into the trench for the harrowkrake so it could +jam with its new tanokuma buddies.

    +

    Staring at the bundle, Inky suddenly recalls the projectile that had +come from the general direction of the SS RSS shortly before the +horkosgrampus got to Mr. Not-So-Lucky. Master Corraidhín! They turn back +to the shipwreck, only to find the entire ship had turned eerily +translucent, like a ghost ship from some tipsy sailor’s tale. Inky halts +a short distance from the wreckage for a closer look, though something +about the apparition told them it would be a terrible idea to enter the +ship’s hull now. Something had happened to the ship’s remains, with the +sysorcerer trapped inside. Maybe it was all part of the sysorcerer’s +plan, that he had teleported himself back to a safe location and this +was a mirage, just a remnant from the moment of teleportation.

    +

    Or at least Inky hopes so.

    +
    +

    Inky drops the improvised goldeneye noisemaker down into the trench. +The rattling as it falls is reminiscent of Gerald’s laughter. One +slender tendril reaches up out of the abyss and grabs the rattle, and +then disappears once more into the murky dark.

    +

    You are now in possession of the second Ginnarak Crystal. A blue +stone with lightly pulsing gold veins. As you gaze at it, it’s almost as +though you can hear peals of tinkling laughter in the back of your +head.

    +

    The horkosgrampus, temporarily sated having removed the liar from +this timeline, drift lazily away.

    +

    The giant, candy-seeking manta ray passes closely by and fondly +caresses the bubblebee with one wing in passing. Its little manta face +pulled up into a chubby smile.

    +

    The bear facsimiles join you and begin crying when they see their +“brothers” trapped on the deck of the ship.

    +

    You see a small school of fish making multiple passes by the SS RSS +like birds skimming insects from the sky.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    diff --git a/www/rss.xml b/www/rss.xml index 9537b51..e87c246 100644 --- a/www/rss.xml +++ b/www/rss.xml @@ -5,6 +5,1204 @@ BASEMENT QWEST https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml Friends having ADVENTURES! Huzzah! + + 29 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 29 - Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:35:44 +-0600 + Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:35:44 -0600 + + 00029 +
    +

    Gentle bears, there is no need to argue! Why can’t there be + two true bears of the ocean? For what its worth, I personally + think the ocean doesn’t have enough bears and could do with + two strapping examples of true peak bearitude! The two of you + should be working together to show the world how important + bears are and how wonderful the sea is to have two. And the + moon! Who’s to say the moon doesn’t also need two bears?

    +

    The only time I can ever think that a bear isn’t needed is + when it’s calling itself Monokuma, once it’s doing that you + know you’re in for a hell of a bad time. And since neither of + you are it, I say we let this matter rest and declare this + ocean two bears richer!

    +

    Corraidhin grips the innert dagger of Y’aml beneath his + cloak, just in case. No need for a blood rush like last time, + can’t let daggers go mouthing off an all that. Or perhaps the + ocean needs less bears, it’s tempting, I wonder if Y’aml would + react to bear blood..

    +
    +

    The bears shudder at the mention of Monokuma. “Oh, such a + dreadful bear,” laments the tardigrade. “You mustn’t mention + him!”

    +

    “Indeed,” agrees the merbear, “a discredit and an + embarrassment to bears everywhere, at sea and on land!”

    +

    “Yes, this sea may be big enough for two bears, but not if + one of them is HE!”

    +

    The merbear considers the tardigrade’s words. “Hmm, + two bears you say?” he ponders, giving the tardigrade + a scrupulous side-eye. “Do you truly think so?”

    +

    “Now that you mention it, I don’t see why not!” admits the + tardigrade, gesturing broadly at the fathomless leagues of + ocean all around you.

    +

    “You know what? What is the sky anyway if not a sea made of + stars! The moon could indeed use two bears too, could it + not?”

    +

    “It could indeed, Brother Bear!”

    +

    “Brother!”

    +

    The tardigrade and the merbear embrace. If you’ve never + experienced the eight-armed hug of a water bear, well, then + you don’t know how soft and enveloping it is.

    +

    “Come, Brother!” cries the tardigrade suddenly. “We must + begin our search at once! For what if there is a third Bear of + the Sea yet to be discovered?”

    +

    “Another Brother of ours who doesn’t know about us? Oh, I + can’t stand the thought!” sobs the merbear.

    +

    They swim away hand in hand, paragons of brotherly bear + love. “Good luck and safe travels, interlopers!” calls the + merbear to you over its shoulder. “If you ever end up on the + moon,” adds the tardigrade, laughing merrily, “say hello to + Hap’n’stance for me!”

    +

    Suddenly, a disturbance! A perturbance of bubbles and a + rush of current as massive amounts of water are displaced by + inky black tentacles that shoot up from below! They reach! + They grasp! One grabs the tardigrade around the middle. + Another grabs the merbear by the tail. Both bears cry and + reach for each other as they are ripped apart and pulled down + below.

    +

    The tentacles grope around in the water, batting at you and + threatening to pull you down too! They grab at your wrists and + at your ankles!

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 31 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 31 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 08:16:11 +-0700 + Mon, 07 Nov 2022 08:16:14 -0700 + + 00031 +
    +

    Inky follows behind the merbear at a healthy 2 meters’ + distance away in the bubblebee, the headlights illuminating a + moderate distance ahead of the distraught bear as it darts + after its brother.

    +

    As the merbear homes in on the tardigrade near the ship + deck, Inky keeps a lookout for any signs of movement or + tentacles from behind or below the shipwreck. The bubblebee’s + headlights cast an eerie shadow from the ship’s double masts + even as it partly lights up the rim of a gaping hole in the + hull.

    +
    +

    The tardigrade, still tucked into a ball, lands on the ship + deck with a gentle thud. It rolls a couple of times and + finally comes to rest against the rigging. The merbear reaches + it a moment later and cradles its jelly-like body gently in + its bear arms. “My brother!” it cries. “My dear bear + brother!”

    +

    The tardigrade slowly uncurls and stretches out and looks + around, disoriented and bleary-eyed. It waggles its eight arms + around experimentally, closes and opens its claws as though + kneading the water. “Brother?” says the merbear in + astonishment.

    +

    “I am okay brother!” says the tardigrade. “We water bears + are very hardy and resilient! It will take more than a mere + other worldly tentacle attack and an arcane electric blast to + do me in!”

    +

    While the bears are having their teary-eyed reunion, you + sense movement in the shadows deep in the ocean trench, over + which protrude the ship’s masts. Your lights don’t penetrate + the darkness enough to see what it was. But it was large. The + very stuff that thalassophobia is made of.

    +

    You also think you see a flash of gold as the light of the + bubblebee reflects off of something inside the ship through + the hole in the hull. Could it be the second Ginnarak + Crystal?

    +

    The breach in the hull is easily large enough to admit a + medium sized creature such as an inkling in a bubblebee + apparatus. Or a sysorcer or a lanky old half-devil tavern + owner.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 21 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 21 - Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:21:55 +-0600 + Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:21:55 -0600 + + 00021 +

    INTERLUDE

    +
    +

    A glorious victory!

    +

    In the interim time Corraidhin studies the sword of Y’aml, + and correctly deduces that he needs to remove the sticky bit + to be able to sheath the thing.

    +

    sudo chmod -t sword_of_y'aml

    +

    The rest of the interim is spent studying arcane lore + surrounding the Ginnarak Crystals and their purpose. He also + strongly urges the party that we should consider very carefuly + how we need to proceed with the crystal. It’s obvious people + don’t want these things getting out, so we should ensure that + Blavin has good intentions, or at least leaves us out of + whatever potential evil could occur.

    +
    +

    Corraidhin prepares the incantation and, after removing the + sticky bit, is able pry his stiff fingers from the grip.

    +

    You sheathe the blade, but its voice continues to ring + clearly in your head as it prattles on, seeing evil and + villainy everywhere and encouraging you to stab, stab, + stab.

    +

    Your sysorcerous studies, confirmed by the eager and + forthright sword, suggest that the blade will be able to rest + for a while once it tastes blood.

    +

    Your former mentor and rival sysorceror Eccentric Kevin + calls on you one day under the pretense of showing you the + latest draft of KDL (pronounced “cuddle”), their own “Kevin’s + Document Language”, an alternative syntax for incantations and + personal pet project of theirs that has thus far failed, much + to their perpetual consternation, to gain any traction or + adoption in the wider magic community. They are insufferably + polite and sinisterly supportive. They complain about how the + obstinant gnus keep standing in the middle of the road trying + to block traffic, and they demand to know all about your + recent exploits and adventures.

    +
    +

    Once back in town, Inky had the small glass shard in their + palm removed by a harried-looking healer, who merely shrugged + at Inky’s account of the disappearing ink and advised them to + return if they experienced adverse effects before hurrying off + to the next patient. A visit to the local stationery shop did + not yield any answers; the stocky human at the counter shook + their head apologetically when shown the broken ink bottle. + However, they did suggest asking at one of the larger shops in + the city.

    +

    To celebrate their first successful quest, Inky made + torties[1] for their party with flour ground from some of the + large corn kernels at the dig site, topped with a sweet nutty + squash spread. Babbleberry tea was served from their newly + acquired jade tea set, now patched with what Inky had been + assured was an unbreakable seal[2] by a merchant with a toothy + grin in one of Vay’Nullar’s notorious back alleys.

    +

    Master Corraidhín’s cautionary words of wisdom still echo + in Inky’s head, though they were secretly tickled by the idea + of the crystal being actually a rare and previously unknown + species of melon with very potent magical properties. The very + thought of melons was making Inky a bit thirsty. Let the + warrior and wizard worry about all the potential evils of the + world — it’s time for a dash to the market for some beatfruit + juice!

    +
    +

    [1] Also known as torte-teas, as in “Torte-tea, yas?”, + which was how their previous ink maestro used to greet + customers entering the brewery. Flat little tea cakes with + sugar or spice (or both, which vary by region) and sometimes + eaten in a loose wrap. Some humans called them “crabs” for + some reason which baffled Inky, since the torties had no + pincers … at least none that they could see anyway.

    +

    [2] The seal attached to the bottom of the teapot and each + cup had a glyph of an unknown object between two hands.

    +
    +

    The healer removes a small glass bead from Inky’s palm. It + is worn smooth and round like a marble. If you look closely, + you can see a small blemish in the center that somewhat + resembles either a duck or a rabbit depending on how you + orient it.

    +

    It is captivating to look at and comforting to hold in your + hand. You fidget with it often. Now and then you suddenly + notice you have been gazing at it for some minutes without + realizing it.

    +

    You make your party a delightful meal of torties, serving + tea from the magically reinforced jade set.

    +

    Cleaning up afterwards, you can’t help but notice the + patterns of the tea leaves in the bottoms of the jade + cups.

    +

    YOU FORESEE AN OMEN FOR THE PARTY. WHAT IS IT?

    +

    You dash to the market for beatfruit juice, which you + easily find. And you find yourself irrationally drawn to the + produce. The kale, dandelion greens, and beans all look + especially scrumptious and … plump and juicy?

    +

    An old toothy market attendant sits on a stool by the + vegetable stand reading the Farmers Almanac. Unsolicited, they + mention to you that it is only three days until the next full + moon.

    +
    +

    Jarrod has two things in particular he wants to do when + back in town, with whatever his cut of the gold is. First, he + wants to go looking for a cheap, run-down building somewhere + in town and buy the property if he has enough money (perhaps + negotiating a bit where necessary).

    +

    Second, he wishes to seek arcane counsel from Corraidhín, + perhaps getting a small invocation applied to one of the + charms on his arm band. Something in the realm of a + fascination spell (with an activation word) that can be used + on occasion to draw attention.

    +

    Jarrod agrees that we should not invite trouble. We shall + tread cautiously with regards to the crystals.

    +

    Yum, torties!

    +
    +

    After successfully negotiating the price down a little bit, + you are able to purchase a run-down building. You are now the + proud owner and proprietor of the Milk Market building in the + Wandering Bazzar district of downtown Vay’Nullar.

    +

    The ground level is occupied by longtime district staple + Enrique’s Empanada Emporium, famous for its signature stuffed + pastries and its Terrapin Ale, brewed on site by Enrique + himself, who happens to be a very large humanoid turtle.

    +

    It’s a little seedy and a little divey, but still draws a + fair amount of foot traffic from shoppers waiting for the + eponymous, ambulatory bazaar of debatable sentience to wander + by. Reliably, a small gang of breadpunks can be found + loitering here and espousing the virtues of social anarchy. + Enrique allows their presence and on occasion even buys them a + round of ale.

    +

    The top two levels are unoccupied. Years upon years ago, + this space once held large vats for storing and preserving + multibeast milk prior to being distributed. Some enterprising + individual converted and updated the space some time ago, but + was never able to find a tenant. In any case, the space is + yours now to do with what you will.

    +

    With Corraidhin’s assistance, you are able to enchant your + armband by inscribing it with a cross-like glyph with a + teardrop-shaped loop in place of the vertical upper bar. You + now have a FASCINATING BANGLE that can, upon activation, + compel attention and even potentially inspire people to dance + about.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 25 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 25 - Sun, 23 Oct 2022 09:41:16 +-0600 + Sun, 23 Oct 2022 09:41:16 -0600 + + 00025 +
    +

    Corraidhin Shit, shit shit shit shit shit. + This is NOT good. Damn it Y’aml what was that? It wasn’t even + slightly stealthy

    +

    Y’aml STAB, delightful blood. Stab the + flesh, tear the skin, pierce the fruit that gives us strength. + Drink the blood, consume their soul. More more more more more + more more more more

    +

    Corraidhin (internal thought) Ugh my head, + it’s heavy, hurts. Misty and red? I can’t see straight, it’s + hard to think straight. That blasted sword, I thought for a + moment it, no, not think, it definitely did move on its own. + It became lighter and heavier. Pulling against it and it just + weighs itself down. This little magical bauble is definitely + cursed..

    +

    Y’aml CURSED?! Rude Hardy Bear. All we did + was stab that evil hobbit. And it’s getting away! Stab him + again, taste his blood! The tavern gaurds are closing in, they + look like they’re trying to get rid of us, EVIL. Them trying + to stop us from getting that evil hobbit is EVIL, STAB + THEM.

    +

    Corraidhin raises his free hand to his head as though + holding a wound and he groans in dismay as the dagger rises + again. It travels swiftly down towards Blavin, missing as he + slithers of the booth. And again, digging deep into the wooden + seat.

    +

    Y’aml Disgusting wood, stab the flesh! + Stab the Hobbit Hardy Bear!

    +

    But Blavin was inching further out of reach towards the + gaurds. In desperation the dagger begins swinging side to + side, making furtive slashing moves in the direction of the + guards. The party is safely behind Corraidhin, but innocent + patrons and the guards are directly in their sights.

    +

    Corraidhin grabs his other hand and pulls hard, steadying + the swinging. STOP! I command you you blasted toothpick, STOP. + You’ve had your fun, now STOP. These people are innocent, this + man has done us no harm despite his potential “evils”, this is + entirely uncalled for!

    +

    Y’aml NO!!! EVIL. STAB. EVIL. STAB. EVIL. + STAB.

    +

    The dull voice of the magical dagger rises, angry, + insistent. It consumes the last of Corraidhin’s mental + strength. All he hears is EVIL. STAB. EVIL. STAB. Yet he + clings to his spare arm trying desparately to resist. At this + point the party and the tavern has cleared a wide path around + the sysorceor as he struggles with himself, mumbling, + sometimes yelling. EVIL. STAB. EVIL. STAB. NO WE WILL NOT. + EVIL. INNOCENT. STAB BLOOD DRINK. EVIL. EVIL EVIL EVIL STAB + IT. MAKE IT BLEED. I WILL NO.. STAB IT. STAB HIM.

    +

    The voice seems to change, it dies down. Not yelling, but + commanding. Firm, calm, sane.

    +

    Stab them, stab them, make them bleed. Drink the blood, + consume the soul, free them from their evil being. Stab them, + stab them… over and over and over, as the sysorceor approaches + Blavin and the guards with a malevolent look in his ruby red + eyes.

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    Inky moves to stand next to Blavin and the nightclub + bouncers. Tossing a tiny “see-eye” container they had borrowed + from Master Corraidhín at him, Inky looks the sysorceor in the + eye and says, “You are not your sword.”

    +

    Watching the wizard’s expression, Inky continues, more + quietly, “If Master Corraidhín truly wishes to end the hobbit, + a mere imp would not stop him, but likewise, whatever he sets + his mind to do, a dagger cannot stop him either.”

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    Jarrod steps gently into the fray and activates his + FASCINATING CHARM, attempting to draw all eyes to him. He + carefully avoids the wild swinging of the + once-sword-now-dagger.

    +

    “I think,” he rumbles gently, “we could all use a drink + over the other end of the room. I’m buying, and I’ll spin you + all a tale of wonder! A tale of a wanderer, and of a war + hammer, and the first of their wild battles together!”

    +

    Leaning over to whisper urgently in Corraidhín’s ear: + “Friend, I do not know what occurs here, but pull yourself + together. We can later sate our blood lust in more appropriate + places!” Jarrod lends a sly wink in the sysorcerer’s + direction, one that promises adventure later.

    +
    +

    The tavern guards tense, but pause their advance, as the + crazed mage’s friends position themselves protectively around + him and try to placate him. They wouldn’t want to engage a + master sysorcerer on the best of days, much less one with some + kind of malevolent blood dagger in the middle of a psychotic + break. If his compatriots can handle him without them having + to interfere, all the better.

    +

    The duck waddles up next to Inky and quacks softly, + pleadingly at Corraidhin. Only the Ornithologer in the corner + can understand its words when it says, “As your marketing + manager I must strongly advise against this course of + action!”

    +

    Seated in the corner next to the Ornithologer is a shaggy + groll dressed in a dusty, faded poncho and a wide brimmed hat; + and a greasy, matted gnu, dressed in black ceremonial + robes.

    +

    The groll discreetly draws its poncho back revealing a + bandoleer of wands and draws a cracklestick and points it at + the sysorcer. The wand starts to hum and glow as it charges up + for a blast.

    +

    The gnu slaps the groll’s wrist, and immediately launches + into a tirade against the cracklestick’s manufacturer’s + proprietary spell slotting algorithm, and honestly how can you + possibly justify your choices when there are open source + alternatives available?

    +

    The groll rolls its eyes, obviously having been on the + receiving end of this particular lecture before, and tries to + slap away the gnu’s grasping hands. The ensuing scuffle + threatens to turn this powder keg of a situation into a full + blown conflagration until Jarrod actives his FASCINATING + CHARM, commanding the attention of the entire room.

    +

    The gnu freezes with its hands around the groll’s throat. + The groll halts with fists full of the gnu’s beard. A grub + smoking a hookah pauses with the mouthpiece raised to its + pursed lips. A distracted waitress on roller skates crashes + right into the bar.

    +
    +

    As though in a trance Corraidhin continues to yell STAB. + THEM. STAB. IT. cutting wildly at the air before him. As Inky + whispers to him his expression changes, first a grimace, then + a whimper. As Jarrod leads the patrons away from the sysorceor + he begins to tremble and cower away from himself, away from + everyone. His ruby red eyes dart back and forth between his + friends and the patrons, like a frightened animal searching + for an escape. He pulls the dagger into himself, as though + sheilding it from his surroundings.

    +

    What.. what’s going on, he mutters feebly to himself. + Everything is a blurr. Uncertain of where he is or what’s + going on, Corraidhin thumbs the dagger, caressing the large + ruby embedded in the hilt. Y’aml, you’re still here, good + good, the syscoreor croons.

    +

    Standing up straight his eyes lock with Jarrod as the Bard + glances over his shoulder, momentarily distracted from his + oration, worried about his companion.

    +

    I.. ugh, Corraidhin grabs his head as though in pain, and + collapses to the floor.

    +
    +

    Corraidhin hits the floor and the dagger, now bereft of the + well of emotion it had been drawing from, grows still. The eye + closes and it seems to sigh happily. “Good job, Hardy Bear. + You have spilled the blood of evil.” And it sleeps, inert, + lifeless.

    +

    Corraidhin is on the ground cradling the dagger.

    +

    Most of the patrons are still fascinated by Jarrod.

    +

    Blavin is squirming around on the floor gibbering about + reassigning your case.

    +

    The duck has found a toppled plate of corn chips and is + happily snacking away.

    +

    You feel like your welcome at Lucy’s Basement has been, for + the moment, overstayed.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 35 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 35 - Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:34:03 +-0700 + Thu, 10 Nov 2022 21:49:20 -0700 + + 00035 +
    +

    Shouting in the direction of the grampus “Yo! That dude is + definitely going to forget us. We’re almost the definition of + forgettable, I mean it’s not like we’re some kind of murderous + hobos or something!”

    +

    While shouting Corraidhin takes aim, and slings his magic + missing at the figure, aiming for a kill. (Meta: I’d like to + spend that xp now, lets take this sucker down).

    +

    After the missile flies loose the skeleton begins to pull + Corraidhin back into the hull of the ship, he kicks + desperately at the boney clutches desperately trying to break + free.

    +

    “I always knew I’d go out fighting some undead spooky + thing. If you don’t become a necromancer, you end up some + necromancers thrall.” at least, that’s what Kevin used to tell + me. I always thought he was being melodramatic.

    +

    As the skeleton drags Corraidhin back through the hatch he + grabs the dagger, in a vein attempt to ready himself.

    +

    “I guess this is it my Stabby friend, time to show these + Skeletons what happens when you back a Sysorceor into a + corner”

    +

    And with that Corraidhin activates his fork bomb.

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    While feeding their jellyfish bites of wasabi pear and + watching the sysorcerer investigate the hull, Inky eventually + notices movement in the direction of the ship’s deck in the + form of a figure crawling out of the hatch with a bundle. Inky + squints at the retreating form. Could it be another retrieval + team, or a rogue agent? Master Corraidhín would probably not + be pleased if the crystal melon were to fall into unknown + hands, never mind of those whose names don’t start with the + letter “B” and end in the letter “r”.

    +

    Sparing a brief second to lament the waste of a perfectly + good snack, Inky reaches into their bag and lobs a spiky + chestnut cluster at the figure’s breathing bell from the + opening of their bubblebee, followed by a glass bottle of + blahoblin shoe polish. The glass shatters on impact, sending + the dark, sticky and somewhat pungent substance all over the + figure’s (punctured) breathing bell and face.

    +

    As Inky’s bubblebee floats up a little closer to the + figure, Inky tosses a smaller bottle at the figure, this time + of some synthetic blood from another brick that Inky had set + aside for experiments of a different sort. At the last moment + the thruster accelerates, Inky throws their paring knife at + the bundle where the cord hugged the figure’s waist, before + veering away just as quickly as the horkosgrampus nearby catch + a whiff of the blood.

    +
    +

    RETCON: It has been brought to our + attention that the scp spell does not + move an entity, but merely copies it from one + location to another. As such, the original merbear and + tardigrade are still on the deck of the SS RSS. Their + facsimiles are present near where Inky used to be.

    +

    Okay so two extremely interesting and complicated things + happen all at once and in quick succession. It’s very chaotic + and explosive and cinematic.

    +

    THING THE FIRST

    +

    Corraidhín aims his shootin’ finger—the one that + resolutely, emphatically mashes the Enter key when deploying + to production—at the floaty thief. The very same second he + fires off the magic missile, he sees the figure jerk as a + small projectile first punctures its jellyfish helmet and then + coats its entire cranial area in black ink.

    +

    It screams, “Aw, fuck!”

    +

    The breathing bell is having none of this shit, thank you + very much, and detaches itself from the figure’s head and + starts to propel itself away. As such, the figure no longer + has access to breathable air.

    +

    It screams, “No, wait!”

    +

    And then a fine blade juts out from the bubblebee severing + the cord connecting the floating bundle to the would-be thief. + The blade scoops out a hunk of flesh from the thief’s hip in + the process.

    +

    It screams, “Ouch! Stop, I wasn’t going to…”

    +

    The horkosgrampus—kind of lazily drifting about thus + far—stir from complacency at the first scent of blood. But + they snap to ravenous attention at the first utterance of a + possible lie.

    +

    Finally (an instant later) the magic missile strikes its + target and the thief splatters like a wet paper bag full of + soup hitting the ground.

    +

    It sputters and coughs and screams, “I wasn’t going to! + Please, you can have it! I wasn’t going to take it! I don’t + even want it! It’s yours!”

    +

    And the horkosgrampus fucking lose their minds. They stop + being mere toothy scavenger whales, and instead become the + ravenous, wrathful instruments of the god of oaths and + promises. They descend upon the liar in a fury of teeth and + tusks. First Mate “Lucky” Three-Fingered Gerald cackles with + depraved, unhinged mirth as he is torn to shreds. In the end a + single golden orb—his false eye—is all that is left of the + would-be thief of the second Ginnarak Crystal.

    +

    The eye and the crystal slowly emerge from the + horkosgrampus frenzy, hovering suspended above the harrowkrake + trench.

    +

    THING THE SECOND

    +

    Remember there are two extremely interesting and + complicated things happening all at once?

    +

    The second thing is this.

    +

    First, Corraidhín lets loose his magic missile at + Three-Fingered Gerald. Then, as he is being pulled down by the + undead pirate skeleton, he lets loose a fork bomb.

    +

    The fork bomb is also known as a ‘rabbit attack’ because + the rapidity with which it spawns new processes resembles the + fecundity of breeding rabbits.

    +

    So here’s what it looks like. The skeleton pulls Corraidhín + downward. Corraidhín points and clicks. Pew, pew. A single + small sea bunny slug wriggles its way between the skeleton’s + fingers where it has a hold of the sysorcerer’s ankle. Another + two wriggle out. Then four, eight, sixteen. In an instant + there are dozens, hundreds, thousands, millions of the tiny + slugs in the hold of the ship.

    +

    Everything, every living entity, every process, light and + sound and thought itself, it all grinds to a halt as the sea + bunnies continue to multiply until billions and trillions of + them squeeze and burrow their way amongst molecules, betwixt + atoms, and into the quantum foam between subatomic + particles.

    +

    The ship and everything on it and inside it—including the + original merbear and tardigrade—collapse into a singularity. + It continues to exist in this moment in space and time but + only as a static snapshot of the moment that its operating + system crashed. It is a mirage, a core memory dump, a + segmentation fault, a flickering feedback loop, the same two + to three seconds endlessly repeating: Corraidhín backed into a + corner, and pointing a finger at a skeleton, and then BANG! + over and over and over again.

    +

    Corraidhín, you can continue to act and move, but your have + become unhinged and unattached from this moment in space and + time. You can interact with entities inside the ship, but will + struggle mightily to comprehend and interact with entities + outside the fork bomb.

    +

    Outside observers see the SS RSS become paper thin and + translucent as it starts to lose its footing in this plane of + reality.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 24 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 24 - Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:43:40 +-0600 + Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:43:40 -0600 + + 00024 +
    +

    Corraidhin
    + Well I’ll be! You can turn yourself into a dagger. And I did + say we could stab blavin if you could do that, it’s much more + stealthy this way. But let me posit this, is the act of + stabbing a hobbit unprovoked not itself evil? Or perhaps more + convincingly, would it not be better to use the hobbit for + whatever information he has so as to lead to this mysterious + benefactor, who most assuredly must be evil.

    +

    Someone who would send out myriads of teams to pillage and + plunder cultural artifacts is truly evil, that must be our + target.

    +

    Now this isn’t to say that we won’t stab him. I’m convinced + that’s probably a good idea in the long run, but we know + nothing of the true evil that motivates him! We would kill him + just to lose track of the true evil we must smite!

    +

    Y’aml
    + But YOU said if I could turn into a dagger we could STAB him. + HE’S EVIL. YOU said so! Not keeping your promises IS one step + away from PURE evil! Make a choice Hardy Bear! Stab the evil + hobbit, or stab the inkling, or stab SOMETHING evil this + minute!

    +

    Corraidhin
    + I most certainly cannot abide with stabbing Inky, it’s + entirely off the table. And in a city like this there aren’t + any evil things that just jump out for the stabbing.

    +

    (Corraidhin tries to silently control Y’aml during the + discussion. However in so doing the party has fallen silent, + aghast even)

    +

    Corraidhin stands, Y’aml held in hand, red gem eye gleaming + a wicked joyful grin as it’s raised high, poised to strike. + The party around him is silent, and Blavin stares up in shock. + The tavern around them has died down and you can hear the + bustle of the proprietor calling for his strong men to deal + with this ruckus.

    +
    +

    The table—and all of Lucy’s Basement within earshot—sits in + tense, uneasy quiet at Corraidhin’s one-sided conversation + with the Sword of Yam’L. Blavin giggles nervously and sips his + martini, willfully forcing himself right up to the very last + moment to believe that it is all some sort of jest.

    +

    But then the sysorcerer stands and raises the blood crazed + dagger over his shoulder, and Blavin squeals and writhes in + his chair. Lucy’s bouncers scramble forward from the corners + of the room to intercept.

    +
    +

    Y’aml
    + We STAB Hardy Bear! We STAB NOW!!

    +

    Against Corraidhin’s control, as though he’s in a trance, + the dagger comes down. A swift stabbing motion strqight to the + neck, as he lunges across the table at Blavin knocking the map + and his martini to the side.

    +
    + +

    Corraidhin once again feels the same peculiar quality of + the blade, that sensation of a hollow core with a heavy liquid + sloshing inside. Held aloft, the weight of it feels + concentrated at the grip, the blade light as a feather.

    +

    He stabs down—Yam’L cries out in wordless glee—and the + weight flows into the tip of the blade, the blade itself now + drawing Corraidhin’s hand downward in a rising crescendo of + stabbitude.

    + +

    Blavin flinches at the last second, and instead of burying + itself in his throat, the blade plunges into his shoulder and + pins him to the back of the chair. A red mist fills the eye + and threatens to cloud it over entirely. It rolls back in + ecstasy as it drinks deeply. It sings out, “MORE! MORE! MORE!” + and Corraidhin feels the tides of madness rising inside of + him, threatening to wash over him wholly, to pull him under + and carry him away on thundering waves of bloodlust.

    +

    Corraidhin struggles to pull the blade from the chair back. + Blavin whimpers and mewls as he yanks on it, and clutches his + wound and, incredibly, takes a large gulp of his drink.

    +

    The sysorcerer still has the wherewithal and the presence + of mind to be aware of his surroundings. He is not yet so + overcome by the bloodlust. He sees his companions, his fellow + residents of the Milk Market, seated around the table. And he + sees the musclebound bouncers now nearly within reach.

    +

    Finally he draws the dagger. Blavin sinks in his seat and + slides to the floor with his drink, blabbering incoherently, + and starts to slither away.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 34 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 34 - Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:43:05 +-0700 + Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:43:08 -0700 + + 00034 +
    +

    Fuck, skeletons? This is ridiculous, I did not sign up for + underwater pirate skeletons.

    +

    Reacting quickly Corraidhin prepares a fork bomb, if the + skeletons are going to take him out, he’s going to take out + those skeletons too.

    + 
    #!/bin/sh
+:(){
+ :|:&
+};:
    +

    Hopefully I won’t have to use that. Corraidhin hoists + himself up into the opening and begins targetting the + skeletons one by one. No time for much fancy preparation here, + just good old fashioned magic missiles strewn about the + interior of the hull. While so doing Corraidhin glances around + the treasure strewn hull, searching for the crystal, can’t + blow the whole ship up if the prize is here.

    +

    Then again, a magical item that powerful, could probably + withstand a fork bomb pretty easily. It’s worth the risk if + things get worse.

    +

    Corraidhin ensures his back is to the opening, able to make + a haphazard escape should the skeletons get the better of + him.

    +
    + +

    You prep your fork bomb to keep in your back pocket as a + last resort.

    +

    In the meantime you start blasting skeletons. They maintain + a slow advance but you able to pick them off slowly one by + one. Bones splinter and fly apart.

    +

    During your maneuvering, you get turned around and are + backed into the corner with the hatch leading up to the upper + deck. You reach behind yourself and fumble with the latch. One + skeleton manages to get its bony claws around your ankle just + as you open the hatch. You look behind you and see a human + shaped figure floating away, illuminated in the beams of + Inky’s bubblebee. It is toting a small bundle. Up above you + can see the shadow of the manta ray gliding around eating + candy, and the horkosgrampus idling in the absence of carrion + or lies.

    +

    “I thank ye, gents!” cries the figure down to you as it + ascends. “You distracted the harrowkrake just long enough for + me to get in that ship and grab what I needs!” It tugs on the + cord attached to its bundle and laughs. “I shan’t forget ye!” + It waves and gives a little salute.

    +

    You have a magic missile loaded and ready to go. In a + moment the figure will be out of range. You can blast it now + and risk being pulled down by the skeleton. Or you can blast + the skeleton and risk the figure getting away.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 26 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 26 - Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:27:22 +-0600 + Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:27:22 -0600 + + 00026 +
    +

    Inky slowly approaches Master Corraidhín and taps lightly + on the sleeve of his robes to get his attention. Between + Inky’s tugging and Jarrod’s strong, steady hand, they manage + to hoist the wizard to his feet.

    +

    With a brief glance at the hobbit on the floor then a nod + to Jarrod, Inky leaves the nightclub with the wizard. The + duck, having emptied the plate of corn chips in record time, + follows them shortly after.

    +

    The trek back to the Milk Market is mostly silent aside + from the occasional mutter and stumbling curse, the mage + seemingly having fallen asleep as soon as he landed on the cot + in the loft. Inky retreats downstairs after leaving a jug of + water, a mug and a small packet of kuding leaves beside the + bed.

    +

    Exiting through the back door into the night, Inky finds a + dark corner in a dusty abandoned house, and cries.

    +
    +

    ~

    +
    +

    ” … and then the Orc Maiden said: ‘That’s not my + club!’”

    +

    The room roars with laughter, and Jarrod moves to the bar + and puts a bag of coin down. “Serve drinks until this runs + out!” Leaning over the bar to the bartender, Jarrod adds in a + whisper: “I owe a favour to Lucy’s Basement for the trouble. + Call it in when needed.”

    +

    Jarrod saunters over to Blavin, on the floor in pain. From + his pack, Jarrod retrieves a med kit and begins to bandage the + wound.

    +

    As Blavin opens his mouth, likely intending to raise all + kinds of hell, Jarrod pulls tight on the bandage he is + currently applying, drawing a curse from the hobbit. “Shut it! + Let’s be clear. You’ve hired us for a dangerous set of jobs, + with the understanding that we’re dangerous people. There may + be ‘accidents’ on occasion. You’ve learned something today, + and what’s more, you lived to absorb your new wisdom.”

    +

    Jarrod grins as he finishes with the bandage. “We will + finish what we have started. We’re probably the team with the + best chances, I’m sure you’ll agree. Are you going to back the + winning play here? Either way, your decision won’t change our + plans. I’m sure you know how to take the win.”

    +

    Jarrod pats the hobbit’s good shoulder in a friendly, but + dismissive, way, then turns and saunters out the door, trading + small quips with his new (and now very drunk) tavern + friends.

    +
    +

    You are at a small port town on the northern tip of + Agendell, just past the Rana’For Valley. The sun is bright and + the wind blowing in from the Sugrin Sea to the east is cool + and salty. The floating island-city of Vay’Neddas, bridging + Agendell and Primora, can be seen very faintly in the distance + hanging in the northern sky.

    +

    Your faithful multibeast is carrying all of your supplies + and gear, which were generously provided to you by the + indefatigable Blavin Blandfoot. His arm in a sling, he kept up + a constant nervous chatter as he saw you off on your journey + to recover the second Ginnarak Crystal.

    +

    From here, you can easily provision a boat to take you out + to the site of the shipwreck just off the coast.

    +

    Or, optionally, you are very close to the Hartlands. It + would be quite easy to make a quick visit to hemogoblins and + pick up some synthetic blood for your experiments with the + Sword of Yam’L.

    +

    The sword, incidentally, after finally tasting the blood of + “evil”, has remained sated and entirely inert and unresponsive + this whole time.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO:

    +
      +
    1. TO THE SHIPWRECK
      2. +
    2. BLOODQUEST
      3. +
    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 30 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 30 - Sat, 05 Nov 2022 12:51:43 +-0600 + Sat, 05 Nov 2022 12:51:49 -0600 + + 00030 +
    +

    Inky flips backwards and up, narrowly avoiding the + tentacles’ grasp. From their courier bag they shake out an + inflatable bubblebee[1] of the sort made for aquatic camping. + It is one of the fancier models provided to each member of + their party courtesy of the well-endowed Benefactor. They yank + on one of the cords and scramble inside, hastily closing the + flap as the bubblebee rapidly draws in water and fills out to + its full size.

    +

    The bubblebee rises as Inky pulls on the flippers and + allows the drifter to buoy the bubble upwards, a bat from the + end of one tentacle sending the bubblebee forward a short + distance before it slows above the flailing tentacles. Inky + switches on the lights to try to get a clearer view of the + source of the tentacles.

    +

    [1] Specific features of bubblebees vary among makers, but + they generally have a transparent or translucent spherical + body, a pair of small translucent wings that act as flippers, + an opening flap at the back with a short rudder attached, and + two cords inside at the front near the top which when pulled + inflate the bubble with the surrounding air or water. Premium + versions might also include headlights, a buzzer, built-in + filtration, improved insulation, a drifter and thruster. Like + tents they come in various sizes, from small ones that can fit + one or two people at average elven height, to larger ones for + group outings. Their portability and rugged durability make + them very popular among tourists and campers who can enjoy a + range of water sports, such as water walking on the surface, + riding the bubble down river rapids, or bobbing along + underwater to watch the sea life wander by.

    +
    +

    Inky climbs into the inflatable bubblebee just in the nick + of time. A tentacle bats them a short distance away, and then + the apparatus’s lights cut on and illuminate the murky + water.

    +

    You see the tentacles recede into the depths into, from + this distance, what looks like the outline of a shipwreck.

    +

    At the moment, you are out of reach of the tentacles. And + the bubblebee affords you some extra maneuverability.

    +
    +

    Corraidhin eyes inky as they drift away in their bubblebee. + “hmm a wonderful idea, that seems safe, but I need to get in + closer.”

    +

    While Inky drifts away Corraidhin swims down and towards + the tentacles to get a better view of whatever creature stole + his new found bear friends. “I simply cannot bear any harm to + come to my bears!” As he approaches the creature he prepares a + spell should he need to vanquish the monster.

    + 
    (fn vanquish [target]
+  (match target.state
+   [:living] (searing-bolt {target target
+                            radius "narrow"
+                            intensity "high"})
+   [:undead] (smite {target target
+                     deity "Larani"})))
    +
    +

    Corraidhin charges up a spell!

    +

    The tentacles pull your dear bear friends downward, and you + struggle to get a view of whatever creature is abducting + them.

    +

    The long, slender tentacles appear to originate from within + or behind a large sunken ship!

    +

    Could it be the SS RSS?

    +
    +

    Gabs was stunned by the majesty of the two bears, and upon + seeing these two beautiful creatures be pulled down, got + unreasonably angry. She made sure that the breathing bell was + properly attached to her head (a marvelous thing, she thought. + She had always wondered what it would be like to have a + jellyfish on her head).

    +

    Gabs bundled and tied up her skirt, as she started to bolt + toward the edge of the ship. She reached into her purse and + moved away all the loose candy and pulled out two long + stiletto daggers. She begins stabbing with unusual precision + at the tentacles reaching up on the ship.

    +

    She yells, “Come’on y’all! We gotta save those babies!”

    +

    She dives in.

    +
    +

    Prior to the incident, Gabs would have noticed that there + was a very slight, wobbly weight to the jellyfish. Kind of + like getting a gentle hug from a helmet of warm spaghetti.

    +

    Some loose candy floats up and away as you rummage through + your purse, the brightly colored wrappers attracting the + attention of a curious passing manta ray. It glides over and + has a nibble.

    +

    You fetch your stiletto daggers and start stabbing at the + long, slender tentacles. Your unusual precision causes the + tentacles to coil and retreat, releasing the merbear in the + process. It shouts through its tears, “My brother!” and dives + back into the fray, fighting to free the tardigrade.

    +

    From here, you can see that the tentacles seem to come from + the wreckage of a large ship lying on its side on ocean + floor.

    +

    META: Gabs rolls a 6 on “Do Anything 1” + and gains a new skill: Stabbing 2

    +
    +

    Seeing his new comrade enter the fray heroically Corraidhin + gathers himself. “I suppose this is no time for errant + curiosity, can’t have anyone getting hurt after all.”

    +

    Ensuring that he doesn’t hit either Inky nor Gabs as they + near the creature, Corraidhin throws the spell he prepared in + the direction of the center of the tentacles. (vanquish + “tentacles”) And releases a pinpoint thread of searing energy + from his palm, guiding it through the mass of tentacles in a + random and chaotic pattern, attempting to sever as many + tentacles as possible.

    +

    As that goes on the sysercoerr calculates his retreat plan, + he won’t be able to prepare another spell like that on the + fly, far too meticulous work to do mid combat. As soon as the + spell runs out, best case will be to retreat somewhere out of + reach, or as far away as is possible there.

    +
    +

    Corraidhín takes careful aim fires off a searing bolt into + the center of the mass of squirming, reaching tentacles. The + bolt of energy bounces from tentacle to tentacle creating a + chaotic web of energy.

    +

    One of the final bolts of energy pierces the tentacle that + happens to be gripping the tardigrade. It releases the water + bear, but not before the tardigrade takes the full brunt of + the final blast of the dying searing bolt. It cries out and + curls up into a ball. Motionless, it starts sinking downward. + “BROTHER!” the merbear swims after it heedless of any nearby + danger.

    +

    A wayward crackle of energy blasts outward toward a giant + manta ray happily crunching on a piece of hard candy. It flaps + out of the way at the last minute and continues to angrily + enjoy its candy, glaring at you quite indignantly.

    +

    META: Corraidhín rolls a 2 for “Do + Anything 1”, which means things go bad, and gains 1 xp for a + total of 1 xp. You can spend xp to turn any die into a six for + the purpose of advancement.

    +
    +

    While Master Corraidhín and Gabs confront the tentacles to + rescue the bears, Inky looks around the sea floor. Maybe if + they found suitable replacements for the bears, the tentacles + might be distracted long enough to release the bears, or + provide an opening advantage for one of their party?

    +

    A small distance from the fray, Inky finds a load of + discarded bottles among a large pile of other trash carried + there by the push and pull between the water currents and a + hot spring. Gathering up some bottles, Inky ties them together + with twine in singles and small clusters until they resemble + two large, crudely-made multi-coloured tanokuma[1].

    +

    With some difficulty due to the additional weight, Inky + attaches the tanokuma to the back of their bubblebee and drags + them back above the tentacles, roughly near the spot where the + previous bears were taken. When the valiant members of their + party dive to one side for another strike, Inky loosens the + rope around the “bears” and lets them sink down within reach + of the tentacles.

    +

    [1] First featured in the garden play Teatime with + Tanokuma, the fluffy purple, jam-grabbing, tea-guzzling + bear became an overnight hit among children as well as the + fashion-conscious youth who frequent the trendy “Shin-ku” + district of Vay’Nullar.

    +
    +

    The decoy tanokuma float above the tentacles as they + retreat from Gabs’s stabbses and Corraidhin’s bolts. They + grope about weakly, wrap themselves around the tanokuma, and + finally withdraw.

    +

    You can now clearly see the wreckage of the SS RSS. The + tentacles—and whatever beast they belong to—is either within, + behind, or below the ship. It is definitely ship + adjacent wherever and whatever it is. The large + double-masted ship is lying on its side, teetering + precariously on the edge of a large, deep ocean trench. There + is a large hole in its hull providing unfettered access to its + insides.

    +

    The tardigrade is sinking inertly toward the ship deck, and + the merbear is swimming blindly after it.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 33 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 33 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:58:50 +-0700 + Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:48:03 -0700 + + 00033 +
    +

    At Master Corraidhín’s confirmation of the crystal’s + presence within the shipwreck, Inky moves the bubblebee closer + above the opening in the hull, adjusting the angle of the + headlights so that a little more light falls over the gaping + hole should the rest of the party wish to enter the ship + through it.

    +

    Next, Inky pulls out some wasabi pears from their bag, + biting into one before dropping the others one at a time + several paces apart, starting near the bow of the ship in a + trail until a few roll down into the hole and land in a hollow + thonks somewhere inside the ship.

    +

    Inky then settles near the opening, partly-eaten pear in + hand and waits for the source of the rustling sounds to + emerge, if it decides to emerge at all.

    +
    +

    From their vantage point, Inky sees a figure crawl up onto + the deck of the ship through a hatch from somewhere below. It + appears to be wearing a breathing bell and a vest of weighted + sandbags similar to yours. It is carrying a bulky bundle tied + to its waist by a cord.

    +

    It freezes when it sees the merbear and the tardigrade on + ship deck. But then the bears are teleported to safety a few + meters from the inkling. The figure looks around curiously and + shrugs. It casts off some sandbags and starts rising up + through the water toward the happy manta ray and the restless + horkusgrampus. It looks down in your direction as it goes. Its + face is somewhat blurred and obscured by the breathing bell, + but you see a glint of gold as the light of your bubblebee + reflects off one of its eyes.

    +
    +

    Ah ha! Our prize is near then. And it looks like that bolt + forced that squid monster thing back into its hole. Likely + we’ll be alright to plum the depths here.

    +

    Thank goodness our bears are safe, I should probably move + them somewhere out of harms way, just in case.

    + 
    #!/bin/sh
+safety=$(find /ocean/* -perm 644 | head -n 1)
+for bear in merbear tardigrade; do
+    sudo usermod -a -G party $bear
+    sudo scp /ocean/shipwreck/$bear /ocean/$safety
+    sudo chown corraidhin:party /ocean/$safety
+done
+sudo chown -R 770 /ocean/$safety
    +

    That should ward them sufficiently, now only the party + members can come and go freely, and they’re part of the party. + I’m positive nobody will complain, they might, but there won’t + be anymore bolt mishaps this way at least..

    +

    As Corraidhin finishes his relocation spell he creeps + closer to the hull of the ship. “Lets see what we’re dealing + with here..” he sticks his head into the opening looking about + inside the wreckage, a small orb of light illuminates the tip + of his right hand pointer finger, and he uses it to carefully + probe around the opening as though it were a flash light.

    +
    +

    Corraidhín cautiously explores the breach in the hull of + the SS RSS. You poke your head in and see the cargo hold of + the ship. The remains of some of the ship crew are here, long + since picked clean by ocean critters. Their bones are bleached + white and they grin mirthlessly at you. They are nestled in + and amongst the spilled contents of several large chests: + jewelry, gold coins, precious stones litter the floor of the + ship.

    +

    You do not see any lumpy, multi-faceted, blue and gold + crystal melon here.

    +

    The ship is resting mostly on its side, so its sloping + “floor” is actually the ship wall. The hatch up to the upper + deck is to your right, and as you enter the hold, someone or + something shuts the hatch closed.

    +

    A skeleton by the hull entrance crawls forward, trying to + block your exit. And two more start to claw themselves up and + free of the ship’s treasure, and they start to advance toward + you.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     + + 32 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 32 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:50:03 +-0700 + Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:50:12 -0700 + + 00032 +
    +

    Oh thank goodness, I thought I killed that innocent bear! I + should probably be a little more careful with my spells..

    +

    Nonetheless, we need to shed some light on what’s going on + here, no sense in diving into the clutches of some evil sea + creature blind.

    +

    Gather himself, Corraidhin casts a fzf on the ship, + searching for the creature inside

    +

    sudo fzf $(pwd)

    +
    +

    t e n t a c l e

    +
    +

    Hmmm, no nothing too interesting there.. Maybe crystal?

    +

    sudo fzf $(pwd)

    +
    +

    c r y s t a l

    +
    +

    Blast! Why can’t I find anything.. The syscerroer muses for + a moment.

    +

    OH!

    +

    sudo fzf /sea/ship_wreck/interior

    +
    +

    t e n t a c l e

    +
    +
    +

    You probe the ship. You do not detect the presence of any + tentacles inside the ship. But you do detect the presence of + the crystal you seek.

    +

    If you scan the trench, you will detect the presence of a + harrowkrake. A colossal, many-tentacled sea monster + with a plow shaped shell that it drags across the ocean floor, + digging deep furrows. Kind of like if a giant squid could grow + a nautilus shell. They are usually content to stay in their + trenches, grabbing prey as it swims by with their long + tentacles like some kind of nightmarish barnacle.

    +

    The giant manta is still gliding around crunching on + candies. A few blue spherical globules of harrowkrake blood + float lazily upward from where Gabs got her stabs on, + attracting the attention of a couple horkosgrampus. The manta + gives them a wide berth but doesn’t otherwise seem too + concerned about them.

    +

    Horkosgrampus are toothy whales with a single long tusk. + They are mostly scavengers, and are only provoked to violence + in the presence of a lie or the breaking of an oath, in which + case they go into a frenzy preying on the liar or liars. They + can smell blood from a great distance, but can hear a lie from + much further.

    +

    You hear a thud from inside the ship, and a slow rustling + like smooth stones rolling over each other. The ship settles a + little further onto its side, and dangles just a little + further over the harrowkrake trench.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    + ]]> +     +     27 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -145,94 +1343,6 @@ ]]> - - 33 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 33 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:58:50 --0700 - Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:48:03 -0700 - - 00033 -
    -

    At Master Corraidhín’s confirmation of the crystal’s - presence within the shipwreck, Inky moves the bubblebee closer - above the opening in the hull, adjusting the angle of the - headlights so that a little more light falls over the gaping - hole should the rest of the party wish to enter the ship - through it.

    -

    Next, Inky pulls out some wasabi pears from their bag, - biting into one before dropping the others one at a time - several paces apart, starting near the bow of the ship in a - trail until a few roll down into the hole and land in a hollow - thonks somewhere inside the ship.

    -

    Inky then settles near the opening, partly-eaten pear in - hand and waits for the source of the rustling sounds to - emerge, if it decides to emerge at all.

    -
    -

    From their vantage point, Inky sees a figure crawl up onto - the deck of the ship through a hatch from somewhere below. It - appears to be wearing a breathing bell and a vest of weighted - sandbags similar to yours. It is carrying a bulky bundle tied - to its waist by a cord.

    -

    It freezes when it sees the merbear and the tardigrade on - ship deck. But then the bears are teleported to safety a few - meters from the inkling. The figure looks around curiously and - shrugs. It casts off some sandbags and starts rising up - through the water toward the happy manta ray and the restless - horkusgrampus. It looks down in your direction as it goes. Its - face is somewhat blurred and obscured by the breathing bell, - but you see a glint of gold as the light of your bubblebee - reflects off one of its eyes.

    -
    -

    Ah ha! Our prize is near then. And it looks like that bolt - forced that squid monster thing back into its hole. Likely - we’ll be alright to plum the depths here.

    -

    Thank goodness our bears are safe, I should probably move - them somewhere out of harms way, just in case.

    - 
    #!/bin/sh
-safety=$(find /ocean/* -perm 644 | head -n 1)
-for bear in merbear tardigrade; do
-    sudo usermod -a -G party $bear
-    sudo scp /ocean/shipwreck/$bear /ocean/$safety
-    sudo chown corraidhin:party /ocean/$safety
-done
-sudo chown -R 770 /ocean/$safety
    -

    That should ward them sufficiently, now only the party - members can come and go freely, and they’re part of the party. - I’m positive nobody will complain, they might, but there won’t - be anymore bolt mishaps this way at least..

    -

    As Corraidhin finishes his relocation spell he creeps - closer to the hull of the ship. “Lets see what we’re dealing - with here..” he sticks his head into the opening looking about - inside the wreckage, a small orb of light illuminates the tip - of his right hand pointer finger, and he uses it to carefully - probe around the opening as though it were a flash light.

    -
    -

    Corraidhín cautiously explores the breach in the hull of - the SS RSS. You poke your head in and see the cargo hold of - the ship. The remains of some of the ship crew are here, long - since picked clean by ocean critters. Their bones are bleached - white and they grin mirthlessly at you. They are nestled in - and amongst the spilled contents of several large chests: - jewelry, gold coins, precious stones litter the floor of the - ship.

    -

    You do not see any lumpy, multi-faceted, blue and gold - crystal melon here.

    -

    The ship is resting mostly on its side, so its sloping - “floor” is actually the ship wall. The hatch up to the upper - deck is to your right, and as you enter the hold, someone or - something shuts the hatch closed.

    -

    A skeleton by the hull entrance crawls forward, trying to - block your exit. And two more start to claw themselves up and - free of the ship’s treasure, and they start to advance toward - you.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     23 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -397,233 +1507,6 @@ sudo chown -R 770 /ocean/$safety ]]> - - 26 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 26 - Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:27:22 --0600 - Tue, 25 Oct 2022 08:27:22 -0600 - - 00026 -
    -

    Inky slowly approaches Master Corraidhín and taps lightly - on the sleeve of his robes to get his attention. Between - Inky’s tugging and Jarrod’s strong, steady hand, they manage - to hoist the wizard to his feet.

    -

    With a brief glance at the hobbit on the floor then a nod - to Jarrod, Inky leaves the nightclub with the wizard. The - duck, having emptied the plate of corn chips in record time, - follows them shortly after.

    -

    The trek back to the Milk Market is mostly silent aside - from the occasional mutter and stumbling curse, the mage - seemingly having fallen asleep as soon as he landed on the cot - in the loft. Inky retreats downstairs after leaving a jug of - water, a mug and a small packet of kuding leaves beside the - bed.

    -

    Exiting through the back door into the night, Inky finds a - dark corner in a dusty abandoned house, and cries.

    -
    -

    ~

    -
    -

    ” … and then the Orc Maiden said: ‘That’s not my - club!’”

    -

    The room roars with laughter, and Jarrod moves to the bar - and puts a bag of coin down. “Serve drinks until this runs - out!” Leaning over the bar to the bartender, Jarrod adds in a - whisper: “I owe a favour to Lucy’s Basement for the trouble. - Call it in when needed.”

    -

    Jarrod saunters over to Blavin, on the floor in pain. From - his pack, Jarrod retrieves a med kit and begins to bandage the - wound.

    -

    As Blavin opens his mouth, likely intending to raise all - kinds of hell, Jarrod pulls tight on the bandage he is - currently applying, drawing a curse from the hobbit. “Shut it! - Let’s be clear. You’ve hired us for a dangerous set of jobs, - with the understanding that we’re dangerous people. There may - be ‘accidents’ on occasion. You’ve learned something today, - and what’s more, you lived to absorb your new wisdom.”

    -

    Jarrod grins as he finishes with the bandage. “We will - finish what we have started. We’re probably the team with the - best chances, I’m sure you’ll agree. Are you going to back the - winning play here? Either way, your decision won’t change our - plans. I’m sure you know how to take the win.”

    -

    Jarrod pats the hobbit’s good shoulder in a friendly, but - dismissive, way, then turns and saunters out the door, trading - small quips with his new (and now very drunk) tavern - friends.

    -
    -

    You are at a small port town on the northern tip of - Agendell, just past the Rana’For Valley. The sun is bright and - the wind blowing in from the Sugrin Sea to the east is cool - and salty. The floating island-city of Vay’Neddas, bridging - Agendell and Primora, can be seen very faintly in the distance - hanging in the northern sky.

    -

    Your faithful multibeast is carrying all of your supplies - and gear, which were generously provided to you by the - indefatigable Blavin Blandfoot. His arm in a sling, he kept up - a constant nervous chatter as he saw you off on your journey - to recover the second Ginnarak Crystal.

    -

    From here, you can easily provision a boat to take you out - to the site of the shipwreck just off the coast.

    -

    Or, optionally, you are very close to the Hartlands. It - would be quite easy to make a quick visit to hemogoblins and - pick up some synthetic blood for your experiments with the - Sword of Yam’L.

    -

    The sword, incidentally, after finally tasting the blood of - “evil”, has remained sated and entirely inert and unresponsive - this whole time.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO:

    -
      -
    1. TO THE SHIPWRECK
      2. -
    2. BLOODQUEST
      3. -
    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 32 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 32 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:50:03 --0700 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:50:12 -0700 - - 00032 -
    -

    Oh thank goodness, I thought I killed that innocent bear! I - should probably be a little more careful with my spells..

    -

    Nonetheless, we need to shed some light on what’s going on - here, no sense in diving into the clutches of some evil sea - creature blind.

    -

    Gather himself, Corraidhin casts a fzf on the ship, - searching for the creature inside

    -

    sudo fzf $(pwd)

    -
    -

    t e n t a c l e

    -
    -

    Hmmm, no nothing too interesting there.. Maybe crystal?

    -

    sudo fzf $(pwd)

    -
    -

    c r y s t a l

    -
    -

    Blast! Why can’t I find anything.. The syscerroer muses for - a moment.

    -

    OH!

    -

    sudo fzf /sea/ship_wreck/interior

    -
    -

    t e n t a c l e

    -
    -
    -

    You probe the ship. You do not detect the presence of any - tentacles inside the ship. But you do detect the presence of - the crystal you seek.

    -

    If you scan the trench, you will detect the presence of a - harrowkrake. A colossal, many-tentacled sea monster - with a plow shaped shell that it drags across the ocean floor, - digging deep furrows. Kind of like if a giant squid could grow - a nautilus shell. They are usually content to stay in their - trenches, grabbing prey as it swims by with their long - tentacles like some kind of nightmarish barnacle.

    -

    The giant manta is still gliding around crunching on - candies. A few blue spherical globules of harrowkrake blood - float lazily upward from where Gabs got her stabs on, - attracting the attention of a couple horkosgrampus. The manta - gives them a wide berth but doesn’t otherwise seem too - concerned about them.

    -

    Horkosgrampus are toothy whales with a single long tusk. - They are mostly scavengers, and are only provoked to violence - in the presence of a lie or the breaking of an oath, in which - case they go into a frenzy preying on the liar or liars. They - can smell blood from a great distance, but can hear a lie from - much further.

    -

    You hear a thud from inside the ship, and a slow rustling - like smooth stones rolling over each other. The ship settles a - little further onto its side, and dangles just a little - further over the harrowkrake trench.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 29 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 29 - Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:35:44 --0600 - Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:35:44 -0600 - - 00029 -
    -

    Gentle bears, there is no need to argue! Why can’t there be - two true bears of the ocean? For what its worth, I personally - think the ocean doesn’t have enough bears and could do with - two strapping examples of true peak bearitude! The two of you - should be working together to show the world how important - bears are and how wonderful the sea is to have two. And the - moon! Who’s to say the moon doesn’t also need two bears?

    -

    The only time I can ever think that a bear isn’t needed is - when it’s calling itself Monokuma, once it’s doing that you - know you’re in for a hell of a bad time. And since neither of - you are it, I say we let this matter rest and declare this - ocean two bears richer!

    -

    Corraidhin grips the innert dagger of Y’aml beneath his - cloak, just in case. No need for a blood rush like last time, - can’t let daggers go mouthing off an all that. Or perhaps the - ocean needs less bears, it’s tempting, I wonder if Y’aml would - react to bear blood..

    -
    -

    The bears shudder at the mention of Monokuma. “Oh, such a - dreadful bear,” laments the tardigrade. “You mustn’t mention - him!”

    -

    “Indeed,” agrees the merbear, “a discredit and an - embarrassment to bears everywhere, at sea and on land!”

    -

    “Yes, this sea may be big enough for two bears, but not if - one of them is HE!”

    -

    The merbear considers the tardigrade’s words. “Hmm, - two bears you say?” he ponders, giving the tardigrade - a scrupulous side-eye. “Do you truly think so?”

    -

    “Now that you mention it, I don’t see why not!” admits the - tardigrade, gesturing broadly at the fathomless leagues of - ocean all around you.

    -

    “You know what? What is the sky anyway if not a sea made of - stars! The moon could indeed use two bears too, could it - not?”

    -

    “It could indeed, Brother Bear!”

    -

    “Brother!”

    -

    The tardigrade and the merbear embrace. If you’ve never - experienced the eight-armed hug of a water bear, well, then - you don’t know how soft and enveloping it is.

    -

    “Come, Brother!” cries the tardigrade suddenly. “We must - begin our search at once! For what if there is a third Bear of - the Sea yet to be discovered?”

    -

    “Another Brother of ours who doesn’t know about us? Oh, I - can’t stand the thought!” sobs the merbear.

    -

    They swim away hand in hand, paragons of brotherly bear - love. “Good luck and safe travels, interlopers!” calls the - merbear to you over its shoulder. “If you ever end up on the - moon,” adds the tardigrade, laughing merrily, “say hello to - Hap’n’stance for me!”

    -

    Suddenly, a disturbance! A perturbance of bubbles and a - rush of current as massive amounts of water are displaced by - inky black tentacles that shoot up from below! They reach! - They grasp! One grabs the tardigrade around the middle. - Another grabs the merbear by the tail. Both bears cry and - reach for each other as they are ripped apart and pulled down - below.

    -

    The tentacles grope around in the water, batting at you and - threatening to pull you down too! They grab at your wrists and - at your ankles!

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     28 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -742,57 +1625,174 @@ sudo chown -R 770 /ocean/$safety - 31 + 36 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 31 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 08:16:11 + 36 - Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:02:38 -0700 - Mon, 07 Nov 2022 08:16:14 -0700 + Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:02:44 -0700 00031 +

    00036

    +

    Prelude:

    +

    The gods are missing now. But before they went into hiding, + the Trine walked the earth and actively participated in the + affairs of mortals.

    +

    Sweet, tenderhearted Neddas—god of sages and starlight—fell + in love with the worldkin and often gave away trivial little + bits of their divinity as gifts to the people. Chief among + these gifts were the divine aspects of coin, mirth, lore, + craft, and tact. With these gifts, civilizations grew and + flourished and accomplished great things.

    +

    Then the Artifice Wars rocked all of Basmentaria and the + gods vanished. And even with Neddas’s gifts, civilization + still struggles to reach its former heights.

    -

    Inky follows behind the merbear at a healthy 2 meters’ - distance away in the bubblebee, the headlights illuminating a - moderate distance ahead of the distraught bear as it darts - after its brother.

    -

    As the merbear homes in on the tardigrade near the ship - deck, Inky keeps a lookout for any signs of movement or - tentacles from behind or below the shipwreck. The bubblebee’s - headlights cast an eerie shadow from the ship’s double masts - even as it partly lights up the rim of a gaping hole in the - hull.

    +

    I watch as the magical bolt sails away overhead meeting its + target, receding back into the depths of the hull of the ship + as the skeleton drags me down. The fork bomb goes off + flawlessly, and the world comes to a screching halt around me, + only to slowly rewind itself.

    +

    I contemplate the absolutely absurd position I’ve put + myself into as the skeleton pulls me back down into the depths + and I watch the would be theif take a direct hit again.

    +

    “Okay, THAT was a good shot.” I say to myself as the scene + repeats again. I could probably watch that a few times. But + after about the hundredth time the feat seems a little less + epic. And the skeleton a lot less frightful and a lot more + dull.

    +

    Sigh

    +

    Kevin always said this would happen. “Corraidhin, you can’t + play with dangerous scripts like that, you’ll crash your + systems”. Right you were Kevin, right you were. Corraidhin + casts his eyes around wistfully. I guess I got that boat I + always wanted? And it’s filled with treasure. That’s a + positive. Oh and um I’m not alone, yeah, that’s right. You’re + stuck here too Mr. Skelly. (The skeleton does not reply). Oh + come on now, don’t be rude. (still no reply). sigh + right, sorta dead, I shouldn’t expext more than a loving + embrace from you as you try and invite me to look at your + treasure right?

    +

    After about the thousandth time the Sysorcerer was still in + a rut.

    +

    I’m stuck insid the crash, not from without. It seems this + moment is just going to idle on perpetually. (he rummages in + his pockets), okay I guess I still have the Ginnarak crystal, + and stabby. Those seem safe enough here with me.

    +

    So long as I don’t go crazy I guess there’s hope. If not, + what a damn foolish way to die.

    +

    MEANWHILE

    +

    An automated alert system triggers as the Sysorceror blips + out of existence. And then on, and then off, and then on, and + then off.

    + 
    (Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found)
+Problem started at 19:37 on 2281.67.43
+Porblem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found
+Host: Corraidhin
+Severity: Critical
+Operation Data: (corrupted)
+Problem ID: 92746027498
+
+(Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found)
+Resolved in 1d 0h 0m 0s: Entity not found
+Problem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found
+Problem Duration: 1d 0h 0m 0s
+Severity: Critical
+Original Problem ID: 92746027498
    +

    Bloody Zabbix alerts flapping again, what the hell does it + mean that Uncle Corraidhin is gone. You can’t Die then Live + over and over and over. Stupid broken monitoring system. Guess + I had been check in on him, bloody fool constantly gets + himself in trouble.

    +

    Alex grabs his shortsword and backpack and shoulders them. + If anyone will know what’s foolhearty issue his uncle has + gotten into, it’ll be Kevin as the Sysorcerors Guild.

    -

    The tardigrade, still tucked into a ball, lands on the ship - deck with a gentle thud. It rolls a couple of times and - finally comes to rest against the rigging. The merbear reaches - it a moment later and cradles its jelly-like body gently in - its bear arms. “My brother!” it cries. “My dear bear - brother!”

    -

    The tardigrade slowly uncurls and stretches out and looks - around, disoriented and bleary-eyed. It waggles its eight arms - around experimentally, closes and opens its claws as though - kneading the water. “Brother?” says the merbear in - astonishment.

    -

    “I am okay brother!” says the tardigrade. “We water bears - are very hardy and resilient! It will take more than a mere - other worldly tentacle attack and an arcane electric blast to - do me in!”

    -

    While the bears are having their teary-eyed reunion, you - sense movement in the shadows deep in the ocean trench, over - which protrude the ship’s masts. Your lights don’t penetrate - the darkness enough to see what it was. But it was large. The - very stuff that thalassophobia is made of.

    -

    You also think you see a flash of gold as the light of the - bubblebee reflects off of something inside the ship through - the hole in the hull. Could it be the second Ginnarak - Crystal?

    -

    The breach in the hull is easily large enough to admit a - medium sized creature such as an inkling in a bubblebee - apparatus. Or a sysorcer or a lanky old half-devil tavern - owner.

    +

    Corraidhín settles in for what may or may not be a lifetime + of stasis aboard the glitch formerly known as the SS RSS. At + least Stabby will be good company if it ever wakes up from its + blood coma. Hmm, actually that’s debatable. Now that you think + of it, you’re not sure you’re up for a lifetime of ranting + about blood and evil.

    +

    The merbear and the tardigrade are on the ship deck, also + trapped in the fork bomb. You’re not sure whether you can + reach them or not.

    +

    You see a flickering of motion and a flash of light outside + the ship as what looks like a small school of fish moves darts + in and out of view. It rushes past, doubles back, and swims + past again, passing close enough that one or two get sucked + into the fork bomb with you.

    +

    Impossibly, what you thought were fish were apparently + small birds? Or, perhaps they were fish after all and some + quality of passing through the boundary of the fork bomb + simply turns them into birds? Either way, two small blue + songbirds with red heads and forked tails hop around inside + the ship chirping incessantly. You watch as one of them hops + toward one of the sea bunny slugs and pecks at it, and then + scoops it up in its beak and swallows it whole. The second + does the same. They hop from side to side a bit, and then set + to feasting on the slugs. A couple more birds pop through the + membrane separating you from the outside world and join + in.

    +

    ~

    +

    Alex grabs his perfectly normal, blissfully non-sentient + shortsword and heads off to the Cabinet, where the Sysorcerers + Guild is. He has to detour around the Wandering Bazaar, which + decided to plop down in the middle of the street, but + nonetheless arrives in short order.

    +

    He finds Kevin working in the library on Kevin’s Document + Language.

    +

    Alex describes the errors and Kevin groans, “Ugh, I told + him! I told him you can’t play with dangerous scripts like + that, you’ll crash your systems! We’ll have to try a manual + reboot. Well don’t just stand there, young person. Come on, + come on, try to keep up. We have work to do!”

    +
    +

    Inky follows the bundle’s path as it sinks downwards and + maneuvers the bubblebee to retrieve it along with the eye.

    +

    Floating to a stop above the ledge of the trench, Inky + looks at the small golden orb, then removes an empty lunch + pail from their knapsack and drops the eye and several small + glass marbles into it. The contents jostle around inside the + pail in a cacophony of whirs, clicks and clatters. With the + lid firmly closed, Inky tosses the makeshift percussive + instrument into the trench for the harrowkrake so it could jam + with its new tanokuma buddies.

    +

    Staring at the bundle, Inky suddenly recalls the projectile + that had come from the general direction of the SS RSS shortly + before the horkosgrampus got to Mr. Not-So-Lucky. Master + Corraidhín! They turn back to the shipwreck, only to find the + entire ship had turned eerily translucent, like a ghost ship + from some tipsy sailor’s tale. Inky halts a short distance + from the wreckage for a closer look, though something about + the apparition told them it would be a terrible idea to enter + the ship’s hull now. Something had happened to the ship’s + remains, with the sysorcerer trapped inside. Maybe it was all + part of the sysorcerer’s plan, that he had teleported himself + back to a safe location and this was a mirage, just a remnant + from the moment of teleportation.

    +

    Or at least Inky hopes so.

    +
    +

    Inky drops the improvised goldeneye noisemaker down into + the trench. The rattling as it falls is reminiscent of + Gerald’s laughter. One slender tendril reaches up out of the + abyss and grabs the rattle, and then disappears once more into + the murky dark.

    +

    You are now in possession of the second Ginnarak Crystal. A + blue stone with lightly pulsing gold veins. As you gaze at it, + it’s almost as though you can hear peals of tinkling laughter + in the back of your head.

    +

    The horkosgrampus, temporarily sated having removed the + liar from this timeline, drift lazily away.

    +

    The giant, candy-seeking manta ray passes closely by and + fondly caresses the bubblebee with one wing in passing. Its + little manta face pulled up into a chubby smile.

    +

    The bear facsimiles join you and begin crying when they see + their “brothers” trapped on the deck of the ship.

    +

    You see a small school of fish making multiple passes by + the SS RSS like birds skimming insects from the sky.

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    + href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-11/msg00083.html">www

    ]]>     @@ -1129,833 +2129,5 @@ scp sysorceor.guild:/home/corraidhin/chest milkbase.alpha:/home/corraidhin/chest ]]> - - 21 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 21 - Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:21:55 --0600 - Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:21:55 -0600 - - 00021 -

    INTERLUDE

    -
    -

    A glorious victory!

    -

    In the interim time Corraidhin studies the sword of Y’aml, - and correctly deduces that he needs to remove the sticky bit - to be able to sheath the thing.

    -

    sudo chmod -t sword_of_y'aml

    -

    The rest of the interim is spent studying arcane lore - surrounding the Ginnarak Crystals and their purpose. He also - strongly urges the party that we should consider very carefuly - how we need to proceed with the crystal. It’s obvious people - don’t want these things getting out, so we should ensure that - Blavin has good intentions, or at least leaves us out of - whatever potential evil could occur.

    -
    -

    Corraidhin prepares the incantation and, after removing the - sticky bit, is able pry his stiff fingers from the grip.

    -

    You sheathe the blade, but its voice continues to ring - clearly in your head as it prattles on, seeing evil and - villainy everywhere and encouraging you to stab, stab, - stab.

    -

    Your sysorcerous studies, confirmed by the eager and - forthright sword, suggest that the blade will be able to rest - for a while once it tastes blood.

    -

    Your former mentor and rival sysorceror Eccentric Kevin - calls on you one day under the pretense of showing you the - latest draft of KDL (pronounced “cuddle”), their own “Kevin’s - Document Language”, an alternative syntax for incantations and - personal pet project of theirs that has thus far failed, much - to their perpetual consternation, to gain any traction or - adoption in the wider magic community. They are insufferably - polite and sinisterly supportive. They complain about how the - obstinant gnus keep standing in the middle of the road trying - to block traffic, and they demand to know all about your - recent exploits and adventures.

    -
    -

    Once back in town, Inky had the small glass shard in their - palm removed by a harried-looking healer, who merely shrugged - at Inky’s account of the disappearing ink and advised them to - return if they experienced adverse effects before hurrying off - to the next patient. A visit to the local stationery shop did - not yield any answers; the stocky human at the counter shook - their head apologetically when shown the broken ink bottle. - However, they did suggest asking at one of the larger shops in - the city.

    -

    To celebrate their first successful quest, Inky made - torties[1] for their party with flour ground from some of the - large corn kernels at the dig site, topped with a sweet nutty - squash spread. Babbleberry tea was served from their newly - acquired jade tea set, now patched with what Inky had been - assured was an unbreakable seal[2] by a merchant with a toothy - grin in one of Vay’Nullar’s notorious back alleys.

    -

    Master Corraidhín’s cautionary words of wisdom still echo - in Inky’s head, though they were secretly tickled by the idea - of the crystal being actually a rare and previously unknown - species of melon with very potent magical properties. The very - thought of melons was making Inky a bit thirsty. Let the - warrior and wizard worry about all the potential evils of the - world — it’s time for a dash to the market for some beatfruit - juice!

    -
    -

    [1] Also known as torte-teas, as in “Torte-tea, yas?”, - which was how their previous ink maestro used to greet - customers entering the brewery. Flat little tea cakes with - sugar or spice (or both, which vary by region) and sometimes - eaten in a loose wrap. Some humans called them “crabs” for - some reason which baffled Inky, since the torties had no - pincers … at least none that they could see anyway.

    -

    [2] The seal attached to the bottom of the teapot and each - cup had a glyph of an unknown object between two hands.

    -
    -

    The healer removes a small glass bead from Inky’s palm. It - is worn smooth and round like a marble. If you look closely, - you can see a small blemish in the center that somewhat - resembles either a duck or a rabbit depending on how you - orient it.

    -

    It is captivating to look at and comforting to hold in your - hand. You fidget with it often. Now and then you suddenly - notice you have been gazing at it for some minutes without - realizing it.

    -

    You make your party a delightful meal of torties, serving - tea from the magically reinforced jade set.

    -

    Cleaning up afterwards, you can’t help but notice the - patterns of the tea leaves in the bottoms of the jade - cups.

    -

    YOU FORESEE AN OMEN FOR THE PARTY. WHAT IS IT?

    -

    You dash to the market for beatfruit juice, which you - easily find. And you find yourself irrationally drawn to the - produce. The kale, dandelion greens, and beans all look - especially scrumptious and … plump and juicy?

    -

    An old toothy market attendant sits on a stool by the - vegetable stand reading the Farmers Almanac. Unsolicited, they - mention to you that it is only three days until the next full - moon.

    -
    -

    Jarrod has two things in particular he wants to do when - back in town, with whatever his cut of the gold is. First, he - wants to go looking for a cheap, run-down building somewhere - in town and buy the property if he has enough money (perhaps - negotiating a bit where necessary).

    -

    Second, he wishes to seek arcane counsel from Corraidhín, - perhaps getting a small invocation applied to one of the - charms on his arm band. Something in the realm of a - fascination spell (with an activation word) that can be used - on occasion to draw attention.

    -

    Jarrod agrees that we should not invite trouble. We shall - tread cautiously with regards to the crystals.

    -

    Yum, torties!

    -
    -

    After successfully negotiating the price down a little bit, - you are able to purchase a run-down building. You are now the - proud owner and proprietor of the Milk Market building in the - Wandering Bazzar district of downtown Vay’Nullar.

    -

    The ground level is occupied by longtime district staple - Enrique’s Empanada Emporium, famous for its signature stuffed - pastries and its Terrapin Ale, brewed on site by Enrique - himself, who happens to be a very large humanoid turtle.

    -

    It’s a little seedy and a little divey, but still draws a - fair amount of foot traffic from shoppers waiting for the - eponymous, ambulatory bazaar of debatable sentience to wander - by. Reliably, a small gang of breadpunks can be found - loitering here and espousing the virtues of social anarchy. - Enrique allows their presence and on occasion even buys them a - round of ale.

    -

    The top two levels are unoccupied. Years upon years ago, - this space once held large vats for storing and preserving - multibeast milk prior to being distributed. Some enterprising - individual converted and updated the space some time ago, but - was never able to find a tenant. In any case, the space is - yours now to do with what you will.

    -

    With Corraidhin’s assistance, you are able to enchant your - armband by inscribing it with a cross-like glyph with a - teardrop-shaped loop in place of the vertical upper bar. You - now have a FASCINATING BANGLE that can, upon activation, - compel attention and even potentially inspire people to dance - about.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 34 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 34 - Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:43:05 --0700 - Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:43:08 -0700 - - 00034 -
    -

    Fuck, skeletons? This is ridiculous, I did not sign up for - underwater pirate skeletons.

    -

    Reacting quickly Corraidhin prepares a fork bomb, if the - skeletons are going to take him out, he’s going to take out - those skeletons too.

    - 
    #!/bin/sh
-:(){
- :|:&
-};:
    -

    Hopefully I won’t have to use that. Corraidhin hoists - himself up into the opening and begins targetting the - skeletons one by one. No time for much fancy preparation here, - just good old fashioned magic missiles strewn about the - interior of the hull. While so doing Corraidhin glances around - the treasure strewn hull, searching for the crystal, can’t - blow the whole ship up if the prize is here.

    -

    Then again, a magical item that powerful, could probably - withstand a fork bomb pretty easily. It’s worth the risk if - things get worse.

    -

    Corraidhin ensures his back is to the opening, able to make - a haphazard escape should the skeletons get the better of - him.

    -
    - -

    You prep your fork bomb to keep in your back pocket as a - last resort.

    -

    In the meantime you start blasting skeletons. They maintain - a slow advance but you able to pick them off slowly one by - one. Bones splinter and fly apart.

    -

    During your maneuvering, you get turned around and are - backed into the corner with the hatch leading up to the upper - deck. You reach behind yourself and fumble with the latch. One - skeleton manages to get its bony claws around your ankle just - as you open the hatch. You look behind you and see a human - shaped figure floating away, illuminated in the beams of - Inky’s bubblebee. It is toting a small bundle. Up above you - can see the shadow of the manta ray gliding around eating - candy, and the horkosgrampus idling in the absence of carrion - or lies.

    -

    “I thank ye, gents!” cries the figure down to you as it - ascends. “You distracted the harrowkrake just long enough for - me to get in that ship and grab what I needs!” It tugs on the - cord attached to its bundle and laughs. “I shan’t forget ye!” - It waves and gives a little salute.

    -

    You have a magic missile loaded and ready to go. In a - moment the figure will be out of range. You can blast it now - and risk being pulled down by the skeleton. Or you can blast - the skeleton and risk the figure getting away.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 24 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 24 - Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:43:40 --0600 - Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:43:40 -0600 - - 00024 -
    -

    Corraidhin
    - Well I’ll be! You can turn yourself into a dagger. And I did - say we could stab blavin if you could do that, it’s much more - stealthy this way. But let me posit this, is the act of - stabbing a hobbit unprovoked not itself evil? Or perhaps more - convincingly, would it not be better to use the hobbit for - whatever information he has so as to lead to this mysterious - benefactor, who most assuredly must be evil.

    -

    Someone who would send out myriads of teams to pillage and - plunder cultural artifacts is truly evil, that must be our - target.

    -

    Now this isn’t to say that we won’t stab him. I’m convinced - that’s probably a good idea in the long run, but we know - nothing of the true evil that motivates him! We would kill him - just to lose track of the true evil we must smite!

    -

    Y’aml
    - But YOU said if I could turn into a dagger we could STAB him. - HE’S EVIL. YOU said so! Not keeping your promises IS one step - away from PURE evil! Make a choice Hardy Bear! Stab the evil - hobbit, or stab the inkling, or stab SOMETHING evil this - minute!

    -

    Corraidhin
    - I most certainly cannot abide with stabbing Inky, it’s - entirely off the table. And in a city like this there aren’t - any evil things that just jump out for the stabbing.

    -

    (Corraidhin tries to silently control Y’aml during the - discussion. However in so doing the party has fallen silent, - aghast even)

    -

    Corraidhin stands, Y’aml held in hand, red gem eye gleaming - a wicked joyful grin as it’s raised high, poised to strike. - The party around him is silent, and Blavin stares up in shock. - The tavern around them has died down and you can hear the - bustle of the proprietor calling for his strong men to deal - with this ruckus.

    -
    -

    The table—and all of Lucy’s Basement within earshot—sits in - tense, uneasy quiet at Corraidhin’s one-sided conversation - with the Sword of Yam’L. Blavin giggles nervously and sips his - martini, willfully forcing himself right up to the very last - moment to believe that it is all some sort of jest.

    -

    But then the sysorcerer stands and raises the blood crazed - dagger over his shoulder, and Blavin squeals and writhes in - his chair. Lucy’s bouncers scramble forward from the corners - of the room to intercept.

    -
    -

    Y’aml
    - We STAB Hardy Bear! We STAB NOW!!

    -

    Against Corraidhin’s control, as though he’s in a trance, - the dagger comes down. A swift stabbing motion strqight to the - neck, as he lunges across the table at Blavin knocking the map - and his martini to the side.

    -
    - -

    Corraidhin once again feels the same peculiar quality of - the blade, that sensation of a hollow core with a heavy liquid - sloshing inside. Held aloft, the weight of it feels - concentrated at the grip, the blade light as a feather.

    -

    He stabs down—Yam’L cries out in wordless glee—and the - weight flows into the tip of the blade, the blade itself now - drawing Corraidhin’s hand downward in a rising crescendo of - stabbitude.

    - -

    Blavin flinches at the last second, and instead of burying - itself in his throat, the blade plunges into his shoulder and - pins him to the back of the chair. A red mist fills the eye - and threatens to cloud it over entirely. It rolls back in - ecstasy as it drinks deeply. It sings out, “MORE! MORE! MORE!” - and Corraidhin feels the tides of madness rising inside of - him, threatening to wash over him wholly, to pull him under - and carry him away on thundering waves of bloodlust.

    -

    Corraidhin struggles to pull the blade from the chair back. - Blavin whimpers and mewls as he yanks on it, and clutches his - wound and, incredibly, takes a large gulp of his drink.

    -

    The sysorcerer still has the wherewithal and the presence - of mind to be aware of his surroundings. He is not yet so - overcome by the bloodlust. He sees his companions, his fellow - residents of the Milk Market, seated around the table. And he - sees the musclebound bouncers now nearly within reach.

    -

    Finally he draws the dagger. Blavin sinks in his seat and - slides to the floor with his drink, blabbering incoherently, - and starts to slither away.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 35 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 35 - Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:34:03 --0700 - Thu, 10 Nov 2022 21:49:20 -0700 - - 00035 -
    -

    Shouting in the direction of the grampus “Yo! That dude is - definitely going to forget us. We’re almost the definition of - forgettable, I mean it’s not like we’re some kind of murderous - hobos or something!”

    -

    While shouting Corraidhin takes aim, and slings his magic - missing at the figure, aiming for a kill. (Meta: I’d like to - spend that xp now, lets take this sucker down).

    -

    After the missile flies loose the skeleton begins to pull - Corraidhin back into the hull of the ship, he kicks - desperately at the boney clutches desperately trying to break - free.

    -

    “I always knew I’d go out fighting some undead spooky - thing. If you don’t become a necromancer, you end up some - necromancers thrall.” at least, that’s what Kevin used to tell - me. I always thought he was being melodramatic.

    -

    As the skeleton drags Corraidhin back through the hatch he - grabs the dagger, in a vein attempt to ready himself.

    -

    “I guess this is it my Stabby friend, time to show these - Skeletons what happens when you back a Sysorceor into a - corner”

    -

    And with that Corraidhin activates his fork bomb.

    -
    -

    ~

    -
    -

    While feeding their jellyfish bites of wasabi pear and - watching the sysorcerer investigate the hull, Inky eventually - notices movement in the direction of the ship’s deck in the - form of a figure crawling out of the hatch with a bundle. Inky - squints at the retreating form. Could it be another retrieval - team, or a rogue agent? Master Corraidhín would probably not - be pleased if the crystal melon were to fall into unknown - hands, never mind of those whose names don’t start with the - letter “B” and end in the letter “r”.

    -

    Sparing a brief second to lament the waste of a perfectly - good snack, Inky reaches into their bag and lobs a spiky - chestnut cluster at the figure’s breathing bell from the - opening of their bubblebee, followed by a glass bottle of - blahoblin shoe polish. The glass shatters on impact, sending - the dark, sticky and somewhat pungent substance all over the - figure’s (punctured) breathing bell and face.

    -

    As Inky’s bubblebee floats up a little closer to the - figure, Inky tosses a smaller bottle at the figure, this time - of some synthetic blood from another brick that Inky had set - aside for experiments of a different sort. At the last moment - the thruster accelerates, Inky throws their paring knife at - the bundle where the cord hugged the figure’s waist, before - veering away just as quickly as the horkosgrampus nearby catch - a whiff of the blood.

    -
    -

    RETCON: It has been brought to our - attention that the scp spell does not - move an entity, but merely copies it from one - location to another. As such, the original merbear and - tardigrade are still on the deck of the SS RSS. Their - facsimiles are present near where Inky used to be.

    -

    Okay so two extremely interesting and complicated things - happen all at once and in quick succession. It’s very chaotic - and explosive and cinematic.

    -

    THING THE FIRST

    -

    Corraidhín aims his shootin’ finger—the one that - resolutely, emphatically mashes the Enter key when deploying - to production—at the floaty thief. The very same second he - fires off the magic missile, he sees the figure jerk as a - small projectile first punctures its jellyfish helmet and then - coats its entire cranial area in black ink.

    -

    It screams, “Aw, fuck!”

    -

    The breathing bell is having none of this shit, thank you - very much, and detaches itself from the figure’s head and - starts to propel itself away. As such, the figure no longer - has access to breathable air.

    -

    It screams, “No, wait!”

    -

    And then a fine blade juts out from the bubblebee severing - the cord connecting the floating bundle to the would-be thief. - The blade scoops out a hunk of flesh from the thief’s hip in - the process.

    -

    It screams, “Ouch! Stop, I wasn’t going to…”

    -

    The horkosgrampus—kind of lazily drifting about thus - far—stir from complacency at the first scent of blood. But - they snap to ravenous attention at the first utterance of a - possible lie.

    -

    Finally (an instant later) the magic missile strikes its - target and the thief splatters like a wet paper bag full of - soup hitting the ground.

    -

    It sputters and coughs and screams, “I wasn’t going to! - Please, you can have it! I wasn’t going to take it! I don’t - even want it! It’s yours!”

    -

    And the horkosgrampus fucking lose their minds. They stop - being mere toothy scavenger whales, and instead become the - ravenous, wrathful instruments of the god of oaths and - promises. They descend upon the liar in a fury of teeth and - tusks. First Mate “Lucky” Three-Fingered Gerald cackles with - depraved, unhinged mirth as he is torn to shreds. In the end a - single golden orb—his false eye—is all that is left of the - would-be thief of the second Ginnarak Crystal.

    -

    The eye and the crystal slowly emerge from the - horkosgrampus frenzy, hovering suspended above the harrowkrake - trench.

    -

    THING THE SECOND

    -

    Remember there are two extremely interesting and - complicated things happening all at once?

    -

    The second thing is this.

    -

    First, Corraidhín lets loose his magic missile at - Three-Fingered Gerald. Then, as he is being pulled down by the - undead pirate skeleton, he lets loose a fork bomb.

    -

    The fork bomb is also known as a ‘rabbit attack’ because - the rapidity with which it spawns new processes resembles the - fecundity of breeding rabbits.

    -

    So here’s what it looks like. The skeleton pulls Corraidhín - downward. Corraidhín points and clicks. Pew, pew. A single - small sea bunny slug wriggles its way between the skeleton’s - fingers where it has a hold of the sysorcerer’s ankle. Another - two wriggle out. Then four, eight, sixteen. In an instant - there are dozens, hundreds, thousands, millions of the tiny - slugs in the hold of the ship.

    -

    Everything, every living entity, every process, light and - sound and thought itself, it all grinds to a halt as the sea - bunnies continue to multiply until billions and trillions of - them squeeze and burrow their way amongst molecules, betwixt - atoms, and into the quantum foam between subatomic - particles.

    -

    The ship and everything on it and inside it—including the - original merbear and tardigrade—collapse into a singularity. - It continues to exist in this moment in space and time but - only as a static snapshot of the moment that its operating - system crashed. It is a mirage, a core memory dump, a - segmentation fault, a flickering feedback loop, the same two - to three seconds endlessly repeating: Corraidhín backed into a - corner, and pointing a finger at a skeleton, and then BANG! - over and over and over again.

    -

    Corraidhín, you can continue to act and move, but your have - become unhinged and unattached from this moment in space and - time. You can interact with entities inside the ship, but will - struggle mightily to comprehend and interact with entities - outside the fork bomb.

    -

    Outside observers see the SS RSS become paper thin and - translucent as it starts to lose its footing in this plane of - reality.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 25 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 25 - Sun, 23 Oct 2022 09:41:16 --0600 - Sun, 23 Oct 2022 09:41:16 -0600 - - 00025 -
    -

    Corraidhin Shit, shit shit shit shit shit. - This is NOT good. Damn it Y’aml what was that? It wasn’t even - slightly stealthy

    -

    Y’aml STAB, delightful blood. Stab the - flesh, tear the skin, pierce the fruit that gives us strength. - Drink the blood, consume their soul. More more more more more - more more more more

    -

    Corraidhin (internal thought) Ugh my head, - it’s heavy, hurts. Misty and red? I can’t see straight, it’s - hard to think straight. That blasted sword, I thought for a - moment it, no, not think, it definitely did move on its own. - It became lighter and heavier. Pulling against it and it just - weighs itself down. This little magical bauble is definitely - cursed..

    -

    Y’aml CURSED?! Rude Hardy Bear. All we did - was stab that evil hobbit. And it’s getting away! Stab him - again, taste his blood! The tavern gaurds are closing in, they - look like they’re trying to get rid of us, EVIL. Them trying - to stop us from getting that evil hobbit is EVIL, STAB - THEM.

    -

    Corraidhin raises his free hand to his head as though - holding a wound and he groans in dismay as the dagger rises - again. It travels swiftly down towards Blavin, missing as he - slithers of the booth. And again, digging deep into the wooden - seat.

    -

    Y’aml Disgusting wood, stab the flesh! - Stab the Hobbit Hardy Bear!

    -

    But Blavin was inching further out of reach towards the - gaurds. In desperation the dagger begins swinging side to - side, making furtive slashing moves in the direction of the - guards. The party is safely behind Corraidhin, but innocent - patrons and the guards are directly in their sights.

    -

    Corraidhin grabs his other hand and pulls hard, steadying - the swinging. STOP! I command you you blasted toothpick, STOP. - You’ve had your fun, now STOP. These people are innocent, this - man has done us no harm despite his potential “evils”, this is - entirely uncalled for!

    -

    Y’aml NO!!! EVIL. STAB. EVIL. STAB. EVIL. - STAB.

    -

    The dull voice of the magical dagger rises, angry, - insistent. It consumes the last of Corraidhin’s mental - strength. All he hears is EVIL. STAB. EVIL. STAB. Yet he - clings to his spare arm trying desparately to resist. At this - point the party and the tavern has cleared a wide path around - the sysorceor as he struggles with himself, mumbling, - sometimes yelling. EVIL. STAB. EVIL. STAB. NO WE WILL NOT. - EVIL. INNOCENT. STAB BLOOD DRINK. EVIL. EVIL EVIL EVIL STAB - IT. MAKE IT BLEED. I WILL NO.. STAB IT. STAB HIM.

    -

    The voice seems to change, it dies down. Not yelling, but - commanding. Firm, calm, sane.

    -

    Stab them, stab them, make them bleed. Drink the blood, - consume the soul, free them from their evil being. Stab them, - stab them… over and over and over, as the sysorceor approaches - Blavin and the guards with a malevolent look in his ruby red - eyes.

    -
    -

    ~

    -
    -

    Inky moves to stand next to Blavin and the nightclub - bouncers. Tossing a tiny “see-eye” container they had borrowed - from Master Corraidhín at him, Inky looks the sysorceor in the - eye and says, “You are not your sword.”

    -

    Watching the wizard’s expression, Inky continues, more - quietly, “If Master Corraidhín truly wishes to end the hobbit, - a mere imp would not stop him, but likewise, whatever he sets - his mind to do, a dagger cannot stop him either.”

    -
    -

    ~

    -
    -

    Jarrod steps gently into the fray and activates his - FASCINATING CHARM, attempting to draw all eyes to him. He - carefully avoids the wild swinging of the - once-sword-now-dagger.

    -

    “I think,” he rumbles gently, “we could all use a drink - over the other end of the room. I’m buying, and I’ll spin you - all a tale of wonder! A tale of a wanderer, and of a war - hammer, and the first of their wild battles together!”

    -

    Leaning over to whisper urgently in Corraidhín’s ear: - “Friend, I do not know what occurs here, but pull yourself - together. We can later sate our blood lust in more appropriate - places!” Jarrod lends a sly wink in the sysorcerer’s - direction, one that promises adventure later.

    -
    -

    The tavern guards tense, but pause their advance, as the - crazed mage’s friends position themselves protectively around - him and try to placate him. They wouldn’t want to engage a - master sysorcerer on the best of days, much less one with some - kind of malevolent blood dagger in the middle of a psychotic - break. If his compatriots can handle him without them having - to interfere, all the better.

    -

    The duck waddles up next to Inky and quacks softly, - pleadingly at Corraidhin. Only the Ornithologer in the corner - can understand its words when it says, “As your marketing - manager I must strongly advise against this course of - action!”

    -

    Seated in the corner next to the Ornithologer is a shaggy - groll dressed in a dusty, faded poncho and a wide brimmed hat; - and a greasy, matted gnu, dressed in black ceremonial - robes.

    -

    The groll discreetly draws its poncho back revealing a - bandoleer of wands and draws a cracklestick and points it at - the sysorcer. The wand starts to hum and glow as it charges up - for a blast.

    -

    The gnu slaps the groll’s wrist, and immediately launches - into a tirade against the cracklestick’s manufacturer’s - proprietary spell slotting algorithm, and honestly how can you - possibly justify your choices when there are open source - alternatives available?

    -

    The groll rolls its eyes, obviously having been on the - receiving end of this particular lecture before, and tries to - slap away the gnu’s grasping hands. The ensuing scuffle - threatens to turn this powder keg of a situation into a full - blown conflagration until Jarrod actives his FASCINATING - CHARM, commanding the attention of the entire room.

    -

    The gnu freezes with its hands around the groll’s throat. - The groll halts with fists full of the gnu’s beard. A grub - smoking a hookah pauses with the mouthpiece raised to its - pursed lips. A distracted waitress on roller skates crashes - right into the bar.

    -
    -

    As though in a trance Corraidhin continues to yell STAB. - THEM. STAB. IT. cutting wildly at the air before him. As Inky - whispers to him his expression changes, first a grimace, then - a whimper. As Jarrod leads the patrons away from the sysorceor - he begins to tremble and cower away from himself, away from - everyone. His ruby red eyes dart back and forth between his - friends and the patrons, like a frightened animal searching - for an escape. He pulls the dagger into himself, as though - sheilding it from his surroundings.

    -

    What.. what’s going on, he mutters feebly to himself. - Everything is a blurr. Uncertain of where he is or what’s - going on, Corraidhin thumbs the dagger, caressing the large - ruby embedded in the hilt. Y’aml, you’re still here, good - good, the syscoreor croons.

    -

    Standing up straight his eyes lock with Jarrod as the Bard - glances over his shoulder, momentarily distracted from his - oration, worried about his companion.

    -

    I.. ugh, Corraidhin grabs his head as though in pain, and - collapses to the floor.

    -
    -

    Corraidhin hits the floor and the dagger, now bereft of the - well of emotion it had been drawing from, grows still. The eye - closes and it seems to sigh happily. “Good job, Hardy Bear. - You have spilled the blood of evil.” And it sleeps, inert, - lifeless.

    -

    Corraidhin is on the ground cradling the dagger.

    -

    Most of the patrons are still fascinated by Jarrod.

    -

    Blavin is squirming around on the floor gibbering about - reassigning your case.

    -

    The duck has found a toppled plate of corn chips and is - happily snacking away.

    -

    You feel like your welcome at Lucy’s Basement has been, for - the moment, overstayed.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     - - 30 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 30 - Sat, 05 Nov 2022 12:51:43 --0600 - Sat, 05 Nov 2022 12:51:49 -0600 - - 00030 -
    -

    Inky flips backwards and up, narrowly avoiding the - tentacles’ grasp. From their courier bag they shake out an - inflatable bubblebee[1] of the sort made for aquatic camping. - It is one of the fancier models provided to each member of - their party courtesy of the well-endowed Benefactor. They yank - on one of the cords and scramble inside, hastily closing the - flap as the bubblebee rapidly draws in water and fills out to - its full size.

    -

    The bubblebee rises as Inky pulls on the flippers and - allows the drifter to buoy the bubble upwards, a bat from the - end of one tentacle sending the bubblebee forward a short - distance before it slows above the flailing tentacles. Inky - switches on the lights to try to get a clearer view of the - source of the tentacles.

    -

    [1] Specific features of bubblebees vary among makers, but - they generally have a transparent or translucent spherical - body, a pair of small translucent wings that act as flippers, - an opening flap at the back with a short rudder attached, and - two cords inside at the front near the top which when pulled - inflate the bubble with the surrounding air or water. Premium - versions might also include headlights, a buzzer, built-in - filtration, improved insulation, a drifter and thruster. Like - tents they come in various sizes, from small ones that can fit - one or two people at average elven height, to larger ones for - group outings. Their portability and rugged durability make - them very popular among tourists and campers who can enjoy a - range of water sports, such as water walking on the surface, - riding the bubble down river rapids, or bobbing along - underwater to watch the sea life wander by.

    -
    -

    Inky climbs into the inflatable bubblebee just in the nick - of time. A tentacle bats them a short distance away, and then - the apparatus’s lights cut on and illuminate the murky - water.

    -

    You see the tentacles recede into the depths into, from - this distance, what looks like the outline of a shipwreck.

    -

    At the moment, you are out of reach of the tentacles. And - the bubblebee affords you some extra maneuverability.

    -
    -

    Corraidhin eyes inky as they drift away in their bubblebee. - “hmm a wonderful idea, that seems safe, but I need to get in - closer.”

    -

    While Inky drifts away Corraidhin swims down and towards - the tentacles to get a better view of whatever creature stole - his new found bear friends. “I simply cannot bear any harm to - come to my bears!” As he approaches the creature he prepares a - spell should he need to vanquish the monster.

    - 
    (fn vanquish [target]
-  (match target.state
-   [:living] (searing-bolt {target target
-                            radius "narrow"
-                            intensity "high"})
-   [:undead] (smite {target target
-                     deity "Larani"})))
    -
    -

    Corraidhin charges up a spell!

    -

    The tentacles pull your dear bear friends downward, and you - struggle to get a view of whatever creature is abducting - them.

    -

    The long, slender tentacles appear to originate from within - or behind a large sunken ship!

    -

    Could it be the SS RSS?

    -
    -

    Gabs was stunned by the majesty of the two bears, and upon - seeing these two beautiful creatures be pulled down, got - unreasonably angry. She made sure that the breathing bell was - properly attached to her head (a marvelous thing, she thought. - She had always wondered what it would be like to have a - jellyfish on her head).

    -

    Gabs bundled and tied up her skirt, as she started to bolt - toward the edge of the ship. She reached into her purse and - moved away all the loose candy and pulled out two long - stiletto daggers. She begins stabbing with unusual precision - at the tentacles reaching up on the ship.

    -

    She yells, “Come’on y’all! We gotta save those babies!”

    -

    She dives in.

    -
    -

    Prior to the incident, Gabs would have noticed that there - was a very slight, wobbly weight to the jellyfish. Kind of - like getting a gentle hug from a helmet of warm spaghetti.

    -

    Some loose candy floats up and away as you rummage through - your purse, the brightly colored wrappers attracting the - attention of a curious passing manta ray. It glides over and - has a nibble.

    -

    You fetch your stiletto daggers and start stabbing at the - long, slender tentacles. Your unusual precision causes the - tentacles to coil and retreat, releasing the merbear in the - process. It shouts through its tears, “My brother!” and dives - back into the fray, fighting to free the tardigrade.

    -

    From here, you can see that the tentacles seem to come from - the wreckage of a large ship lying on its side on ocean - floor.

    -

    META: Gabs rolls a 6 on “Do Anything 1” - and gains a new skill: Stabbing 2

    -
    -

    Seeing his new comrade enter the fray heroically Corraidhin - gathers himself. “I suppose this is no time for errant - curiosity, can’t have anyone getting hurt after all.”

    -

    Ensuring that he doesn’t hit either Inky nor Gabs as they - near the creature, Corraidhin throws the spell he prepared in - the direction of the center of the tentacles. (vanquish - “tentacles”) And releases a pinpoint thread of searing energy - from his palm, guiding it through the mass of tentacles in a - random and chaotic pattern, attempting to sever as many - tentacles as possible.

    -

    As that goes on the sysercoerr calculates his retreat plan, - he won’t be able to prepare another spell like that on the - fly, far too meticulous work to do mid combat. As soon as the - spell runs out, best case will be to retreat somewhere out of - reach, or as far away as is possible there.

    -
    -

    Corraidhín takes careful aim fires off a searing bolt into - the center of the mass of squirming, reaching tentacles. The - bolt of energy bounces from tentacle to tentacle creating a - chaotic web of energy.

    -

    One of the final bolts of energy pierces the tentacle that - happens to be gripping the tardigrade. It releases the water - bear, but not before the tardigrade takes the full brunt of - the final blast of the dying searing bolt. It cries out and - curls up into a ball. Motionless, it starts sinking downward. - “BROTHER!” the merbear swims after it heedless of any nearby - danger.

    -

    A wayward crackle of energy blasts outward toward a giant - manta ray happily crunching on a piece of hard candy. It flaps - out of the way at the last minute and continues to angrily - enjoy its candy, glaring at you quite indignantly.

    -

    META: Corraidhín rolls a 2 for “Do - Anything 1”, which means things go bad, and gains 1 xp for a - total of 1 xp. You can spend xp to turn any die into a six for - the purpose of advancement.

    -
    -

    While Master Corraidhín and Gabs confront the tentacles to - rescue the bears, Inky looks around the sea floor. Maybe if - they found suitable replacements for the bears, the tentacles - might be distracted long enough to release the bears, or - provide an opening advantage for one of their party?

    -

    A small distance from the fray, Inky finds a load of - discarded bottles among a large pile of other trash carried - there by the push and pull between the water currents and a - hot spring. Gathering up some bottles, Inky ties them together - with twine in singles and small clusters until they resemble - two large, crudely-made multi-coloured tanokuma[1].

    -

    With some difficulty due to the additional weight, Inky - attaches the tanokuma to the back of their bubblebee and drags - them back above the tentacles, roughly near the spot where the - previous bears were taken. When the valiant members of their - party dive to one side for another strike, Inky loosens the - rope around the “bears” and lets them sink down within reach - of the tentacles.

    -

    [1] First featured in the garden play Teatime with - Tanokuma, the fluffy purple, jam-grabbing, tea-guzzling - bear became an overnight hit among children as well as the - fashion-conscious youth who frequent the trendy “Shin-ku” - district of Vay’Nullar.

    -
    -

    The decoy tanokuma float above the tentacles as they - retreat from Gabs’s stabbses and Corraidhin’s bolts. They - grope about weakly, wrap themselves around the tanokuma, and - finally withdraw.

    -

    You can now clearly see the wreckage of the SS RSS. The - tentacles—and whatever beast they belong to—is either within, - behind, or below the ship. It is definitely ship - adjacent wherever and whatever it is. The large - double-masted ship is lying on its side, teetering - precariously on the edge of a large, deep ocean trench. There - is a large hole in its hull providing unfettered access to its - insides.

    -

    The tardigrade is sinking inertly toward the ship deck, and - the merbear is swimming blindly after it.

    -

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    -

    www

    - ]]> -     -     diff --git a/www/spoilers.html b/www/spoilers.html index 8990a38..4027f43 100644 --- a/www/spoilers.html +++ b/www/spoilers.html @@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ of the Were-Hare
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    • @@ -269,9 +270,11 @@ id="toc-acknowledgements">Acknowledgements

    Stats

    -

    Total length: 29826 words / 127 minute read.

    -

    There have been 122 messages posted over 120 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.01.

    +

    Total length: 31204 words / 133 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 126 messages posted over 121 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.04.

    About

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

    @@ -285,6 +288,7 @@ you can subscribe to the rss feed.

    Characters

    Corraidhín

    +

    Status: timestuck in a fork bomb

    Bio

    @@ -3541,6 +3545,149 @@ it starts to lose its footing in this plane of reality.

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    www

    +

    00036

    +

    Prelude:

    +

    The gods are missing now. But before they went into hiding, the Trine +walked the earth and actively participated in the affairs of +mortals.

    +

    Sweet, tenderhearted Neddas—god of sages and starlight—fell in love +with the worldkin and often gave away trivial little bits of their +divinity as gifts to the people. Chief among these gifts were the divine +aspects of coin, mirth, lore, craft, and tact. With these gifts, +civilizations grew and flourished and accomplished great things.

    +

    Then the Artifice Wars rocked all of Basmentaria and the gods +vanished. And even with Neddas’s gifts, civilization still struggles to +reach its former heights.

    +
    +

    I watch as the magical bolt sails away overhead meeting its target, +receding back into the depths of the hull of the ship as the skeleton +drags me down. The fork bomb goes off flawlessly, and the world comes to +a screching halt around me, only to slowly rewind itself.

    +

    I contemplate the absolutely absurd position I’ve put myself into as +the skeleton pulls me back down into the depths and I watch the would be +theif take a direct hit again.

    +

    “Okay, THAT was a good shot.” I say to myself as the scene repeats +again. I could probably watch that a few times. But after about the +hundredth time the feat seems a little less epic. And the skeleton a lot +less frightful and a lot more dull.

    +

    Sigh

    +

    Kevin always said this would happen. “Corraidhin, you can’t play with +dangerous scripts like that, you’ll crash your systems”. Right you were +Kevin, right you were. Corraidhin casts his eyes around wistfully. I +guess I got that boat I always wanted? And it’s filled with treasure. +That’s a positive. Oh and um I’m not alone, yeah, that’s right. You’re +stuck here too Mr. Skelly. (The skeleton does not reply). Oh come on +now, don’t be rude. (still no reply). sigh right, sorta dead, I +shouldn’t expext more than a loving embrace from you as you try and +invite me to look at your treasure right?

    +

    After about the thousandth time the Sysorcerer was still in a +rut.

    +

    I’m stuck insid the crash, not from without. It seems this moment is +just going to idle on perpetually. (he rummages in his pockets), okay I +guess I still have the Ginnarak crystal, and stabby. Those seem safe +enough here with me.

    +

    So long as I don’t go crazy I guess there’s hope. If not, what a damn +foolish way to die.

    +

    MEANWHILE

    +

    An automated alert system triggers as the Sysorceror blips out of +existence. And then on, and then off, and then on, and then off.

    +
    (Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found)
+Problem started at 19:37 on 2281.67.43
+Porblem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found
+Host: Corraidhin
+Severity: Critical
+Operation Data: (corrupted)
+Problem ID: 92746027498
+
+(Problem: Corraidhin: Entity not found)
+Resolved in 1d 0h 0m 0s: Entity not found
+Problem Name: Deadman's Trigger: Entity not found
+Problem Duration: 1d 0h 0m 0s
+Severity: Critical
+Original Problem ID: 92746027498
    +

    Bloody Zabbix alerts flapping again, what the hell does it mean that +Uncle Corraidhin is gone. You can’t Die then Live over and over and +over. Stupid broken monitoring system. Guess I had been check in on him, +bloody fool constantly gets himself in trouble.

    +

    Alex grabs his shortsword and backpack and shoulders them. If anyone +will know what’s foolhearty issue his uncle has gotten into, it’ll be +Kevin as the Sysorcerors Guild.

    +
    +

    Corraidhín settles in for what may or may not be a lifetime of stasis +aboard the glitch formerly known as the SS RSS. At least Stabby will be +good company if it ever wakes up from its blood coma. Hmm, actually +that’s debatable. Now that you think of it, you’re not sure you’re up +for a lifetime of ranting about blood and evil.

    +

    The merbear and the tardigrade are on the ship deck, also trapped in +the fork bomb. You’re not sure whether you can reach them or not.

    +

    You see a flickering of motion and a flash of light outside the ship +as what looks like a small school of fish moves darts in and out of +view. It rushes past, doubles back, and swims past again, passing close +enough that one or two get sucked into the fork bomb with you.

    +

    Impossibly, what you thought were fish were apparently small birds? +Or, perhaps they were fish after all and some quality of passing through +the boundary of the fork bomb simply turns them into birds? Either way, +two small blue songbirds with red heads and forked tails hop around +inside the ship chirping incessantly. You watch as one of them hops +toward one of the sea bunny slugs and pecks at it, and then scoops it up +in its beak and swallows it whole. The second does the same. They hop +from side to side a bit, and then set to feasting on the slugs. A couple +more birds pop through the membrane separating you from the outside +world and join in.

    +

    ~

    +

    Alex grabs his perfectly normal, blissfully non-sentient shortsword +and heads off to the Cabinet, where the Sysorcerers Guild is. He has to +detour around the Wandering Bazaar, which decided to plop down in the +middle of the street, but nonetheless arrives in short order.

    +

    He finds Kevin working in the library on Kevin’s Document +Language.

    +

    Alex describes the errors and Kevin groans, “Ugh, I told him! I told +him you can’t play with dangerous scripts like that, you’ll crash your +systems! We’ll have to try a manual reboot. Well don’t just stand there, +young person. Come on, come on, try to keep up. We have work to do!”

    +
    +

    Inky follows the bundle’s path as it sinks downwards and maneuvers +the bubblebee to retrieve it along with the eye.

    +

    Floating to a stop above the ledge of the trench, Inky looks at the +small golden orb, then removes an empty lunch pail from their knapsack +and drops the eye and several small glass marbles into it. The contents +jostle around inside the pail in a cacophony of whirs, clicks and +clatters. With the lid firmly closed, Inky tosses the makeshift +percussive instrument into the trench for the harrowkrake so it could +jam with its new tanokuma buddies.

    +

    Staring at the bundle, Inky suddenly recalls the projectile that had +come from the general direction of the SS RSS shortly before the +horkosgrampus got to Mr. Not-So-Lucky. Master Corraidhín! They turn back +to the shipwreck, only to find the entire ship had turned eerily +translucent, like a ghost ship from some tipsy sailor’s tale. Inky halts +a short distance from the wreckage for a closer look, though something +about the apparition told them it would be a terrible idea to enter the +ship’s hull now. Something had happened to the ship’s remains, with the +sysorcerer trapped inside. Maybe it was all part of the sysorcerer’s +plan, that he had teleported himself back to a safe location and this +was a mirage, just a remnant from the moment of teleportation.

    +

    Or at least Inky hopes so.

    +
    +

    Inky drops the improvised goldeneye noisemaker down into the trench. +The rattling as it falls is reminiscent of Gerald’s laughter. One +slender tendril reaches up out of the abyss and grabs the rattle, and +then disappears once more into the murky dark.

    +

    You are now in possession of the second Ginnarak Crystal. A blue +stone with lightly pulsing gold veins. As you gaze at it, it’s almost as +though you can hear peals of tinkling laughter in the back of your +head.

    +

    The horkosgrampus, temporarily sated having removed the liar from +this timeline, drift lazily away.

    +

    The giant, candy-seeking manta ray passes closely by and fondly +caresses the bubblebee with one wing in passing. Its little manta face +pulled up into a chubby smile.

    +

    The bear facsimiles join you and begin crying when they see their +“brothers” trapped on the deck of the ship.

    +

    You see a small school of fish making multiple passes by the SS RSS +like birds skimming insects from the sky.

    +

    WHAT DO YOU DO

    +

    www

    Bestiary

    Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

    @@ -3887,19 +4034,26 @@ embers.

    SPOILERS!!

     -

    NAMES AND NPCS

    +

    NAMES AND NPCS

    Upcoming NPCs and/or monsters

    -

    CRYSTALS

    +

    LIBRARIAN

    +

    Back when the Trine walked among the people, before the Artifice +Wars, the gods used to tell stories to help man understand the cosmos +and other things beyond their understanding. Neddas, god of sages and +starlight, was particularly fond of mortals and would spend time with +them, giving them small gifts of trifling divinity and telling them +stories.

    +

    Due to rather unique circumstances, time in Basmentaria is both an +extremely rare and finite resource, and also an illusion, a +hallucination shared by all its inhabitants.

    +

    The truth of the matter is that everything—past, present, and +future—all happens at once.

    +

    Imagine a book. You can flip open to any page at random and begin +reading. This is what we would call in the moment “the present.” The +preceding pages are “the past”, and the pages that follow are “the +future”.

    +

    But all of the pages—the past, present, and future—are already all +there. And I think you can already see that such labels are completely +arbitrary. You can quite easily flip back a few pages into the “past”, +establishing a new, relative present. Just as easily as you can skip +ahead into the future.

    +

    Now, the more interesting part of this whole analogy is existence of +multiple books. Many books do in fact exist, numerous complete +timelines. Volumes of them.

    +

    Every time you make a choice between two options, a new book—a +separate timeline—is created. One in which you choose option A, and its +consequences play out. And a second one in which you choose option B and +suffer all the consequences of that decision, good or bad.

    +

    This is known as the Many Worlds theory.

    +

    Basmentaria is absolutely lousy with worlds. Always has been. And +consequently at some point in its infancy it attracted the attention of +a sentient concept known to the gods of Basmentaria only by euphemisms +and neologisms such as The Bookwyrm, or The Librarian.

    +

    The entity coils around Basmentaria like a great snake. And it +consumes all these extra books, all these many worlds, all these +alternative timelines. Whether these other timelines are wholly consumed +and lost forever, or merely collected and stored carefully away, is +unknown. What we do know is that Basmentaria only has the one, single +book’s worth of time.

    +

    Back to the shared hallucination. It is said that experiential time +is a peculiar side effect of The Librarian’s unique biology. (Truthfully +the whole tapestry kind of starts to unravel at this point, because how +does a sentient concept even have a biology in the first place?) The +gods believe that the entity coils itself tightly around the present +moment and devours the past. And then it shits out the future.

    +

    Whether this is metaphor or not is a hotly debated question. But thus +is it explained that the past is irretrievably behind us. The present is +short and fleeting. The future is merely the processed remains of the +past. And just out of sight, ever beyond our ability to perceive it, +lies The Bookwyrm.

    +

    BIRDS ARE TIME TRAVELERS

    +

    A fringe movement of lunatic paleornithologists and crackpots of +other professions has slowly been gaining traction over the last few +decades. The movement was born when Modern Fuchsia, at the time a +budding young scientist on a dig yearning to make a name for himself, +found a fossil of a modern feathered bird—probably some kind of +swallow—alongside a theropod, the variety of dinosaur widely accepted to +be the ancestor of modern birds. Faced with what he believed to be +irrefutable evidence of a modern descendant coexisting alongside its own +ancestor, Fuchsia was only able to conclude that Birds Are Not +Dinosaurs. And thus BAND came into being.

    +

    Ever since, BANDits have spent considerable amounts of time and +energy attending conferences and publishing papers, pouting and +demanding to be taken seriously be the wider scientific community. A +community which, if they pay them any attention at all, it is only to +mock and ridicule their crackpot theories.

    +

    Modern Fuschia is of course wrong. But neither he nor his BANDits +know how dangerously close he came to the actual truth.

    +

    For much, much deeper in the shadowy fringes of +paleornithology—itself kind of a fringe field to begin with—there is a +clandestine operation called BATT. And only BATT knows the actual +explanation for how a modern descendant might coexist alongside its own +ancestor. Birds Are Time Travelers.

    +

    In the far future when birds are the dominant intelligent life on +Basmentaria, they do indeed invent time travel. The end result was +catastrophic and is the real reason that the dinosaurs went extinct.

    +

    It is a common misconception that barn swallows are the most +widespread species of swallow. That distinction in fact belongs to the +time swallow. Although—if you’re lucky—you’ll never actually +see one. Since the Incident, the secret agents of BATT have vowed never +again to interfere with or try to alter the time stream. Nor to allow +anyone else to. The time swallows are special bred, special trained, +appearing wherever and whenever an anomaly appears to remove it and +restore the proper timeline. The tiny birds quite literally swallow, +consume, and destroy anything that meddles with time.

    +

    CRYSTALS

    Each crystal has an associated element, a location appropriate to the element, and an aspect of Neddas for the guardian and their minions.

    + @@ -3928,26 +4168,31 @@ guardian and their minions.

    + + + + + @@ -3955,13 +4200,15 @@ guardian and their minions.

    ? Element Location Aspect
    ✅ earth cave coin
    ✅ water underwater pirate shipwreck mirth
    🚫 wind cloudstuff lore
    🚫 void spaaaaace craft
    🚫 fire volcano tact

    The crystals will eventually lead them to Neddas

    -

    IDEAS

    +

    IDEAS

    todo:

    • mio’s (Inky’s) Handy Duffer Discette = HD Diskette = better stay away from magnets!!
    • tea omen: abacus, feather, wide building, lynx
      • +
    • the BAND (Birds Are Not +Dinosaurs) and the BATT (Birds Are Time Travelers) conspiracy
    • MidJourney omen: priestly blood, demon
    • palindromes: taco cat, reward