From a4f450d2374524dffdad8fb638d0d3b39d5654bf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Christopher P. Brown" Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:24:09 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] what is time --- src/notes.md | 33 ++- www/index.html | 2 +- www/rss.xml | 504 +++++++++++++++++++++++----------------------- www/spoilers.html | 40 +++- 4 files changed, 309 insertions(+), 270 deletions(-) diff --git a/src/notes.md b/src/notes.md index db223a0..0632ffd 100644 --- a/src/notes.md +++ b/src/notes.md @@ -73,18 +73,20 @@ todo: **CALENDAR** -The period of Moonmoon's rotation is 10 days. -This is a week. +Time in Basmentaria is reckoned by the moons: green Selene, dark Moonmoon, and red Lua. -The period of Selene's rotation is 30 days (3 weeks). +The period of Moonmoon's revolution is 10 days. +This is a week, or a *tenday*. + +The period of Selene's revolution is 30 days (3 weeks). This is a month. -The period of Lua's rotation is 360 days (12 months). +The period of Lua's revolution is 360 days (12 months). This is a year. -Days of the week are divided into godsdays, moondays, earthdays, and 'Tensday'. +Days of the week are divided into godsdays (Nedsday, Nullday, Lianday), moondays (Monday, Selday, Luday), earthdays (Primeday, Agenday, Ginnday), and 'Tensday'. -| Day of Month | Day of Week | Name | Moonmoon | Selene | +| Day of Month | Day of Week | Day Name | Moonmoon | Selene | |--------------|-------------|----------|-----------------|-----------------| | 1 | 1 | Nedsday | 1st quarter | 1st quarter | | 2 | 2 | Nullday | waxing gibbous | 1st quarter | @@ -122,18 +124,33 @@ The year is defined by Lua, the Red Lady's phases: | # | Name | Lua | Season | |------|-----------------|-----------------|--------| -| 1 | Unare | 1ST QUARTER | Spring | +| 1 | Unare | 1ST quarter | Spring | | 2 | Tornare | waxing gibbous | Spring | | 3 | Ternare | waxing gibbous | Spring | | 4 | Qatthai | FULL | Summer | | 5 | Pethai | waning gibbous | Summer | | 6 | Sestoren | waning gibbous | Summer | -| 7 | Hestur | 3RD QUATER | Autumn | +| 7 | Hestur | 3RD quarter | Autumn | | 8 | Oktober | waning crescent | Autumn | | 9 | Nongogl | waning crescent | Autumn | | 10 | Dekgogl | NEW | Winter | | 11 | Elfswel | waxing crescent | Winter | | 12 | Dozwel | waxing crescent | Winter | +There are Seasonal Holidays: + +1. Candlemas: Tornare 2. Thaw, start of spring, groundhog day, ewes milk +2. Oistar: Ternare 15. Spring Equinox, Easter, etc +3. Beltine: Pethai 1. May Day, Bonefire Festival, Wickerman +4. Midsomer: Pethai 15. Summer Solstice, long days short nights +5. Loafmas: Oktober 1. First harvest, bread festival +6. Ap Modron: Oktober 15. Autumn equinox, Second Harvest, abundance, preparation for winter +7. Jackoween: Dekgogl 24. Halloween! Witchery and devilry, Third Harvest, Day of the Dead +8. Yuletide: Dozwel 15. Winter solstice, midwinter, saturnalia, holly and ivy + +The Common Era (CE) is defined by the end of the Artifice Wars, and the time before it is referred to as Before Common Era (BCE). + +It is currently year 1440 of the common era. + diff --git a/www/index.html b/www/index.html index e5b0073..7f82b0f 100644 --- a/www/index.html +++ b/www/index.html @@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ Teale

Total length: 75661 words / 323 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not just the story.)

-

There have been 202 messages posted over 191 days since the first +

There have been 202 messages posted over 192 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.05.

About

This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over diff --git a/www/rss.xml b/www/rss.xml index 27472e0..a04fd78 100644 --- a/www/rss.xml +++ b/www/rss.xml @@ -203,258 +203,6 @@ Agent 5 found the melon vendor dead in a back alley, strangled to death, not imm ]]> - - 57 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 57 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 20:30:44 --0700 - Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:58:46 -0700 - - 00057 -

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-
-

~

-
-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-
-

~

-
-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-
-

~

-
-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-
-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

~

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

WHAT DO YOU DO

- - ]]> - - 54 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -736,6 +484,258 @@ NOTE GDB INDICATES SOME ANOMALY ]]> + + 57 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 57 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 20:30:44 +-0700 + Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:58:46 -0700 + + 00057 +
+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+
+

~

+
+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+
+

~

+
+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+
+

~

+
+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+
+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

~

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

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

+

WHAT DO YOU DO

+
    +
  • The time of the ritual is at hand.
    • +
  • What final preparations do you make before entering + Dreamspace?
    • +
+ ]]> + + 55 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) diff --git a/www/spoilers.html b/www/spoilers.html index 70db321..b7195d2 100644 --- a/www/spoilers.html +++ b/www/spoilers.html @@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ Teale

Total length: 75661 words / 323 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not just the story.)

-

There have been 202 messages posted over 191 days since the first +

There have been 202 messages posted over 192 days since the first post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.05.

About

This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over @@ -7359,13 +7359,17 @@ checked="" />・゜゜・。。・゜゜_o< QUACK! rival: the gophers of Retrieval Team 70

CALENDAR

-

The period of Moonmoon’s rotation is 10 days. This is a week.

-

The period of Selene’s rotation is 30 days (3 weeks). This is a +

Time in Basmentaria is reckoned by the moons: green Selene, dark +Moonmoon, and red Lua.

+

The period of Moonmoon’s revolution is 10 days. This is a week, or a +tenday.

+

The period of Selene’s revolution is 30 days (3 weeks). This is a month.

-

The period of Lua’s rotation is 360 days (12 months). This is a +

The period of Lua’s revolution is 360 days (12 months). This is a year.

-

Days of the week are divided into godsdays, moondays, earthdays, and -‘Tensday’.

+

Days of the week are divided into godsdays (Nedsday, Nullday, +Lianday), moondays (Monday, Selday, Luday), earthdays (Primeday, +Agenday, Ginnday), and ‘Tensday’.

@@ -7378,7 +7382,7 @@ year.

- + @@ -7610,7 +7614,7 @@ year.

- + @@ -7646,7 +7650,7 @@ year.

- + @@ -7681,6 +7685,24 @@ year.

Day of Month Day of WeekNameDay Name Moonmoon Selene
1 Unare1ST QUARTER1ST quarter Spring
7 Hestur3RD QUATER3RD quarter Autumn
+

There are Seasonal Holidays:

+
    +
  1. Candlemas: Tornare 2. Thaw, start of spring, groundhog day, ewes +milk
    2. +
  2. Oistar: Ternare 15. Spring Equinox, Easter, etc
    3. +
  3. Beltine: Pethai 1. May Day, Bonefire Festival, Wickerman
    4. +
  4. Midsomer: Pethai 15. Summer Solstice, long days short nights
    5. +
  5. Loafmas: Oktober 1. First harvest, bread festival
    6. +
  6. Ap Modron: Oktober 15. Autumn equinox, Second Harvest, abundance, +preparation for winter
    7. +
  7. Jackoween: Dekgogl 24. Halloween! Witchery and devilry, Third +Harvest, Day of the Dead
    8. +
  8. Yuletide: Dozwel 15. Winter solstice, midwinter, saturnalia, holly +and ivy
    9. +
+

The Common Era (CE) is defined by the end of the Artifice Wars, and +the time before it is referred to as Before Common Era (BCE).

+

It is currently year 1440 of the common era.

Acknowledgements

The setting, plot, and major non-player characters of Basement Quest