diff --git a/basement.order b/basement.order index c290dde..03a26a0 100644 --- a/basement.order +++ b/basement.order @@ -1,4 +1,20 @@ src/about.md +src/chapter1.md +src/chapter2.md +src/chapter3.md +src/epistolary/index.md +src/epistolary/00054.md +src/epistolary/00055.md +src/epistolary/00056.md +src/epistolary/00057.md +src/epistolary/00058.md +src/epistolary/00059.md +src/epistolary/00060.md +src/epistolary/00061.md +src/epistolary/00062.md +src/notes.md +src/acknowledgements.md +src/afterword.md src/characters/index.md src/characters/alex.md src/characters/corraidhin.md @@ -17,19 +33,6 @@ src/paths/soulsword.md src/paths/duckterror.md src/paths/murderhobo.md src/paths/sarongfu.md -src/chapter1.md -src/chapter2.md -src/chapter3.md -src/epistolary/index.md -src/epistolary/00054.md -src/epistolary/00055.md -src/epistolary/00056.md -src/epistolary/00057.md -src/epistolary/00058.md -src/epistolary/00059.md -src/epistolary/00060.md -src/epistolary/00061.md -src/epistolary/00062.md src/bestiary/index.md src/bestiary/aetherwael.md src/bestiary/aur.md @@ -50,12 +53,10 @@ src/bestiary/tardigrade.md src/bestiary/toque.md src/bestiary/torque.md src/bestiary/zephynos.md -src/geography.md -src/cosmology.md -src/history.md -src/notes.md -src/acknowledgements.md -src/afterword.md +src/setting/index.md +src/setting/geography.md +src/setting/cosmology.md +src/setting/history.md src/appendix/a/index.md src/appendix/b/bean.md src/appendix/c/teale.md diff --git a/src/about.md b/src/about.md index 5a130aa..ee5e9b8 100644 --- a/src/about.md +++ b/src/about.md @@ -4,12 +4,6 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:16:30 -0700 public: yes --- -## Stats - -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. - ## About This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over email. @@ -20,3 +14,9 @@ You can [read from the beginning](#chapter-1), or jump into the [current story a If you're not on the mailing list and want to keep up with the story, you can [subscribe to the rss feed](https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml). +## Stats + +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/appendix/a/index.md b/src/appendix/a/index.md index c5aa604..86b7dda 100644 --- a/src/appendix/a/index.md +++ b/src/appendix/a/index.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:46:36 -0700 updated: Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:46:37 -0700 public: yes --- -## Appendix A: Barefoot Quackery +## Appendix E: Barefoot Quackery Being apocryphal and supplemental material posted to the *Barefoot Quackery* thread on tildepals, including depictions of loose pages torn from books of the diff --git a/src/appendix/b/bean.md b/src/appendix/b/bean.md index bffe5c3..ea0f2b9 100644 --- a/src/appendix/b/bean.md +++ b/src/appendix/b/bean.md @@ -1,10 +1,10 @@ --- -title: Appendix B +title: Appendix F created: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:09:58 -0700 updated: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:09:58 -0700 public: yes --- -## Appendix B: Bean +## Appendix F: Bean **Note**: This story by mio was originally published in issue 6 of the tilde.town zine, and is included here with the author's permission. diff --git a/src/appendix/c/teale.md b/src/appendix/c/teale.md index cb2d878..44674c9 100644 --- a/src/appendix/c/teale.md +++ b/src/appendix/c/teale.md @@ -1,10 +1,10 @@ --- -title: Appendix C +title: Appendix G created: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:09:58 -0700 updated: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:09:58 -0700 public: yes --- -## Appendix C: Teale +## Appendix G: Teale This story by mio, while technically part of the *Barefoot Quackery* compendium, stands on its own enough to earn its own entry in the diff --git a/src/bestiary/index.md b/src/bestiary/index.md index 3c83deb..734c6c0 100644 --- a/src/bestiary/index.md +++ b/src/bestiary/index.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 public: yes --- -## Bestiary +## Appendix C: Bestiary Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria diff --git a/src/characters/index.md b/src/characters/index.md index 20048cc..868de8d 100644 --- a/src/characters/index.md +++ b/src/characters/index.md @@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 public: yes --- -## Dramatis Personae +## Appendix A: Dramatis Personae diff --git a/src/epistolary/index.md b/src/epistolary/index.md index 5b08924..ca4ca74 100644 --- a/src/epistolary/index.md +++ b/src/epistolary/index.md @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ public: yes --- ## Current Story -Below are emails that I send to the mailing list. +The current story arc. You can subscribe to these updates with the rss feed. diff --git a/src/meta.md b/src/meta.md index 6e903b5..3a9d3e0 100644 --- a/src/meta.md +++ b/src/meta.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 public: yes --- -## Meta +## Appendex B: Meta Welcome to Basement Quest! diff --git a/src/paths/duckterror.md b/src/paths/duckterror.md index f3c6e9e..5778ede 100644 --- a/src/paths/duckterror.md +++ b/src/paths/duckterror.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Sat, 26 Nov 2022 13:20:16 -0700 updated: Sat, 26 Nov 2022 13:20:19 -0700 public: yes --- -### Path of the Duck Outlaw +#### Path of the Duck Outlaw When Basket Duck is against the law, only outlaws will play Basket Duck. And not even the angels will weep when this path eventually leads to your inevitable death. diff --git a/src/paths/murderhobo.md b/src/paths/murderhobo.md index 3009d8d..3e4dea7 100644 --- a/src/paths/murderhobo.md +++ b/src/paths/murderhobo.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:14:04 -0700 updated: Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:14:09 -0700 public: yes --- -### Path of the Murderhobo +#### Path of the Murderhobo You are an angel of death. A dirty, homeless angel of death with no conscious or qualms with killing the innocent. diff --git a/src/paths/paths.md b/src/paths/paths.md index 2e632a3..a7b6163 100644 --- a/src/paths/paths.md +++ b/src/paths/paths.md @@ -4,19 +4,31 @@ created: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 updated: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 public: yes --- -## Paths and Templates +### Paths and Skills -Templates are skills and abilities, organized into *paths*, that players can discover and unlock through play as their characters learn and discover more about the world. +- [About Paths](#about-paths) +- [Path of the Retriever](#path-of-the-retriever) +- [Path of the Tasseomancer](#path-of-the-tasseomancer) +- [Path of the Were-Hare](#path-of-the-were-hare) +- [Path of the Soulsword](#path-of-the-soulsword) +- [Path of the Duck Outlaw](#path-of-the-duck-outlaw) +- [Path of the Murderhobo](#path-of-the-murderhobo) +- [Path of the Sarong-fu Master](#path-of-the-sarong-fu-master) -They are the lambda calculus answer to "classes" in traditional ttrpgs: a kind of anonymous class that everybody has access to, that you can combine and mix and match. + +#### About Paths + +Paths are a kind of skill ladder that players can discover and unlock through play as their characters learn more about the world by living in it. + +They are the lambda calculus answer to "classes" in traditional ttrpgs: a kind of anonymous class that everybody has access to, that you can combine and mix and match to your heart's content. They are an all-you-can-eat buffet of skills and talents. How it works: -Each path has a bunch of templates. +Each path has a bunch of skills. -Every template starts with a rank (a number), followed by a name (in bold), a trigger (in parenthesis), and finally a description. +Every skill starts with a rank (a number), followed by a name (in bold), a trigger (in parenthesis), and finally a description. -You can unlock any template by satisfying its trigger in-game, provided you have already unlocked at least one template of every rank below it, in the same path. (The exceptions are templates of rank zero, which are the entry level templates for each path, and do not have such a requirement.) +You can unlock any skill by satisfying its trigger in-game, provided you have already unlocked at least one skill of every rank below it, in the same path. (The exceptions are skills of rank zero, which are the entry level skills for each path, and do not have such a requirement.) Example: @@ -24,4 +36,4 @@ Example: > > - 0. **Favored Foe** (Slay 100 goblins): You are now an expert when facing this foe. From now on when attacking a goblin, a roll of 5 - 6 is considered a critical success. 4 - 5 is a success. And 1 - 3 is a mixed success. -The path is "Path of the Goblin Slayer". The rank of the first template is 0, so there are no prerequisites. (If it had been, say, 2, then you would need to have unlocked a template of rank 1 and of rank 0 in the same path before unlocking this one.) The name is "Favored Foe". The trigger is "Slay 100 goblins". And the perk is detailed in the description. +The path is "Path of the Goblin Slayer". The rank of the first skill is 0, so there are no prerequisites. (If it had been, say, 2, then you would need to have unlocked a skill of rank 1 and of rank 0 in the same path before unlocking this one.) The name is "Favored Foe". The trigger is "Slay 100 goblins". And the perk is detailed in the description. diff --git a/src/paths/retriever.md b/src/paths/retriever.md index c0ddefc..955f51b 100644 --- a/src/paths/retriever.md +++ b/src/paths/retriever.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 updated: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 15:40:13 -0600 public: yes --- -### Path of the Retriever +#### Path of the Retriever The Perks of the Job diff --git a/src/paths/sarongfu.md b/src/paths/sarongfu.md index b9127d6..429d27d 100644 --- a/src/paths/sarongfu.md +++ b/src/paths/sarongfu.md @@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ created: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:05:43 -0700 updated: Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:05:43 -0700 public: yes --- -### Path of the Sarong-fu Master +#### Path of the Sarong-fu Master +You are a master of soft, pliaable weapons. - 0. **Sarong-fu** (Commit yourself to the Way of Sarong-fu): Vow to carry and use no weapons, other than your sarong or sash. diff --git a/src/paths/soulsword.md b/src/paths/soulsword.md index b1ac72b..600cf4f 100644 --- a/src/paths/soulsword.md +++ b/src/paths/soulsword.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 updated: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 public: yes --- -### Path of the Soulsword +#### Path of the Soulsword You have a unique bond with a sentient sword diff --git a/src/paths/tasseomancer.md b/src/paths/tasseomancer.md index ceba6b6..b463d15 100644 --- a/src/paths/tasseomancer.md +++ b/src/paths/tasseomancer.md @@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ created: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 updated: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 public: yes --- -### Path of the Tasseomancer +#### Path of the Tasseomancer + +If that's your cup of tea... - 0. **Reading** (Obtain a magical tea set): You can see omens in the tea leaves left after drinking tea from your magic tea set. diff --git a/src/paths/werehare.md b/src/paths/werehare.md index 0fb659b..5a90fe0 100644 --- a/src/paths/werehare.md +++ b/src/paths/werehare.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 updated: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:57:57 -0600 public: yes --- -### Path of the Were-Hare +#### Path of the Were-Hare You have been cursed to wander this world; half man, half rabbit. diff --git a/src/cosmology.md b/src/setting/cosmology.md similarity index 99% rename from src/cosmology.md rename to src/setting/cosmology.md index e253ed3..b63201d 100644 --- a/src/cosmology.md +++ b/src/setting/cosmology.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 public: yes --- -## Cosmology +### Cosmology In a fantasy setting where there objectively are deities who walk the earth and interact with humans, "atheism" is sometimes erroneously used to signify an indifference to the gods. This is more accurately called "transtheism": diff --git a/src/geography.md b/src/setting/geography.md similarity index 98% rename from src/geography.md rename to src/setting/geography.md index 96873f9..5161d5c 100644 --- a/src/geography.md +++ b/src/setting/geography.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:07:44 -0600 public: yes --- -## Geography +### Geography
Map![Map](map.webp)
diff --git a/src/history.md b/src/setting/history.md similarity index 95% rename from src/history.md rename to src/setting/history.md index c3b8e78..4010a43 100644 --- a/src/history.md +++ b/src/setting/history.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ created: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 updated: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:32:23 -0600 public: yes --- -## History +### History In the days of old, the Artifice Wars ravaged the lands of Basmentaria. diff --git a/src/setting/index.md b/src/setting/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5c503d --- /dev/null +++ b/src/setting/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +title: setting +created: Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:22:32 -0700 +updated: Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:22:32 -0700 +public: yes +--- +## Appendix D: Setting + +The world of Basmentaria + diff --git a/www/index.html b/www/index.html index a840f49..f394884 100644 --- a/www/index.html +++ b/www/index.html @@ -270,45 +270,8 @@ -

Stats

-

Total length: 80256 words / 342 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 217 messages posted over 215 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.00.

About

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

@@ -375,667 +358,12 @@ into the current story arc.

If you’re not on the mailing list and want to keep up with the story, you can subscribe to the rss feed.

-

Dramatis Personae

-

Alex

-
- -

Bio

- -

Alex is like Corraidhin in some aspects, he’s younger, more brash, -more given to whim and fancy. He’s somewhat greedy and craven, attracted -to riches far too easily. He’s a passionate gambler, not due to his -skill, but by virtue of his ability to distract and confuse, which gives -him a delightful edge. Some would call it lucky, but he calls it -subterfuge. He has some sysorcerer skills, nothing quite as flexible as -Corraidhin, but he delightfully wreaks havoc with worms, scrapers, -ransom & spyware. If he can’t bypass something, he’ll delightfully -destroy it. If he can’t break in, he’ll distract someone or something so -he can slip by.

-
- -

Paths:

- -

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.

-

I believe my skills naturally lend themselves to this expedition. I’m -certain you’ll need someone to elucidate upon the history of these -artifacts, and should trouble come our way I’m ready at hand with spells -a plenty. I’m not the best with a sword, but can hold my own with a bow -staff, but it may be best to leave the fighting up to you younguns. If -we encounter arcane ruins or cryptic texts you’ll find my skills just as -useful as the finest blade in battle.

-

I think with my share of the reward I’ll buy more books. Lots and -lots of books, a whole library of books! And then I’ll start a library, -yes that sounds delightful. And maybe one of those books will have some -information on ridding me of that accursed demon, but that’s another -story entirely.

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Gabs

-
- -

Bio

- -

Gabs had a good life. Her little devil children were all grown adults -now, and she no longer wanted to toil away running a business. When she -initially shuttered her little tavern, she thought she might just -retire. She made it two whole years of working in a garden, occasionally -seeing grandkids, and reading romance novels. She eventually decided she -needed a vacation from her retirement and traveled to a nearby port -town. She was sure to find something fun to do there.

-

Gabs eventually sees Inquire Within, and the smell of debauchery -wafting from within made her miss her days gossiping at her tavern. She -enters and orders a terrible drink and listens and watches.

-

Hearing the tales being spun by Mister Three-Fingered, she decides, -“I’ve never been on a ship, that’s something that sounds exciting!”

-

Half-drunk and eager for something exciting, she will join on the -journey!

-

Gabs is a lanky older half-devil lady who is here to schmooze and -have fun!

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Glarg

-
- -

Bio

- -

I am Glarg, an earth elemental who was conjured by a wizard who was -immediately beheaded after summoning me. By some freak accident I was -not sent back home to the earth elemental plane when the spell should -have ended. While I have learned the common tonge in my time on this -plane, I have not developed the ability to speak it, because I have no -mouth. I’m a very gentle soul who is misunderstood because of my hard, -cold exterior.

-

I’m pretty durable and good with rocks.

-

With my share of the money, I plan to hire a mage to send me home, or -turn everyone else into earth elementals.

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Inky

-
- -

Bio

- -

Inkulos Iridis greets you merrily! Some call me Inky the Tiny because -of my slight size (perfectly average for imps, I assure you!) and a -fondness for ink.

-

I may be small and nowhere as battle-hardened as knights in shining -armour, but I can skip out of a monster’s grasp before you can say -“scram!”, slip through the cracks (often unseen), scout for useful -items, and brew all kinds of ink with special effects for discerning -drinkers.

-

What do you plan to do with your cut of the money? Buy lots of ink -ingredients, of course! With the money, the very first ink patio with -the best paper nibbles will be opening to serve all from far and wide -very soon!

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Jarrod

-
- -

Bio

- -

A broad-chested, olive skinned human finishes a pint of ale with a -long swig. He greets the group with a merry-looking smile, though it -doesn’t seem to touch his eyes. He seems a touch distracted, as if -something else is on his mind. A feeling of lingering sadness touches -his aura.

-

“Greetings, my friends! My name is Jarrod. And this here …” he taps a -heavy warhammer leaning against the back of his chair “… is Gertrude. -When it comes to danger, consider us your shield. I will blunt what -dangers may come from ahead and protect those who shelter behind. I’m -more than good in a fight, specializing in up-close battles and …” he -gives a small smirk “… alternative forms of negotiations.”

-

He leans over and places his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers -and leaning in with his chin touching them as he continues. A thin -leather cord adorned with small charms carved from bone is draped around -his left wrist.

-

“Other than that, I’m willing to take on cooking chores and spin the -occasional tale around a campfire. My cut of the money goes towards -opening my own tavern when I retire.”

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Sneaky Willows

-
- -

Bio

- -

I’m “Sneaky” Willows (nobody knows my actual name), an elvish -pickpocket with a love for sneakin’, stabbin’ and music playin’! Some -people say I’m no good at music playin’, but then I go sneakin’ and -stabbin’ em!

-

On this team I think I’m gonna be good at sneakin’ up to those -crystals and grabbin’ em right from under the guard’s noses!

-

With my money I’m plannin’ to hire a bard to teach me more music, so -I can really impress people with my playin’ and maybe not even have to -stab them!

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Tea Filler

-
- -

Bio

- -

Who: Teefoon Filler of the Bucket, Knight of the 3rd order of -Balmarlovemeer, Crester of the Golden-Fringed Ridge and 2nd to the -Keeper of the Grimoire Glorious. You may call me “Tea.” (Tea is, -notably, a giant. ~11ft tall).

-

What: Retired Cleric turned Archeologist.

-

Cash: A sturdy wagon and 5 head of oxen to pull it. I wish to travel -further than my legs can take me.

-
- -

Paths:

- -

Meta

-

Welcome to Basement Quest!

-

We’re gonna play this by ear, and cross each bridge only when we get -to it.

-

Policies

- -

Mechanics

-

Shoes in the Dark:

-

https://dozens.itch.io/shoes-in-the-dark

-

To do something, say that you do it, and then it probably -happens!

-

If there is a risk, or chance of failure, we’ll roll dice to -determine the outcome. We’ll use a variation of “Roll for Shoes” because -it’s probably the most simple system there is. Everybody will start out -pretty even skills wise. But you will eventually get really good at -really specific things.

-

Everybody starts with one skill: Do anything 1

-

So to attempt to do anything, roll 1d6.

- -

If you roll all sixes, you gain a new +1 skill which must be a subset -of the skill you just used.

-

Example:

-
-

Player: I kick down the door. I’ll roll Do Anything (1) aaaand, -that’s a six!”

-

Referee: You now have “Kicking Down Doors 2”

-

Later….

-

Player: I bust down the door with a flying kick! I’ll roll Kicking -Down Doors 2 aaaand, two sixes!

-

Referee: You now have “Doorbane 3”

-

Player: Siiiick, doors fear me.

-
-

Every time you fail a roll, you gain 1 xp.

-

You can spend xp to turn any die into a six for the purpose of -advancement.

-

Paths and Templates

-

Templates are skills and abilities, organized into paths, -that players can discover and unlock through play as their characters -learn and discover more about the world.

-

They are the lambda calculus answer to “classes” in traditional -ttrpgs: a kind of anonymous class that everybody has access to, that you -can combine and mix and match.

-

How it works:

-

Each path has a bunch of templates.

-

Every template starts with a rank (a number), followed by a name (in -bold), a trigger (in parenthesis), and finally a description.

-

You can unlock any template by satisfying its trigger in-game, -provided you have already unlocked at least one template of every rank -below it, in the same path. (The exceptions are templates of rank zero, -which are the entry level templates for each path, and do not have such -a requirement.)

-

Example:

-
-

Path of the Goblin Slayer

- -
-

The path is “Path of the Goblin Slayer”. The rank of the first -template is 0, so there are no prerequisites. (If it had been, say, 2, -then you would need to have unlocked a template of rank 1 and of rank 0 -in the same path before unlocking this one.) The name is “Favored Foe”. -The trigger is “Slay 100 goblins”. And the perk is detailed in the -description.

-

Path of the Retriever

-

The Perks of the Job

- -

Path of the Tasseomancer

- -

Path of the Were-Hare

-

You have been cursed to wander this world; half man, half rabbit.

- -

Path of the Soulsword

-

You have a unique bond with a sentient sword

- -

Path of the Duck Outlaw

-

When Basket Duck is against the law, only outlaws will play Basket -Duck. And not even the angels will weep when this path eventually leads -to your inevitable death.

-

Inspired by juego del pato, the traditional, much maligned, -national sport of Argentina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pato. Credit to ~mio for -kicking off this idea.

- -

Path of the Murderhobo

-

You are an angel of death. A dirty, homeless angel of death with no -conscious or qualms with killing the innocent.

- -

Path of the Sarong-fu Master

- +

Stats

+

Total length: 80312 words / 343 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 217 messages posted over 215 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.00.

Chapter 1

This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.

Jump to: 1 2

www

Current Story

-

Below are emails that I send to the mailing list.

+

The current story arc.

You can subscribe to these updates with the rss feed.

https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml

@@ -7302,7 +6630,689 @@ rainbow colored light crackling along the inside illuminating very little of the smoke-filled interior.

“What is it you seek from Dude 215R?”

WHAT DO YOU DO

-

Bestiary

+

Afterword

+

I don’t know what I’m going to put here, but I didn’t want this +document to just abruptly end. So here you go: a kind farewell and a +more gentle conclusion.

+

Thanks for reading.

+

dozens@tilde.team

+

Appendix A: Dramatis Personae

+

Alex

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Alex is like Corraidhin in some aspects, he’s younger, more brash, +more given to whim and fancy. He’s somewhat greedy and craven, attracted +to riches far too easily. He’s a passionate gambler, not due to his +skill, but by virtue of his ability to distract and confuse, which gives +him a delightful edge. Some would call it lucky, but he calls it +subterfuge. He has some sysorcerer skills, nothing quite as flexible as +Corraidhin, but he delightfully wreaks havoc with worms, scrapers, +ransom & spyware. If he can’t bypass something, he’ll delightfully +destroy it. If he can’t break in, he’ll distract someone or something so +he can slip by.

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

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.

+

I believe my skills naturally lend themselves to this expedition. I’m +certain you’ll need someone to elucidate upon the history of these +artifacts, and should trouble come our way I’m ready at hand with spells +a plenty. I’m not the best with a sword, but can hold my own with a bow +staff, but it may be best to leave the fighting up to you younguns. If +we encounter arcane ruins or cryptic texts you’ll find my skills just as +useful as the finest blade in battle.

+

I think with my share of the reward I’ll buy more books. Lots and +lots of books, a whole library of books! And then I’ll start a library, +yes that sounds delightful. And maybe one of those books will have some +information on ridding me of that accursed demon, but that’s another +story entirely.

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Gabs

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Gabs had a good life. Her little devil children were all grown adults +now, and she no longer wanted to toil away running a business. When she +initially shuttered her little tavern, she thought she might just +retire. She made it two whole years of working in a garden, occasionally +seeing grandkids, and reading romance novels. She eventually decided she +needed a vacation from her retirement and traveled to a nearby port +town. She was sure to find something fun to do there.

+

Gabs eventually sees Inquire Within, and the smell of debauchery +wafting from within made her miss her days gossiping at her tavern. She +enters and orders a terrible drink and listens and watches.

+

Hearing the tales being spun by Mister Three-Fingered, she decides, +“I’ve never been on a ship, that’s something that sounds exciting!”

+

Half-drunk and eager for something exciting, she will join on the +journey!

+

Gabs is a lanky older half-devil lady who is here to schmooze and +have fun!

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Glarg

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

I am Glarg, an earth elemental who was conjured by a wizard who was +immediately beheaded after summoning me. By some freak accident I was +not sent back home to the earth elemental plane when the spell should +have ended. While I have learned the common tonge in my time on this +plane, I have not developed the ability to speak it, because I have no +mouth. I’m a very gentle soul who is misunderstood because of my hard, +cold exterior.

+

I’m pretty durable and good with rocks.

+

With my share of the money, I plan to hire a mage to send me home, or +turn everyone else into earth elementals.

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Inky

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Inkulos Iridis greets you merrily! Some call me Inky the Tiny because +of my slight size (perfectly average for imps, I assure you!) and a +fondness for ink.

+

I may be small and nowhere as battle-hardened as knights in shining +armour, but I can skip out of a monster’s grasp before you can say +“scram!”, slip through the cracks (often unseen), scout for useful +items, and brew all kinds of ink with special effects for discerning +drinkers.

+

What do you plan to do with your cut of the money? Buy lots of ink +ingredients, of course! With the money, the very first ink patio with +the best paper nibbles will be opening to serve all from far and wide +very soon!

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Jarrod

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

A broad-chested, olive skinned human finishes a pint of ale with a +long swig. He greets the group with a merry-looking smile, though it +doesn’t seem to touch his eyes. He seems a touch distracted, as if +something else is on his mind. A feeling of lingering sadness touches +his aura.

+

“Greetings, my friends! My name is Jarrod. And this here …” he taps a +heavy warhammer leaning against the back of his chair “… is Gertrude. +When it comes to danger, consider us your shield. I will blunt what +dangers may come from ahead and protect those who shelter behind. I’m +more than good in a fight, specializing in up-close battles and …” he +gives a small smirk “… alternative forms of negotiations.”

+

He leans over and places his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers +and leaning in with his chin touching them as he continues. A thin +leather cord adorned with small charms carved from bone is draped around +his left wrist.

+

“Other than that, I’m willing to take on cooking chores and spin the +occasional tale around a campfire. My cut of the money goes towards +opening my own tavern when I retire.”

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Sneaky Willows

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

I’m “Sneaky” Willows (nobody knows my actual name), an elvish +pickpocket with a love for sneakin’, stabbin’ and music playin’! Some +people say I’m no good at music playin’, but then I go sneakin’ and +stabbin’ em!

+

On this team I think I’m gonna be good at sneakin’ up to those +crystals and grabbin’ em right from under the guard’s noses!

+

With my money I’m plannin’ to hire a bard to teach me more music, so +I can really impress people with my playin’ and maybe not even have to +stab them!

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Tea Filler

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Who: Teefoon Filler of the Bucket, Knight of the 3rd order of +Balmarlovemeer, Crester of the Golden-Fringed Ridge and 2nd to the +Keeper of the Grimoire Glorious. You may call me “Tea.” (Tea is, +notably, a giant. ~11ft tall).

+

What: Retired Cleric turned Archeologist.

+

Cash: A sturdy wagon and 5 head of oxen to pull it. I wish to travel +further than my legs can take me.

+
+ +

Paths:

+ +

Appendex B: Meta

+

Welcome to Basement Quest!

+

We’re gonna play this by ear, and cross each bridge only when we get +to it.

+

Policies

+ +

Mechanics

+

Shoes in the Dark:

+

https://dozens.itch.io/shoes-in-the-dark

+

To do something, say that you do it, and then it probably +happens!

+

If there is a risk, or chance of failure, we’ll roll dice to +determine the outcome. We’ll use a variation of “Roll for Shoes” because +it’s probably the most simple system there is. Everybody will start out +pretty even skills wise. But you will eventually get really good at +really specific things.

+

Everybody starts with one skill: Do anything 1

+

So to attempt to do anything, roll 1d6.

+ +

If you roll all sixes, you gain a new +1 skill which must be a subset +of the skill you just used.

+

Example:

+
+

Player: I kick down the door. I’ll roll Do Anything (1) aaaand, +that’s a six!”

+

Referee: You now have “Kicking Down Doors 2”

+

Later….

+

Player: I bust down the door with a flying kick! I’ll roll Kicking +Down Doors 2 aaaand, two sixes!

+

Referee: You now have “Doorbane 3”

+

Player: Siiiick, doors fear me.

+
+

Every time you fail a roll, you gain 1 xp.

+

You can spend xp to turn any die into a six for the purpose of +advancement.

+

Paths and Skills

+ +

About Paths

+

Paths are a kind of skill ladder that players can discover and unlock +through play as their characters learn more about the world by living in +it.

+

They are the lambda calculus answer to “classes” in traditional +ttrpgs: a kind of anonymous class that everybody has access to, that you +can combine and mix and match to your heart’s content. They are an +all-you-can-eat buffet of skills and talents.

+

How it works:

+

Each path has a bunch of skills.

+

Every skill starts with a rank (a number), followed by a name (in +bold), a trigger (in parenthesis), and finally a description.

+

You can unlock any skill by satisfying its trigger in-game, provided +you have already unlocked at least one skill of every rank below it, in +the same path. (The exceptions are skills of rank zero, which are the +entry level skills for each path, and do not have such a +requirement.)

+

Example:

+
+

Path of the Goblin Slayer

+ +
+

The path is “Path of the Goblin Slayer”. The rank of the first skill +is 0, so there are no prerequisites. (If it had been, say, 2, then you +would need to have unlocked a skill of rank 1 and of rank 0 in the same +path before unlocking this one.) The name is “Favored Foe”. The trigger +is “Slay 100 goblins”. And the perk is detailed in the description.

+

Path of the Retriever

+

The Perks of the Job

+ +

Path of the Tasseomancer

+

If that’s your cup of tea…

+ +

Path of the Were-Hare

+

You have been cursed to wander this world; half man, half rabbit.

+ +

Path of the Soulsword

+

You have a unique bond with a sentient sword

+ +

Path of the Duck Outlaw

+

When Basket Duck is against the law, only outlaws will play Basket +Duck. And not even the angels will weep when this path eventually leads +to your inevitable death.

+

Inspired by juego del pato, the traditional, much maligned, +national sport of Argentina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pato. Credit to ~mio for +kicking off this idea.

+ +

Path of the Murderhobo

+

You are an angel of death. A dirty, homeless angel of death with no +conscious or qualms with killing the innocent.

+ +

Path of the Sarong-fu Master

+

You are a master of soft, pliaable weapons.

+ +

Appendix C: Bestiary

Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

@@ -7653,7 +7663,9 @@ manipulate cloudstuff into solid objects.
-

Geography

+

Appendix D: Setting

+

The world of Basmentaria

+

Geography

Map

@@ -7677,7 +7689,7 @@ Valley.

center is the archipelago of Ginnarak, comprising the Cinderlands, Ashen Vale, the Ember Steppe, and Drakspon Mountain.

00022

-

Cosmology

+

Cosmology

In a fantasy setting where there objectively are deities who walk the earth and interact with humans, “atheism” is sometimes erroneously used to signify an indifference to the gods. This is more accurately called @@ -7717,18 +7729,12 @@ thoroughly that she fell into a deep sleep and has been absent from the mortal realms ever since [1].

[1] episode 00010

-

History

+

History

In the days of old, the Artifice Wars ravaged the lands of Basmentaria.

They reduced the once fertile lands of Ginnarak to ash and embers.

-

Afterword

-

I don’t know what I’m going to put here, but I didn’t want this -document to just abruptly end. So here you go: a kind farewell and a -more gentle conclusion.

-

Thanks for reading.

-

dozens@tilde.team

-

Appendix A: Barefoot Quackery

+

Appendix E: Barefoot Quackery

Being apocryphal and supplemental material posted to the Barefoot Quackery thread on tildepals, including depictions of loose pages torn from books of the Runesocesius Library during the assault by the @@ -8215,7 +8221,7 @@ My Lady, I long to see you to kiss your fair golden tresses and take my vow with Nullar as witness, an Elixir to savour once more your everlasting beauty? -

Appendix B: Bean

+

Appendix F: Bean

Note: This story by mio was originally published in issue 6 of the tilde.town zine, and is included here with the author’s permission.

@@ -8446,7 +8452,7 @@ filled with a number of small red beans. Shaking them out in handfuls at a time, she counted 43 in total.

The girl smiled. When the time came, she and the beans will be ready.

-

Appendix C: Teale

+

Appendix G: Teale

This story by mio, while technically part of the Barefoot Quackery compendium, stands on its own enough to earn its own entry in the appendix. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

diff --git a/www/rss.xml b/www/rss.xml index 7ac9007..a800f8c 100644 --- a/www/rss.xml +++ b/www/rss.xml @@ -5,6 +5,237 @@ BASEMENT QWEST https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml Friends having ADVENTURES! Huzzah! + + 61 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 61 - Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:59:55 +-0700 + Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:59:55 -0700 + + 00061 +

Alex the Octopus and Inky the Noogle stand on a tree branch + as wide a street in the heart of the great white upside-down + forest.

+

A cry of anguish and anger echoes through the forest, and + the branches below you sway and rustle as something rises up + from the depths. You keep catching a glimpse of scarlet + between the silvery white leaves.

+

The large black ravens perched below you scream in + agitation and fly up past you to the thicker branches up + above, where they hop side to side and loudly scold and + protest the disturbance. A single black feather the length of + your hand settles to the ground at your feet, knocked loose + during their flight.

+

You finally see the fearsome beast crashing through the + branches below you. Its crazed, yellow eyes as large and round + as dinner plates, a great eight-legged rodent leaps from + branch to branch as it swiftly ascends. It is a bloody, + crimson red. Its long tufted ears lay flat against its + elongated, grinning skull. Its ribbon-like tail twitches as it + trails along behind it like a river of blood. It cries out + again in anger, showing its overgrown incisors, and grinds and + gnashes its back teeth.

+

Its eyes bore into you with wild fury and blind madness as + it climbs.

+

“She’s not herself,” sighs the chipmunk, suddenly at your + side once more. When you look down at the chipmunk, however, + it has suddenly turned into a small featureless black turtle + with a sticky sweet roll instead of a shell. Its smooth little + head pokes timidly out of the roll.

+

“The Red Squirrel,” laments the turtle. “She’s being ridden + by a ghost. An angry ghost who isn’t from here. Somebody left + the door open, and it blew in on the breeze.” The turtle’s + voice trails off until its final words are barely a + whisper.

+

You can still feel two currents tugging at you and trying + to pull you under. One inward toward your host’s deep, core + memories. And the second pulling you outward toward the Sea of + Dreams.

+

You have but a moment before the Red Squirrel is upon + you.

+

WHAT DO YOU DO

+ ]]> + + + + 60 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 60 - Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:11:47 +-0700 + Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:11:48 -0700 + + 00060 +
+

Alex takes inventory of himself, this dream world is + definitely strange, but fortunately its decided to provide him + with his impecable fashion, trench coat and all. Unfortunately + the same can’t be said for his roguish good looks, as he’s + found himself 6 arms heavier, and a bit more octopus-y than he + remembers.

+

Nontheless this doesn’t appear to be much of an impediment, + and he promptly moves on with assessing the situation.

+

“Acorns? No, I don’t think so. I’m afraid octopus’ are + terrible at fetching acrons, and at any rate, I have a + dreadfully important meeting across town.” turning to address + Inky, “We need to make a break for it, what’d the witch tell + you? Envision our goal or something? This is really a little + outside of my realm of mechanical magic expertise.. + unless..”

+

Alex makes a gesture with his tentacles in the area and a + terminal prompt appears before him. His tentacles work at + blinding speed at the digital window, a quick bypass there, a + root access escalation there.

+

“Looks like this whole place runs on Linux, it’s an older + kernel, about 2.6 or so, but it checks out. Easy to exploit as + needed. Here I’m giving us sudo access, should we need + it.”

+

“Oh and squirrel, here’s your acorns”

+ 
find /* -name '*acron*' -exec mv /home/squirrel { } \
+
+

It takes Alectopus a couple tries, but he gets it. First he + corrects ‘acron’ to ‘acorn’. Then he moves all the acorns to + the chipmunk instead of to the squirrel.

+

Hundreds of acorns appear at the chipmunk’s feet. It + squeals in delight.

+

In the distance, far below you, you hear the anguished yell + of what can only be a Red Squirrel whose giant stash of acorns + has just vanished.

+

The chipmunk rubs its hands together gleefully and starts + scooping up acorns by the armful and shoving them into its + mouth by the dozen. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” it + says around a mouthful of nuts. “Here…” It tosses you a large + square silver coin with a round hole drilled in the center. On + one side is the number twenty-one next to a picture of a + curved, short-handled sickle. On the other side is the number + five and a picture of a flail.

+

“A Twenty-One Fiver! Sorry, you deserve more, but it’s all + I have,” it apologizes as it scampers off, no doubt to hide + its nuts. Hopefully somewhere more secure this time.

+

If you hold the coin up to your eye and peer through the + hole, you see the dreamscape before you as though looking + through a cloudy film. All the same stuff is there, but it’s + hazy and shadowy.

+

Standing a fair distance from you on the branch, just out + of hailing distance, is a tall figure cloaked in black robes. + Dark shadows pool restlessly around its feet. Occasionally the + shadows leap up and take the form of demons the like of which + words cannot describe, before falling and returning to shadow + once more. The figure wears a large spherical helmet of + obsidian-like glass. You can see constant flashes of a rainbow + of colors crackle and splinter along the inside of the helmet + like lightning, but illuminating nothing within. You feel + sickened at the sight, but at the edge of your mind you feels + a tug, a familiarity. Something about this character is + familiar to you, but you cannot place it.

+

When you lower the coin, the figure and the dark landscape + both disappear. When you raise it again, the distorted + landscape reappears but the figure is gone.

+

You notice a pair of large ravens watching you rather + intently from the branches below.

+

WHAT DO YOU DO

+ ]]> + + + + 59 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 59 - Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:41:56 +-0700 + Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:41:56 -0700 + + 00059 +
+

Alex procures from a pocket of his trenchcoat a tiny vial. + On the vial is a small strip of parchment which reads:

+ 
#!/bin/ash
+sleepy=true
+
+sleep() {
+        while sleepy; do
+                sleep(10)
+        done
+}
+
+trap sleep INT EXIT
+

He empties the vial into a glass of warm milk and hands it + to bread.

+

“Drink up friend, this’ll relax and soothe you. You’ll + probably have the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had”

+

Over the radio Alex provides a quick reminder to + Marvelo.

+

“7, remember, should you need to wake bread to get us out + you can interrupt or cancel the sleep script, Ctrl + C should + work for the disruption work. Or if you need to you can set + sleepy=false, if it gets crazy and you need to modify the + metavarbalic properties of the enchantment.”

+

Turning to Inky, “Eight bells and all’s well, lets get this + show on the road”

+
+

Bread smiles and thanks you for the milk. They down the + glass, smack their lips a few times, and wipe their mouth with + the back of their hand. Their eyelids grow heavy and close, + and they slump down on the cushions. They’re already asleep by + the time their head hits the pillow.

+
+

Inky nods once at Alex’s words and finishes off their own + cuppa steeped with calea and thyme, and blended into osmanthus + matcha. Lucida, Protege, Aware, Perfume. A meaningless + mantra.

+

They glance to their owlish accomplice (who, she will + remind you, is well-trained and needs no sleeping aid, thank + you very much, unlike her impish charge) and silently mouth + the words “Dude 215R” with a wink. Then they settle for a nap, + chin pillowed on their forearms, which are propped atop + drawn-up knees. A walking stick rests on their lap. A herb + bouquet of pink blooms becomes an owl cushion.

+

Inky dreamforms of a cream noogle. Puko. And Fuko is, well, + still Fuko.

+
+

You light the Nyxmaer. The flame crackles and dances. It + smokes darkly, and the scent it gives off is thick and + heady.

+

You breathe deeply of it and settle down to sleep.

+

When you open your eyes you are standing on the branch of + an enormous white tree. It’s as wide as a narrow street. Its + leaves are silver blades that uncurl in the dappled light from + below.

+

One of the first things you notice is that gravity is + reversed here. The branches below you reach down, grazing an + endless sky. Small iridescent jellyfish medusae drift lazily + far, far below, catching and reflecting the light. And the + trunk thickens as it reaches up overhead, where its roots + drill into the ceiling above.

+

Because of dream logic, you know that in some way this tree + represents Kelsun Peak, Bread’s home. And also because of + dream logic, you know that the branches furthest away from you + in some way represent the great dragon Lucin who lives deep in + the mountain. And they are just as dangerous. They sway in the + breeze and seem to be aware of you, and are for now satisfied + at the distance you keep from them.

+

There is a chipmunk sitting cross-legged before you on the + branch. It looks curiously up at you and says, “The Red + Squirrel stole my acorns! Are you going to get them back for + me?”

+

You can feel a metaphysical tug in your gut as your orient + yourself to dreamspace like the needle of a compass. “Inward” + you can feel a tug toward Bread’s deep unconscious. To their + core memories. “Outward” you can feel a tug away from Bread + toward the shores of the Sea of Dreams, where you may continue + your journey through the Collective Unconsciousness to the + pocket dimension of the Wandering Bazaar. You need not move + physically to travel in either direction. It’s more a matter + of choosing a destination, and letting the winds blow you in + that direction.

+

“My acorns!” insists the chipmunk, wringing its hands. “The + Red Squirrel has taken them all! Are you going to help + me?”

+

WHAT DO YOU DO

+ ]]> + + 62 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -114,917 +345,6 @@ And Fortune said it shou'd be you. Puu." ]]> - - 56 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 56 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:10:25 --0700 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:10:25 -0700 - - 00056 -
-

The agitation Alex feels bubbles just beneath the surface. - Patterns where patterns shouldn’t be, strange orders from HQ, - indifference where once was ample aide as well. It was - maddening. Combine it all with the haunting suspicion that - there was constantly someone just around the next corner, and - it was enough to truly drive Alex mad.

-

That uneasiness takes its toll on a long enough time line, - but Alex wasn’t about to let it get to him. Or so he thought - to himself as he cast a furtive look at his monitoring - equipment. This paranoia had served him well in the past, very - well in fact. It’s a sort of sixth sense in a way, always kept - Alex off the edge of the cliff, especially when someone - stepped close enough to push him off. Those were the types of - skills HQ sought after in the first place.

-

Alex closes the iron door on his bunker, leaving his - monitoring equipment running, dead man’s trigger set to blow - the place shoul anyone enter it. Can’t be too careful these - days..

-

Emerging from the sewer grate, sticking to the shadows, - Alex makes his way down an alley, then another, and yet - another, finally emerging a few blocks from the Milk Market. - Across the street, as he had expected, was Marvelo’s Marvelous - MurderSticks, a quaint place should one needed something, well - you get the picture, they don’t really sell anything but - weaponry here.

-

Alex ducked into the entrance of the shop and strode - towards the back rack, where a collection of knives was on - display. A rough looking fellow, ruddy red beard, thinning - hair, moved from the counter as he saw Alex approach. “Fine - sampling of knives we have, could I interest you in one?” - Marvelo says. Alex reaches for a thin stilleto style dagger, - and hands it to Marvelo “This one seems about right, but I’d - like an extra sharp edge put on it, if you don’t mind”. - Marvelo takes the stilleto from Alex say “Not a problem at all - sir”, and he heads into the back.

-

He sets to work honing the edge, and once complete he - places it on his work bench. Grabbing a velvet lined case from - a stack, he deftly removes the bottom and places a rolled - piece of paper into the bottom, alongside an m1911 style - pistol, and a couple of clips of ammo. He then places the - velvet bottom back over the equipment, and places the stilleto - on top, bringing the entire package back to the front. “An - extra fine edge on this one sir, that’ll be 15 gold, plus - another 5 to cover the service.

-

Alex pays, and nips out the shop and heads back to the back - alley. Paranoia begets what it requets, Alex mutters to - himself as he disassembles the box holstering the pistol and - ammo, and sheathing the dagger. Can’t keep going unarmed like - I’m some kind of beat cop, not anymore.. Alex discards the - case and unfurls the message, quickly deciphering the - encryption set on it by Marvelo.

- 
The hunt is still on, no word on Blavin nor the Iris group, yet.
-Agent 7 heard rumor of a couple of persons inquiring about the "Milk Market" these past few days.
-Agent 3 heard similar rumors, was able to bribe a melon vendor to acertain the figure wore a red sash, and was looking for friends.
-Agent 6 has kept watch on the Market, nothing strange yet, coming and goings as usual, no strange visitors
-Agent 4 monitoring feeds still present glitches, something abnormal
-Agent 5 found the melon vendor dead in a back alley, strangled to death, not immediate signs of blunt force trauma, caution advised
-

Alex burned the note, striding rapidly away from the alley, - taking a meandering route away from the Milk Market, looping - back around, and heading back towards it by yet another. - Nobody appeared to be following him, yet he paused at each - corner and turn, waiting for the footsteps of a pursuant.

-

Noting nothing, he made his way through the back entrance - of Enrique’s Empanadas greeting the cook quietly, but jovial. - “Enrique, where’s Inky? We’ve got a problem.”

-
-

~

-
-

Inky skims the page. They thank the witch, pay for the - items and exit the shop, promptly discarding all notions of - meeting Bother at the place stipulated on the note.

-

(Half and one hour later)

-

One-sixths into a caramel cantaloupe cream cornet, Inky - runs into Confidence outside the Wandering Bazaar and obtains - some of their new pamphlets, minted with luminescent ink for - the convenience of late-night tourists. These are subsequently - hare-mailed to every editor at the Niuewstijl office, - which is almost certain to earn another chiding remark from - Tess about etiquette and the handling of unsolicited bulk mail - to parent editorial teams.

-

(Half and two hours later)

-

The installation on display at the Milk Market was - grotesque — that is to say, a work of beauty. Inky steps - carefully through the rooms to not disturb the piece. - Afterwards, they sign the guestbook set up on an upturned milk - crate by the door, delightedly pasting rows of horse head and - thumbs-up emo Gs on a page thoughtfully titled “you can’t ed - the unedible”.

-

(Half and three hours earlier)

-

Thanking Agate for her time, Inky passes her a sheet of - paper on which were written a few questions about the - prescribed ritual, with some space after each question should - the witch prefer to scribble a response:

-
    -

  • What do guides in the Sea of Dreams and the Ravenfolk - typically seek in return for directing travellers to the - correct pocket dimension?

    • -

  • An establishment inside the Bazaar is only open in the - evenings whenever it appears in the city. How long does travel - to a pocket dimension typically take, allowing for time to - seek out a guide? Is there a way travellers can estimate the - time to set out on their journey, in order to arrive at the - establishment while it is open?

    • -

  • Who are the Red Spider and “Dude 215R” mentioned in the - ritual? How can travellers avoid summoning them?

    • -

  • Would anything happen to the travellers if any of the - sigils were removed during the ritual before they wake - up?

    • -
-

(Half and four hours later)

-

Two sets of eyes peer down at the contents of an open tin. - One accompanied by a focused look and a little trepidation, - following the pinkish, flesh-like chunks speckled with white - pockets of fat as they tumble into a hot pan and almost - immediately begin to move of their own accord. The moving - mounds resemble small round mouths opening, each with a rim of - sharp teeth. The other pair of eyes belongs to a grinning face - that beams when the mounds bloom into bright red flat caps, - the edges beneath about to soften in the olive oil.

-

Minutes after, The slices are ready. Inky accepts the plate - of tostada with spicy pickled artichoke mushrooms and tomatoes - with a murmur of thanks. Reassembling the recipe for the - tinned spicy artichoke mushrooms had been a tedious process — - someone had ripped out the pages from an old pickling book - that had long ceased publication. Eventually Inky found a - former nomad who had eaten them for two years in their youth - and could recall or somewhat describe the taste. Flowery and - savoury, they said. Many taste tests later, it turned out to - be closer to partially decomposed cheese in ponderosa lemon - juice. Canning was fortuitously easier with the increasing - portability of sealers. Rather than telling the empanada chef - any of this, Inky watches satisfaction slowly spread across - his face. The tale that follows is far more entertaining.

-

(Half and five hours later)

-

While measuring out ingredients for the forty-second tea - infusion since the start of the missions, not that Inky was - keeping a close count, they hear a familiar voice a short - distance outside the door asking for their whereabouts. - Without pausing in their whisking, Inky simply informs the - owner of the voice they’re not here, obviously, before - emerging from the storage pantry with a fresh pot and bowls on - a wooden tray, and greets the returning sysorcerer.

-
-

Agate writes back quickly:

-
-

What do guides in the Sea of Dreams and the Ravenfolk - typically seek in return for directing travellers to the - correct pocket dimension?

-
-

Intangibles. Usually memories, hopes, or dreams.

-
-

An establishment inside the Bazaar is only open in the - evenings whenever it appears in the city. How long does travel - to a pocket dimension typically take, allowing for time to - seek out a guide? Is there a way travellers can estimate the - time to set out on their journey, in order to arrive at the - establishment while it is open?

-
-

You’ll find that time is rather malleable on the Otherside. - You’ll likely arrive exactly when you’re meant to. No need to - worry too much about it.

-
-

Who are the Red Spider and “Dude 215R” mentioned in the - ritual? How can travellers avoid summoning them?

-
-

Godforms manifested by the Linking Sigil and the Dream - Sigil, respectively. It’s not terrible if they show - up. But it’s definitely not ideal. You shouldn’t register on - their radar as long as you don’t pump too much energy into, or - siphon to much energy out of, the sigils. If they do show up, - just know that you’re in the presence of a godlike power, and - behave accordingly.

-
-

Would anything happen to the travellers if any of the - sigils were removed during the ritual before they wake up?

-
-

If the sigils are removed or if the circle is broken, - you’ll likely just wake up before you wanted to. Same goes for - if your dreamform is destroyed while in the Dreaming. The only - real danger you may encounter is the Scissormen and their ilk. - They will attempt to permanently sever your dreamform from - your waking body. Which would leave your body a soulless husk, - and leave your consciousness adrift in the Sea of Dreams. But - that probably won’t happen! Okay good luck, have fun!

-

WHAT DO YOU DO

- ]]> - - - - 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?
    • -
- ]]> - - - - 61 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 61 - Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:59:55 --0700 - Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:59:55 -0700 - - 00061 -

Alex the Octopus and Inky the Noogle stand on a tree branch - as wide a street in the heart of the great white upside-down - forest.

-

A cry of anguish and anger echoes through the forest, and - the branches below you sway and rustle as something rises up - from the depths. You keep catching a glimpse of scarlet - between the silvery white leaves.

-

The large black ravens perched below you scream in - agitation and fly up past you to the thicker branches up - above, where they hop side to side and loudly scold and - protest the disturbance. A single black feather the length of - your hand settles to the ground at your feet, knocked loose - during their flight.

-

You finally see the fearsome beast crashing through the - branches below you. Its crazed, yellow eyes as large and round - as dinner plates, a great eight-legged rodent leaps from - branch to branch as it swiftly ascends. It is a bloody, - crimson red. Its long tufted ears lay flat against its - elongated, grinning skull. Its ribbon-like tail twitches as it - trails along behind it like a river of blood. It cries out - again in anger, showing its overgrown incisors, and grinds and - gnashes its back teeth.

-

Its eyes bore into you with wild fury and blind madness as - it climbs.

-

“She’s not herself,” sighs the chipmunk, suddenly at your - side once more. When you look down at the chipmunk, however, - it has suddenly turned into a small featureless black turtle - with a sticky sweet roll instead of a shell. Its smooth little - head pokes timidly out of the roll.

-

“The Red Squirrel,” laments the turtle. “She’s being ridden - by a ghost. An angry ghost who isn’t from here. Somebody left - the door open, and it blew in on the breeze.” The turtle’s - voice trails off until its final words are barely a - whisper.

-

You can still feel two currents tugging at you and trying - to pull you under. One inward toward your host’s deep, core - memories. And the second pulling you outward toward the Sea of - Dreams.

-

You have but a moment before the Red Squirrel is upon - you.

-

WHAT DO YOU DO

- ]]> - - - - 58 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 58 - Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:24:45 --0700 - Sun, 29 Jan 2023 11:02:32 -0700 - - 00058 -
-

(A week prior)

-

The secretary collected the stack of papers that had - accumulated at one corner of the desk. “This might help,” she - said, setting down a bundle of herbs with white and pink - flowers in place of the papers.

-

Inky stared at the blooms, hands stilled over the owl’s - plumage. “Oh! Thanks. Good thinking, really. It’ll help make - the stench more bearable when they find the remains.”

-

The grey elf was confused for a moment, then mortified as - the words sank in. “That’s not what I meant! It’s for the - circle,” she clarified.

-

Seeing the imp’s preoccupied nod, she coughed lightly to - regain their attention, then spoke in a hushed voice. - “Beaker’s associates have picked up the empanada shop - proprietor and transported him to an undisclosed location. - There will be a retinue with him at all times.”

-

Inky seemed to visibly pull themselves back to the room - before responding, “Thank you, Salvia. One more thing — if I - do not return by the indicated time, please activate the - hitsuzen protocol. As precaution.”

-

The secretary looked at Inky in concern. “Is everything all - right? If you’re still troubled by the hotelier, accidents - happen. A single incident—”

-

“Third. An unidentified man was attacked at the docks. He - was probably sent to investigate the melon vendor. One of the - other stall owners heard him asking questions shortly after - the melon vendor disappeared.”

-

Salvia’s violet eyes narrowed. “What, the fruit vendor? - Didn’t the tabloids say it was an accident? He tried to get - rid of a neighbor’s nest of snakes.”

-

Inky only raised an eyebrow at her.

-

The secretary let out a low curse. “You didn’t tell her. - You didn’t want her to worry,” she said aloud in realization. - She sighed. “She’s going to be pretty angry with you when she - finds out, you know.”

-

Inky offered her a sardonic smile. “Making people angry is - my job. You of all people know this well. In the event of my - timely demise I’m sure the others would find it cause for a - grand celebration.” They replied matter-of-factly before - returning to smoothing the feathers of one bird wing.

-

Salvia shook her head vehemently. “That’s not true. You’ll - make it back, Ink. What then—”

-

“Then our fair Lady’s ire would be the least of the - problems.”

-
-

~

-
-

Alex stared morosely into his cup of coffee. He’d received - word of agent 5’s demise that morning, and had been the only - thing on his mind since. 5, no Be’tram knew the risks, we all - knew the risks defying HQ brought, but to happen so suddenly? - He’d snuck down to the wharf once he’d heard, making sure to - cover his tracks and dodge any potential witnesses. He even - managed to slip past the police cordon they’d setup around the - body. What he’d found wasn’t pretty, it looked like Be’Tram - had suffered in his final moments. The bruising around his - neck pointed to strangulation, with some sort of cloth, - perhaps a rope. The bruising was deep, and there wasn’t a cut, - burn, shot or something of the likes on his otherwise.

-

The kill had been intimate.

-

Alex had worked quickly that night, popping Be’Tram’s eye - had been hard, but he’d of wanted Alex to have it. Behind his - right eye was a recording device, it could only catch the last - 15m or so of what he had seen, but it would give him a clear - look at what had happened. And potentially lead Alex to the - killer. Miserable business, but Be’Tram knew it could make a - difference.

-

Alex had planted a bomb on the body after he had extracted - the eye, and made his way well away from the area before it - went off obliterating the remains. A regrettable end for an - old friend, but it was too dangerous to leave.

-

And then there was the matter of the zabbix alert, a little - purple red critical for the sewer hideout. He’d had time to - send out a drone beetle. The smoldering slag that was left was - reassuring. Most of the equipment was utterly destroyed, racks - upon racks of servers reduced to twisted melted metal. The - effectively of the destruction was delightful, in a sick sort - of desperate way. Alex felt assured that most if not all of - the equipment was useless, but this spelled the end of a - valuable listening outpost. And whoever had done it wasn’t - part of the slag pile.

-

Alex stood up, his coffee untouched. The cafe around his - burbled in quiet excitement. The city had lit up since the - Melon vendor’s death. A thousand rumors abounded about it, but - none of them held true; some said the city had become - dangerous, a crime syndicate had arisen in the neighboring - city block another thought, and did you hear about the - explosion at the wharf the other night, the city was electric, - yet somehow ever so slightly off the pulse of the issue.

-

As Alex stepped away a woman with horn rimmed glasses - strode past the table he had just abandoned, deftly pulling - the note from beneath the coffee cup, left for her.

- 
4 -> 3
-Daylight breaks on the morrow
-The suns rays make chase
-casting soft cloth
-across the nap of nature's neck
-
-So, night relents and gives way
-biding time until
-it can rule
-in its own domain
-

For the passerby, it was but a bit of poetry, scribbled - carelessly on the back of a napkin in a coffee near the wharf. - But for Agent 3 it was a warning, one part notes on Agent 5s - demise recovered from his eyecam, one part orders; stay low - and we’ll strike these bastards from the shadows, on our - terms, on our ground. Similar missives were delivered to - Agents 6 & 7. The numbers were dwindling rapidly, even - just one agent lost was hard to stomach.

-

Alex hand gripped the pistol in his coat pocket with a - white knuckled grip as he stepped from the coffee shop into - the city. Whatever was after him, whatever had gotten to - Be’Tram, it had better know he was coming, and he’d happily - send it straight to hell. HQ be damned, the rules be damned, - this little game of cat and mouse had just gotten - personal.

-
-

~

-
-

Alex, Inky, Confidence, Bread, and Agent 7 find themselves - in a dark backroom in a secluded corner of an old fish - processing plant on the wharf. The accommodations are rough, - and the stench is abhorrent, but it’s the best that could be - procured in a pinch. And it should provide enough - seclusion.

-

The backroom is like that of many factories, high up near - the ceiling, a single rusty rickety staircase winds its way - along the side of the building for what seems to be 3 flights, - before it reaches a metal room with dusty grimy windows, and a - single steel door. The windows on the interior overlook the - fish processing plant, where rows of belts and machinery stand - still, covered in dust and long forgotten blood. You’re glad - to know that the factory stopped operating years ago, hygiene - is lacking in every sense.

-

Alex stares forlornly out the exterior windows, the sky is - a grey overcast, it matches his mood perfectly. He didn’t like - what him and Inky were about to do, but they didn’t have much - they could do about it. They would be vulnerable for the - duration of the ritual. But Agent 7 and Confidence were there - to help mitigate that risk. Alex and Agent 7 had taken every - precaution they could think of.

-

The plant floor was scattered with booby traps, trip wires, - and alarms. The other agents were laying low, but kept drones - around the wharf feeding in a network of twtxt data back to - Agent 7 for recon. And that was on top of the double barred - steel doors, and reinforced glass box they’d chosen as their - hide out. Meticulously planned, Alex expected no less from - Agent 7.

-

See Marvelo had been at this as long as Alex had, and then - some. He was sharp as a tack, with an animal-like third sense - that came from years of close calls. He was, simply put, the - right man for the job, when that job was keeping your - unconscious ass alive.

-

Alex turns away from the window and addresses Inky. - “Apologies for the smell, it turns out there’s a strong - correlation between disgust and seclusion, but I believe we - should at least be safe here. Safer than we would have been - back home. I’m ready if you are, as ready as I’ll ever be that - is.”

-
-

The Golden Iris have summoned you to appear at the Harpoon - Club this evening. But the Harpoon Club is nowhere to be found - on this plane of existence. It won’t appear until a week and a - half from now, on the last day of the month.

-

Confidence the Guide has predicted exactly where the - Wandering Bazaar will be on that day. With a small bucket of - red paint and a large brush, he has drawn a Linking Sigil on - the ground at the location. He sits nearby, making sure - careless passersby and mischievous kids don’t disturb it, but - otherwise letting the sigil absorb the energies of the bustle - of shopping and commerce.

-

At the fish market, Marvelo is posted outside. He keeps - vigilant watch, alert to every movement and disturbance.

-

And inside, Bread, Inky, Fuko, and Alex are huddled up in - the office in the back near the ceiling. They all sit inside a - dark circle that has been smudged on the floor with a paste - made of ash and salt. Painted on the ground is a second - Linking Sigil, connecting this spot to Confidence’s, allowing - the energies of the two locations to co-mingle. There is also - the Dream Sigil, which will connect this place to the - Dreaming.

-

Bread the Host is propped up on some pillows and cushions - in the center of the circle, next to the Nyxmaer. The candle - is alleged to be made of the flesh and fat of a certain - nightmare. Its hand and eye bound in the wax. The Dream Sigil - is the door, but the Nyxmaer is the key. The catalyst that - will cause all of the otherwise inert metaphysical particles - to become volatile and reactive. It is what will allow you to - actually pass over and arrive on the shores of the Sea of - Dreams.

-

Per the shop witch’s instructions, the Nyxmaer has been - placed on a thin, hard tin plate. As the candle burns, the wax - will soften and eventually allow the large metal nail in its - side to fall. When it strikes the plate, you will awaken, - exiting the Dreaming. You expect hours may pass in the realm - of sleep. But only about thirty minutes will pass here.

-

Inky and Alex sit inside the circle, near the perimeter, - facing Bread in the center. Fuko the owl sits at Inky’s - side.

-

It is dim. You are illuminated by mundane, non-magical - candles set around the edges of the circle. Outside, a steady - rain beats on the roof and the windows of the building. The - smell of fish is faint but ever-present. A constant reminder - of the small creatures that have left their bodies in a - fashion far more permanent and irreversible than the - separation of spirit and body you are about to experience. You - hope.

-

WHAT DO YOU DO

-
    -

  • How do you induce a deep and powerful slumber in - Bread?

    • -

  • What shape or form will you take when you arrive in the - Dreaming?

    • -

  • What are you secretly worried or hopeful about being - exposed in the dreamland, the realm of metaphor?

    • -
- ]]> - - - - 59 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 59 - Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:41:56 --0700 - Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:41:56 -0700 - - 00059 -
-

Alex procures from a pocket of his trenchcoat a tiny vial. - On the vial is a small strip of parchment which reads:

- 
#!/bin/ash
-sleepy=true
-
-sleep() {
-        while sleepy; do
-                sleep(10)
-        done
-}
-
-trap sleep INT EXIT
-

He empties the vial into a glass of warm milk and hands it - to bread.

-

“Drink up friend, this’ll relax and soothe you. You’ll - probably have the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had”

-

Over the radio Alex provides a quick reminder to - Marvelo.

-

“7, remember, should you need to wake bread to get us out - you can interrupt or cancel the sleep script, Ctrl + C should - work for the disruption work. Or if you need to you can set - sleepy=false, if it gets crazy and you need to modify the - metavarbalic properties of the enchantment.”

-

Turning to Inky, “Eight bells and all’s well, lets get this - show on the road”

-
-

Bread smiles and thanks you for the milk. They down the - glass, smack their lips a few times, and wipe their mouth with - the back of their hand. Their eyelids grow heavy and close, - and they slump down on the cushions. They’re already asleep by - the time their head hits the pillow.

-
-

Inky nods once at Alex’s words and finishes off their own - cuppa steeped with calea and thyme, and blended into osmanthus - matcha. Lucida, Protege, Aware, Perfume. A meaningless - mantra.

-

They glance to their owlish accomplice (who, she will - remind you, is well-trained and needs no sleeping aid, thank - you very much, unlike her impish charge) and silently mouth - the words “Dude 215R” with a wink. Then they settle for a nap, - chin pillowed on their forearms, which are propped atop - drawn-up knees. A walking stick rests on their lap. A herb - bouquet of pink blooms becomes an owl cushion.

-

Inky dreamforms of a cream noogle. Puko. And Fuko is, well, - still Fuko.

-
-

You light the Nyxmaer. The flame crackles and dances. It - smokes darkly, and the scent it gives off is thick and - heady.

-

You breathe deeply of it and settle down to sleep.

-

When you open your eyes you are standing on the branch of - an enormous white tree. It’s as wide as a narrow street. Its - leaves are silver blades that uncurl in the dappled light from - below.

-

One of the first things you notice is that gravity is - reversed here. The branches below you reach down, grazing an - endless sky. Small iridescent jellyfish medusae drift lazily - far, far below, catching and reflecting the light. And the - trunk thickens as it reaches up overhead, where its roots - drill into the ceiling above.

-

Because of dream logic, you know that in some way this tree - represents Kelsun Peak, Bread’s home. And also because of - dream logic, you know that the branches furthest away from you - in some way represent the great dragon Lucin who lives deep in - the mountain. And they are just as dangerous. They sway in the - breeze and seem to be aware of you, and are for now satisfied - at the distance you keep from them.

-

There is a chipmunk sitting cross-legged before you on the - branch. It looks curiously up at you and says, “The Red - Squirrel stole my acorns! Are you going to get them back for - me?”

-

You can feel a metaphysical tug in your gut as your orient - yourself to dreamspace like the needle of a compass. “Inward” - you can feel a tug toward Bread’s deep unconscious. To their - core memories. “Outward” you can feel a tug away from Bread - toward the shores of the Sea of Dreams, where you may continue - your journey through the Collective Unconsciousness to the - pocket dimension of the Wandering Bazaar. You need not move - physically to travel in either direction. It’s more a matter - of choosing a destination, and letting the winds blow you in - that direction.

-

“My acorns!” insists the chipmunk, wringing its hands. “The - Red Squirrel has taken them all! Are you going to help - me?”

-

WHAT DO YOU DO

- ]]> - - - - 60 - dozens@tilde.team (dozens) - 60 - Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:11:47 --0700 - Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:11:48 -0700 - - 00060 -
-

Alex takes inventory of himself, this dream world is - definitely strange, but fortunately its decided to provide him - with his impecable fashion, trench coat and all. Unfortunately - the same can’t be said for his roguish good looks, as he’s - found himself 6 arms heavier, and a bit more octopus-y than he - remembers.

-

Nontheless this doesn’t appear to be much of an impediment, - and he promptly moves on with assessing the situation.

-

“Acorns? No, I don’t think so. I’m afraid octopus’ are - terrible at fetching acrons, and at any rate, I have a - dreadfully important meeting across town.” turning to address - Inky, “We need to make a break for it, what’d the witch tell - you? Envision our goal or something? This is really a little - outside of my realm of mechanical magic expertise.. - unless..”

-

Alex makes a gesture with his tentacles in the area and a - terminal prompt appears before him. His tentacles work at - blinding speed at the digital window, a quick bypass there, a - root access escalation there.

-

“Looks like this whole place runs on Linux, it’s an older - kernel, about 2.6 or so, but it checks out. Easy to exploit as - needed. Here I’m giving us sudo access, should we need - it.”

-

“Oh and squirrel, here’s your acorns”

- 
find /* -name '*acron*' -exec mv /home/squirrel { } \
-
-

It takes Alectopus a couple tries, but he gets it. First he - corrects ‘acron’ to ‘acorn’. Then he moves all the acorns to - the chipmunk instead of to the squirrel.

-

Hundreds of acorns appear at the chipmunk’s feet. It - squeals in delight.

-

In the distance, far below you, you hear the anguished yell - of what can only be a Red Squirrel whose giant stash of acorns - has just vanished.

-

The chipmunk rubs its hands together gleefully and starts - scooping up acorns by the armful and shoving them into its - mouth by the dozen. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” it - says around a mouthful of nuts. “Here…” It tosses you a large - square silver coin with a round hole drilled in the center. On - one side is the number twenty-one next to a picture of a - curved, short-handled sickle. On the other side is the number - five and a picture of a flail.

-

“A Twenty-One Fiver! Sorry, you deserve more, but it’s all - I have,” it apologizes as it scampers off, no doubt to hide - its nuts. Hopefully somewhere more secure this time.

-

If you hold the coin up to your eye and peer through the - hole, you see the dreamscape before you as though looking - through a cloudy film. All the same stuff is there, but it’s - hazy and shadowy.

-

Standing a fair distance from you on the branch, just out - of hailing distance, is a tall figure cloaked in black robes. - Dark shadows pool restlessly around its feet. Occasionally the - shadows leap up and take the form of demons the like of which - words cannot describe, before falling and returning to shadow - once more. The figure wears a large spherical helmet of - obsidian-like glass. You can see constant flashes of a rainbow - of colors crackle and splinter along the inside of the helmet - like lightning, but illuminating nothing within. You feel - sickened at the sight, but at the edge of your mind you feels - a tug, a familiarity. Something about this character is - familiar to you, but you cannot place it.

-

When you lower the coin, the figure and the dark landscape - both disappear. When you raise it again, the distorted - landscape reappears but the figure is gone.

-

You notice a pair of large ravens watching you rather - intently from the branches below.

-

WHAT DO YOU DO

- ]]> - - 54 dozens@tilde.team (dozens) @@ -1306,6 +626,686 @@ NOTE GDB INDICATES SOME ANOMALY ]]> + + 56 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 56 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:10:25 +-0700 + Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:10:25 -0700 + + 00056 +
+

The agitation Alex feels bubbles just beneath the surface. + Patterns where patterns shouldn’t be, strange orders from HQ, + indifference where once was ample aide as well. It was + maddening. Combine it all with the haunting suspicion that + there was constantly someone just around the next corner, and + it was enough to truly drive Alex mad.

+

That uneasiness takes its toll on a long enough time line, + but Alex wasn’t about to let it get to him. Or so he thought + to himself as he cast a furtive look at his monitoring + equipment. This paranoia had served him well in the past, very + well in fact. It’s a sort of sixth sense in a way, always kept + Alex off the edge of the cliff, especially when someone + stepped close enough to push him off. Those were the types of + skills HQ sought after in the first place.

+

Alex closes the iron door on his bunker, leaving his + monitoring equipment running, dead man’s trigger set to blow + the place shoul anyone enter it. Can’t be too careful these + days..

+

Emerging from the sewer grate, sticking to the shadows, + Alex makes his way down an alley, then another, and yet + another, finally emerging a few blocks from the Milk Market. + Across the street, as he had expected, was Marvelo’s Marvelous + MurderSticks, a quaint place should one needed something, well + you get the picture, they don’t really sell anything but + weaponry here.

+

Alex ducked into the entrance of the shop and strode + towards the back rack, where a collection of knives was on + display. A rough looking fellow, ruddy red beard, thinning + hair, moved from the counter as he saw Alex approach. “Fine + sampling of knives we have, could I interest you in one?” + Marvelo says. Alex reaches for a thin stilleto style dagger, + and hands it to Marvelo “This one seems about right, but I’d + like an extra sharp edge put on it, if you don’t mind”. + Marvelo takes the stilleto from Alex say “Not a problem at all + sir”, and he heads into the back.

+

He sets to work honing the edge, and once complete he + places it on his work bench. Grabbing a velvet lined case from + a stack, he deftly removes the bottom and places a rolled + piece of paper into the bottom, alongside an m1911 style + pistol, and a couple of clips of ammo. He then places the + velvet bottom back over the equipment, and places the stilleto + on top, bringing the entire package back to the front. “An + extra fine edge on this one sir, that’ll be 15 gold, plus + another 5 to cover the service.

+

Alex pays, and nips out the shop and heads back to the back + alley. Paranoia begets what it requets, Alex mutters to + himself as he disassembles the box holstering the pistol and + ammo, and sheathing the dagger. Can’t keep going unarmed like + I’m some kind of beat cop, not anymore.. Alex discards the + case and unfurls the message, quickly deciphering the + encryption set on it by Marvelo.

+ 
The hunt is still on, no word on Blavin nor the Iris group, yet.
+Agent 7 heard rumor of a couple of persons inquiring about the "Milk Market" these past few days.
+Agent 3 heard similar rumors, was able to bribe a melon vendor to acertain the figure wore a red sash, and was looking for friends.
+Agent 6 has kept watch on the Market, nothing strange yet, coming and goings as usual, no strange visitors
+Agent 4 monitoring feeds still present glitches, something abnormal
+Agent 5 found the melon vendor dead in a back alley, strangled to death, not immediate signs of blunt force trauma, caution advised
+

Alex burned the note, striding rapidly away from the alley, + taking a meandering route away from the Milk Market, looping + back around, and heading back towards it by yet another. + Nobody appeared to be following him, yet he paused at each + corner and turn, waiting for the footsteps of a pursuant.

+

Noting nothing, he made his way through the back entrance + of Enrique’s Empanadas greeting the cook quietly, but jovial. + “Enrique, where’s Inky? We’ve got a problem.”

+
+

~

+
+

Inky skims the page. They thank the witch, pay for the + items and exit the shop, promptly discarding all notions of + meeting Bother at the place stipulated on the note.

+

(Half and one hour later)

+

One-sixths into a caramel cantaloupe cream cornet, Inky + runs into Confidence outside the Wandering Bazaar and obtains + some of their new pamphlets, minted with luminescent ink for + the convenience of late-night tourists. These are subsequently + hare-mailed to every editor at the Niuewstijl office, + which is almost certain to earn another chiding remark from + Tess about etiquette and the handling of unsolicited bulk mail + to parent editorial teams.

+

(Half and two hours later)

+

The installation on display at the Milk Market was + grotesque — that is to say, a work of beauty. Inky steps + carefully through the rooms to not disturb the piece. + Afterwards, they sign the guestbook set up on an upturned milk + crate by the door, delightedly pasting rows of horse head and + thumbs-up emo Gs on a page thoughtfully titled “you can’t ed + the unedible”.

+

(Half and three hours earlier)

+

Thanking Agate for her time, Inky passes her a sheet of + paper on which were written a few questions about the + prescribed ritual, with some space after each question should + the witch prefer to scribble a response:

+
    +

  • What do guides in the Sea of Dreams and the Ravenfolk + typically seek in return for directing travellers to the + correct pocket dimension?

    • +

  • An establishment inside the Bazaar is only open in the + evenings whenever it appears in the city. How long does travel + to a pocket dimension typically take, allowing for time to + seek out a guide? Is there a way travellers can estimate the + time to set out on their journey, in order to arrive at the + establishment while it is open?

    • +

  • Who are the Red Spider and “Dude 215R” mentioned in the + ritual? How can travellers avoid summoning them?

    • +

  • Would anything happen to the travellers if any of the + sigils were removed during the ritual before they wake + up?

    • +
+

(Half and four hours later)

+

Two sets of eyes peer down at the contents of an open tin. + One accompanied by a focused look and a little trepidation, + following the pinkish, flesh-like chunks speckled with white + pockets of fat as they tumble into a hot pan and almost + immediately begin to move of their own accord. The moving + mounds resemble small round mouths opening, each with a rim of + sharp teeth. The other pair of eyes belongs to a grinning face + that beams when the mounds bloom into bright red flat caps, + the edges beneath about to soften in the olive oil.

+

Minutes after, The slices are ready. Inky accepts the plate + of tostada with spicy pickled artichoke mushrooms and tomatoes + with a murmur of thanks. Reassembling the recipe for the + tinned spicy artichoke mushrooms had been a tedious process — + someone had ripped out the pages from an old pickling book + that had long ceased publication. Eventually Inky found a + former nomad who had eaten them for two years in their youth + and could recall or somewhat describe the taste. Flowery and + savoury, they said. Many taste tests later, it turned out to + be closer to partially decomposed cheese in ponderosa lemon + juice. Canning was fortuitously easier with the increasing + portability of sealers. Rather than telling the empanada chef + any of this, Inky watches satisfaction slowly spread across + his face. The tale that follows is far more entertaining.

+

(Half and five hours later)

+

While measuring out ingredients for the forty-second tea + infusion since the start of the missions, not that Inky was + keeping a close count, they hear a familiar voice a short + distance outside the door asking for their whereabouts. + Without pausing in their whisking, Inky simply informs the + owner of the voice they’re not here, obviously, before + emerging from the storage pantry with a fresh pot and bowls on + a wooden tray, and greets the returning sysorcerer.

+
+

Agate writes back quickly:

+
+

What do guides in the Sea of Dreams and the Ravenfolk + typically seek in return for directing travellers to the + correct pocket dimension?

+
+

Intangibles. Usually memories, hopes, or dreams.

+
+

An establishment inside the Bazaar is only open in the + evenings whenever it appears in the city. How long does travel + to a pocket dimension typically take, allowing for time to + seek out a guide? Is there a way travellers can estimate the + time to set out on their journey, in order to arrive at the + establishment while it is open?

+
+

You’ll find that time is rather malleable on the Otherside. + You’ll likely arrive exactly when you’re meant to. No need to + worry too much about it.

+
+

Who are the Red Spider and “Dude 215R” mentioned in the + ritual? How can travellers avoid summoning them?

+
+

Godforms manifested by the Linking Sigil and the Dream + Sigil, respectively. It’s not terrible if they show + up. But it’s definitely not ideal. You shouldn’t register on + their radar as long as you don’t pump too much energy into, or + siphon to much energy out of, the sigils. If they do show up, + just know that you’re in the presence of a godlike power, and + behave accordingly.

+
+

Would anything happen to the travellers if any of the + sigils were removed during the ritual before they wake up?

+
+

If the sigils are removed or if the circle is broken, + you’ll likely just wake up before you wanted to. Same goes for + if your dreamform is destroyed while in the Dreaming. The only + real danger you may encounter is the Scissormen and their ilk. + They will attempt to permanently sever your dreamform from + your waking body. Which would leave your body a soulless husk, + and leave your consciousness adrift in the Sea of Dreams. But + that probably won’t happen! Okay good luck, have fun!

+

WHAT DO YOU DO

+ ]]> + + + + 58 + dozens@tilde.team (dozens) + 58 - Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:24:45 +-0700 + Sun, 29 Jan 2023 11:02:32 -0700 + + 00058 +
+

(A week prior)

+

The secretary collected the stack of papers that had + accumulated at one corner of the desk. “This might help,” she + said, setting down a bundle of herbs with white and pink + flowers in place of the papers.

+

Inky stared at the blooms, hands stilled over the owl’s + plumage. “Oh! Thanks. Good thinking, really. It’ll help make + the stench more bearable when they find the remains.”

+

The grey elf was confused for a moment, then mortified as + the words sank in. “That’s not what I meant! It’s for the + circle,” she clarified.

+

Seeing the imp’s preoccupied nod, she coughed lightly to + regain their attention, then spoke in a hushed voice. + “Beaker’s associates have picked up the empanada shop + proprietor and transported him to an undisclosed location. + There will be a retinue with him at all times.”

+

Inky seemed to visibly pull themselves back to the room + before responding, “Thank you, Salvia. One more thing — if I + do not return by the indicated time, please activate the + hitsuzen protocol. As precaution.”

+

The secretary looked at Inky in concern. “Is everything all + right? If you’re still troubled by the hotelier, accidents + happen. A single incident—”

+

“Third. An unidentified man was attacked at the docks. He + was probably sent to investigate the melon vendor. One of the + other stall owners heard him asking questions shortly after + the melon vendor disappeared.”

+

Salvia’s violet eyes narrowed. “What, the fruit vendor? + Didn’t the tabloids say it was an accident? He tried to get + rid of a neighbor’s nest of snakes.”

+

Inky only raised an eyebrow at her.

+

The secretary let out a low curse. “You didn’t tell her. + You didn’t want her to worry,” she said aloud in realization. + She sighed. “She’s going to be pretty angry with you when she + finds out, you know.”

+

Inky offered her a sardonic smile. “Making people angry is + my job. You of all people know this well. In the event of my + timely demise I’m sure the others would find it cause for a + grand celebration.” They replied matter-of-factly before + returning to smoothing the feathers of one bird wing.

+

Salvia shook her head vehemently. “That’s not true. You’ll + make it back, Ink. What then—”

+

“Then our fair Lady’s ire would be the least of the + problems.”

+
+

~

+
+

Alex stared morosely into his cup of coffee. He’d received + word of agent 5’s demise that morning, and had been the only + thing on his mind since. 5, no Be’tram knew the risks, we all + knew the risks defying HQ brought, but to happen so suddenly? + He’d snuck down to the wharf once he’d heard, making sure to + cover his tracks and dodge any potential witnesses. He even + managed to slip past the police cordon they’d setup around the + body. What he’d found wasn’t pretty, it looked like Be’Tram + had suffered in his final moments. The bruising around his + neck pointed to strangulation, with some sort of cloth, + perhaps a rope. The bruising was deep, and there wasn’t a cut, + burn, shot or something of the likes on his otherwise.

+

The kill had been intimate.

+

Alex had worked quickly that night, popping Be’Tram’s eye + had been hard, but he’d of wanted Alex to have it. Behind his + right eye was a recording device, it could only catch the last + 15m or so of what he had seen, but it would give him a clear + look at what had happened. And potentially lead Alex to the + killer. Miserable business, but Be’Tram knew it could make a + difference.

+

Alex had planted a bomb on the body after he had extracted + the eye, and made his way well away from the area before it + went off obliterating the remains. A regrettable end for an + old friend, but it was too dangerous to leave.

+

And then there was the matter of the zabbix alert, a little + purple red critical for the sewer hideout. He’d had time to + send out a drone beetle. The smoldering slag that was left was + reassuring. Most of the equipment was utterly destroyed, racks + upon racks of servers reduced to twisted melted metal. The + effectively of the destruction was delightful, in a sick sort + of desperate way. Alex felt assured that most if not all of + the equipment was useless, but this spelled the end of a + valuable listening outpost. And whoever had done it wasn’t + part of the slag pile.

+

Alex stood up, his coffee untouched. The cafe around his + burbled in quiet excitement. The city had lit up since the + Melon vendor’s death. A thousand rumors abounded about it, but + none of them held true; some said the city had become + dangerous, a crime syndicate had arisen in the neighboring + city block another thought, and did you hear about the + explosion at the wharf the other night, the city was electric, + yet somehow ever so slightly off the pulse of the issue.

+

As Alex stepped away a woman with horn rimmed glasses + strode past the table he had just abandoned, deftly pulling + the note from beneath the coffee cup, left for her.

+ 
4 -> 3
+Daylight breaks on the morrow
+The suns rays make chase
+casting soft cloth
+across the nap of nature's neck
+
+So, night relents and gives way
+biding time until
+it can rule
+in its own domain
+

For the passerby, it was but a bit of poetry, scribbled + carelessly on the back of a napkin in a coffee near the wharf. + But for Agent 3 it was a warning, one part notes on Agent 5s + demise recovered from his eyecam, one part orders; stay low + and we’ll strike these bastards from the shadows, on our + terms, on our ground. Similar missives were delivered to + Agents 6 & 7. The numbers were dwindling rapidly, even + just one agent lost was hard to stomach.

+

Alex hand gripped the pistol in his coat pocket with a + white knuckled grip as he stepped from the coffee shop into + the city. Whatever was after him, whatever had gotten to + Be’Tram, it had better know he was coming, and he’d happily + send it straight to hell. HQ be damned, the rules be damned, + this little game of cat and mouse had just gotten + personal.

+
+

~

+
+

Alex, Inky, Confidence, Bread, and Agent 7 find themselves + in a dark backroom in a secluded corner of an old fish + processing plant on the wharf. The accommodations are rough, + and the stench is abhorrent, but it’s the best that could be + procured in a pinch. And it should provide enough + seclusion.

+

The backroom is like that of many factories, high up near + the ceiling, a single rusty rickety staircase winds its way + along the side of the building for what seems to be 3 flights, + before it reaches a metal room with dusty grimy windows, and a + single steel door. The windows on the interior overlook the + fish processing plant, where rows of belts and machinery stand + still, covered in dust and long forgotten blood. You’re glad + to know that the factory stopped operating years ago, hygiene + is lacking in every sense.

+

Alex stares forlornly out the exterior windows, the sky is + a grey overcast, it matches his mood perfectly. He didn’t like + what him and Inky were about to do, but they didn’t have much + they could do about it. They would be vulnerable for the + duration of the ritual. But Agent 7 and Confidence were there + to help mitigate that risk. Alex and Agent 7 had taken every + precaution they could think of.

+

The plant floor was scattered with booby traps, trip wires, + and alarms. The other agents were laying low, but kept drones + around the wharf feeding in a network of twtxt data back to + Agent 7 for recon. And that was on top of the double barred + steel doors, and reinforced glass box they’d chosen as their + hide out. Meticulously planned, Alex expected no less from + Agent 7.

+

See Marvelo had been at this as long as Alex had, and then + some. He was sharp as a tack, with an animal-like third sense + that came from years of close calls. He was, simply put, the + right man for the job, when that job was keeping your + unconscious ass alive.

+

Alex turns away from the window and addresses Inky. + “Apologies for the smell, it turns out there’s a strong + correlation between disgust and seclusion, but I believe we + should at least be safe here. Safer than we would have been + back home. I’m ready if you are, as ready as I’ll ever be that + is.”

+
+

The Golden Iris have summoned you to appear at the Harpoon + Club this evening. But the Harpoon Club is nowhere to be found + on this plane of existence. It won’t appear until a week and a + half from now, on the last day of the month.

+

Confidence the Guide has predicted exactly where the + Wandering Bazaar will be on that day. With a small bucket of + red paint and a large brush, he has drawn a Linking Sigil on + the ground at the location. He sits nearby, making sure + careless passersby and mischievous kids don’t disturb it, but + otherwise letting the sigil absorb the energies of the bustle + of shopping and commerce.

+

At the fish market, Marvelo is posted outside. He keeps + vigilant watch, alert to every movement and disturbance.

+

And inside, Bread, Inky, Fuko, and Alex are huddled up in + the office in the back near the ceiling. They all sit inside a + dark circle that has been smudged on the floor with a paste + made of ash and salt. Painted on the ground is a second + Linking Sigil, connecting this spot to Confidence’s, allowing + the energies of the two locations to co-mingle. There is also + the Dream Sigil, which will connect this place to the + Dreaming.

+

Bread the Host is propped up on some pillows and cushions + in the center of the circle, next to the Nyxmaer. The candle + is alleged to be made of the flesh and fat of a certain + nightmare. Its hand and eye bound in the wax. The Dream Sigil + is the door, but the Nyxmaer is the key. The catalyst that + will cause all of the otherwise inert metaphysical particles + to become volatile and reactive. It is what will allow you to + actually pass over and arrive on the shores of the Sea of + Dreams.

+

Per the shop witch’s instructions, the Nyxmaer has been + placed on a thin, hard tin plate. As the candle burns, the wax + will soften and eventually allow the large metal nail in its + side to fall. When it strikes the plate, you will awaken, + exiting the Dreaming. You expect hours may pass in the realm + of sleep. But only about thirty minutes will pass here.

+

Inky and Alex sit inside the circle, near the perimeter, + facing Bread in the center. Fuko the owl sits at Inky’s + side.

+

It is dim. You are illuminated by mundane, non-magical + candles set around the edges of the circle. Outside, a steady + rain beats on the roof and the windows of the building. The + smell of fish is faint but ever-present. A constant reminder + of the small creatures that have left their bodies in a + fashion far more permanent and irreversible than the + separation of spirit and body you are about to experience. You + hope.

+

WHAT DO YOU DO

+
    +

  • How do you induce a deep and powerful slumber in + Bread?

    • +

  • What shape or form will you take when you arrive in the + Dreaming?

    • +

  • What are you secretly worried or hopeful about being + exposed in the dreamland, the realm of metaphor?

    • +
+ ]]> + + + + 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 e524465..8d0266e 100644 --- a/www/spoilers.html +++ b/www/spoilers.html @@ -270,45 +270,8 @@ -

Stats

-

Total length: 80256 words / 342 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 217 messages posted over 215 days since the first -post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.00.

About

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

@@ -378,667 +361,12 @@ into the current story arc.

If you’re not on the mailing list and want to keep up with the story, you can subscribe to the rss feed.

-

Dramatis Personae

-

Alex

-
- -

Bio

- -

Alex is like Corraidhin in some aspects, he’s younger, more brash, -more given to whim and fancy. He’s somewhat greedy and craven, attracted -to riches far too easily. He’s a passionate gambler, not due to his -skill, but by virtue of his ability to distract and confuse, which gives -him a delightful edge. Some would call it lucky, but he calls it -subterfuge. He has some sysorcerer skills, nothing quite as flexible as -Corraidhin, but he delightfully wreaks havoc with worms, scrapers, -ransom & spyware. If he can’t bypass something, he’ll delightfully -destroy it. If he can’t break in, he’ll distract someone or something so -he can slip by.

-
-
    -
  • Player: sinatra
    • -
  • XP: 1
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Investigation 2, Illusions 2, Sneaking 2, -Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2
    • -
  • Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand, The Triple Lindy
    • -
-

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.

-

I believe my skills naturally lend themselves to this expedition. I’m -certain you’ll need someone to elucidate upon the history of these -artifacts, and should trouble come our way I’m ready at hand with spells -a plenty. I’m not the best with a sword, but can hold my own with a bow -staff, but it may be best to leave the fighting up to you younguns. If -we encounter arcane ruins or cryptic texts you’ll find my skills just as -useful as the finest blade in battle.

-

I think with my share of the reward I’ll buy more books. Lots and -lots of books, a whole library of books! And then I’ll start a library, -yes that sounds delightful. And maybe one of those books will have some -information on ridding me of that accursed demon, but that’s another -story entirely.

-
-
    -
  • Player: sinatra
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Arcane Lore 2, Sneak 2, Combat Magic 2
    • -
  • Equipment: Sword of Yam’L, Ginnarak Crystal (Earth)
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start
    • -
  • Soulsword: Bloodlust
    • -
-

Gabs

-
- -

Bio

- -

Gabs had a good life. Her little devil children were all grown adults -now, and she no longer wanted to toil away running a business. When she -initially shuttered her little tavern, she thought she might just -retire. She made it two whole years of working in a garden, occasionally -seeing grandkids, and reading romance novels. She eventually decided she -needed a vacation from her retirement and traveled to a nearby port -town. She was sure to find something fun to do there.

-

Gabs eventually sees Inquire Within, and the smell of debauchery -wafting from within made her miss her days gossiping at her tavern. She -enters and orders a terrible drink and listens and watches.

-

Hearing the tales being spun by Mister Three-Fingered, she decides, -“I’ve never been on a ship, that’s something that sounds exciting!”

-

Half-drunk and eager for something exciting, she will join on the -journey!

-

Gabs is a lanky older half-devil lady who is here to schmooze and -have fun!

-
-
    -
  • Player: archangelic
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Stabbing 2
    • -
  • Equipment:
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand
    • -
-

Glarg

-
- -

Bio

- -

I am Glarg, an earth elemental who was conjured by a wizard who was -immediately beheaded after summoning me. By some freak accident I was -not sent back home to the earth elemental plane when the spell should -have ended. While I have learned the common tonge in my time on this -plane, I have not developed the ability to speak it, because I have no -mouth. I’m a very gentle soul who is misunderstood because of my hard, -cold exterior.

-

I’m pretty durable and good with rocks.

-

With my share of the money, I plan to hire a mage to send me home, or -turn everyone else into earth elementals.

-
-
    -
  • Player: kindrobot
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand
    • -
-

Inky

-
- -

Bio

- -

Inkulos Iridis greets you merrily! Some call me Inky the Tiny because -of my slight size (perfectly average for imps, I assure you!) and a -fondness for ink.

-

I may be small and nowhere as battle-hardened as knights in shining -armour, but I can skip out of a monster’s grasp before you can say -“scram!”, slip through the cracks (often unseen), scout for useful -items, and brew all kinds of ink with special effects for discerning -drinkers.

-

What do you plan to do with your cut of the money? Buy lots of ink -ingredients, of course! With the money, the very first ink patio with -the best paper nibbles will be opening to serve all from far and wide -very soon!

-
-
    -
  • Player: mio
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Persuasive 2, Plantomancy 2, Throwing 2, -Medicine 2
    • -
  • Equipment: Handy Duffer Discette, Fine Feathered Quills, Jade Tea -Set, Mountain Range Glyph Ink, Bead of the Werehare
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand, The Triple Lindy
    • -
  • Were-Hare: Lepusthropy, Beast Sense, Hybrid Form
    • -
  • Tasseomancer: Reading, Ceremony, Steeping, Blending
    • -
-

Jarrod

-
- -

Bio

- -

A broad-chested, olive skinned human finishes a pint of ale with a -long swig. He greets the group with a merry-looking smile, though it -doesn’t seem to touch his eyes. He seems a touch distracted, as if -something else is on his mind. A feeling of lingering sadness touches -his aura.

-

“Greetings, my friends! My name is Jarrod. And this here …” he taps a -heavy warhammer leaning against the back of his chair “… is Gertrude. -When it comes to danger, consider us your shield. I will blunt what -dangers may come from ahead and protect those who shelter behind. I’m -more than good in a fight, specializing in up-close battles and …” he -gives a small smirk “… alternative forms of negotiations.”

-

He leans over and places his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers -and leaning in with his chin touching them as he continues. A thin -leather cord adorned with small charms carved from bone is draped around -his left wrist.

-

“Other than that, I’m willing to take on cooking chores and spin the -occasional tale around a campfire. My cut of the money goes towards -opening my own tavern when I retire.”

-
-
    -
  • Player: marcus
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Oratory 2
    • -
  • Equipment: Fascinating Bangle
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand
    • -
-

Sneaky Willows

-
- -

Bio

- -

I’m “Sneaky” Willows (nobody knows my actual name), an elvish -pickpocket with a love for sneakin’, stabbin’ and music playin’! Some -people say I’m no good at music playin’, but then I go sneakin’ and -stabbin’ em!

-

On this team I think I’m gonna be good at sneakin’ up to those -crystals and grabbin’ em right from under the guard’s noses!

-

With my money I’m plannin’ to hire a bard to teach me more music, so -I can really impress people with my playin’ and maybe not even have to -stab them!

-
-
    -
  • Player: nico
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand
    • -
-

Tea Filler

-
- -

Bio

- -

Who: Teefoon Filler of the Bucket, Knight of the 3rd order of -Balmarlovemeer, Crester of the Golden-Fringed Ridge and 2nd to the -Keeper of the Grimoire Glorious. You may call me “Tea.” (Tea is, -notably, a giant. ~11ft tall).

-

What: Retired Cleric turned Archeologist.

-

Cash: A sturdy wagon and 5 head of oxen to pull it. I wish to travel -further than my legs can take me.

-
-
    -
  • Player: eli
    • -
  • XP: 0
    • -
  • Skills: Do Anything 1
    • -
-

Paths:

-
    -
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The -Hand
    • -
-

Meta

-

Welcome to Basement Quest!

-

We’re gonna play this by ear, and cross each bridge only when we get -to it.

-

Policies

-
    -

  • Safety: Practice safe roleplaying.

    -
    • -

  • Cadence: I’ll move the story along roughly once a week. Hopefully -that gives everybody time to post something and participate.

    • -

  • Open Table / Inclusion over realism: If you disappear for a while -and then come back, your character will immediately reappear as though -they’ve been there the whole time. Come and go as you please. Open door -policy! Drop in and drop out as you please.

    • -

  • Linearity: Respond only to the most recent email in the thread. -(We might play around with time later, but for now, let’s keep it -simple.)

    • -
-

Mechanics

-

Shoes in the Dark:

-

https://dozens.itch.io/shoes-in-the-dark

-

To do something, say that you do it, and then it probably -happens!

-

If there is a risk, or chance of failure, we’ll roll dice to -determine the outcome. We’ll use a variation of “Roll for Shoes” because -it’s probably the most simple system there is. Everybody will start out -pretty even skills wise. But you will eventually get really good at -really specific things.

-

Everybody starts with one skill: Do anything 1

-

So to attempt to do anything, roll 1d6.

-
    -
  • 1 - 3: Things go poorly. Gain 1 xp.
    • -
  • 4 - 5: Partial success / success at cost
    • -
  • 6: Great success!
    • -
-

If you roll all sixes, you gain a new +1 skill which must be a subset -of the skill you just used.

-

Example:

-
-

Player: I kick down the door. I’ll roll Do Anything (1) aaaand, -that’s a six!”

-

Referee: You now have “Kicking Down Doors 2”

-

Later….

-

Player: I bust down the door with a flying kick! I’ll roll Kicking -Down Doors 2 aaaand, two sixes!

-

Referee: You now have “Doorbane 3”

-

Player: Siiiick, doors fear me.

-
-

Every time you fail a roll, you gain 1 xp.

-

You can spend xp to turn any die into a six for the purpose of -advancement.

-

Paths and Templates

-

Templates are skills and abilities, organized into paths, -that players can discover and unlock through play as their characters -learn and discover more about the world.

-

They are the lambda calculus answer to “classes” in traditional -ttrpgs: a kind of anonymous class that everybody has access to, that you -can combine and mix and match.

-

How it works:

-

Each path has a bunch of templates.

-

Every template starts with a rank (a number), followed by a name (in -bold), a trigger (in parenthesis), and finally a description.

-

You can unlock any template by satisfying its trigger in-game, -provided you have already unlocked at least one template of every rank -below it, in the same path. (The exceptions are templates of rank zero, -which are the entry level templates for each path, and do not have such -a requirement.)

-

Example:

-
-

Path of the Goblin Slayer

-
    -
    • -
    1. Favored Foe (Slay 100 goblins): You are now an -expert when facing this foe. From now on when attacking a goblin, a roll -of 5 - 6 is considered a critical success. 4 - 5 is a success. And 1 - 3 -is a mixed success.
      2. -
    • -
-
-

The path is “Path of the Goblin Slayer”. The rank of the first -template is 0, so there are no prerequisites. (If it had been, say, 2, -then you would need to have unlocked a template of rank 1 and of rank 0 -in the same path before unlocking this one.) The name is “Favored Foe”. -The trigger is “Slay 100 goblins”. And the perk is detailed in the -description.

-

Path of the Retriever

-

The Perks of the Job

-
    -
    • -
    1. Contractual Obligation (Agree to retrieve 5 -crystals for the Benefactor): You have access to the Benefactor’s -resources through your handler, Blavin Blandfoot.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. An Auspicious Start (Retrieve 1 crystal): You gain -a team of rivals: the Retrieval Team 70 gophers. If you don’t have a 2 -dice skill yet, gain one of your choosing.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Two In The Hand (Retrieve 2 crystals): Two in the -hand are technically worth four in the bush. That’s the going exchange -rate, anyway. Gain one 2 dice skill of your choosing.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. The Triple Lindy (Retrieve 3 crystals): “Is that -hard?” “It’s impossible.” Turn any 2 dice skill into a 3 dice -skill.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Pareto Roll (Retrieve 4 crystals): A mere 20% of -resources drive 80% of the outcomes. What does that have to do with -crystals? I don’t know, but you have 80% of them now. From now on, you -can spend 1 xp to reroll any 1 die.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. HOT TUB PARTY (Retrieve 5 crystals): You win a -visit to the Benefactor’s mansion, including dinner and a dip in the hot -tub!
      2. -
    • -
-

Path of the Tasseomancer

-
    -
    • -
    1. Reading (Obtain a magical tea set): You can see -omens in the tea leaves left after drinking tea from your magic tea -set.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Ceremony (Perform a ritual tea ceremony every day -for a month): Time for tea! Once a day, you can announce a tea party, -temporarily putting an end to any hostilities for as long as it takes to -enjoy 3 cups of tea.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Steeping (Offer something of great personal value -to the teapot. It vanishes and does not return): Practically anything -can be steeped in your teapot to extract oils and soluables. Drinking -such a prepared concoction will temporarily grant you some aspect of -that which was steeped.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Gossip (Betray the trust of a loved one): During a -tea ceremony, you can compel one creature to answer one question -truthfully.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Blending (Create 24 different infusions): You can -steep two ingredients at once, gaining benefits from both when drinking -the infusion.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Scrying (Detain a guest at your tea ceremony for 24 -hours): The precise location of anybody who drinks your tea is known to -you for 24 hours after they consume it.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Caffeine (Stay up all night drinking tea for 3 -days): You can boost the stimulant effects of your tea. Perform a tea -ceremony forgo the need to sleep, while also gaining the benefits of a -full night’s rest.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Bottomless Pour (Make a single pot of tea last you -three days): Your teapot always has one more cup of tea in it.
      2. -
    • -
-

Path of the Were-Hare

-

You have been cursed to wander this world; half man, half rabbit.

-
    -
    • -
    1. Lepusthropy (Gain the curse of lepusthropy): Every -full moon, you become a monstrous human/rabbit hybrid with an insatiable -craving for fresh vegetables.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Beast Sense (Talk to a rabbit): Rabbits and hares -will obey your orders. You can sense when there are rabbits or hares -nearby.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Hybrid Form (Embrace the curse): You can assume -hybrid form at will. Your sharp, pointy teeth do damage as a 3 dice -skill. You can only maintain this form for a short time, and are left -weak afterwards.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Beast Form (Meditate on the form of a rabbit every -day for a month): You can assume the form or a rabbit or hare. The -longer you maintain this form, the more risk you won’t be able to change -back!
      2. -
    • -
-

Path of the Soulsword

-

You have a unique bond with a sentient sword

-
    -
    • -
    1. Bloodlust (Discover and obtain a sentient, magical -sword): Your sword has a lust for stabbing that can only be satisfied -with blood. Your sword counts as a 3 dice skill when attacking, but you -must also roll to resist being overcome by a mindless bloodlust, -striking out at whoever happens to be nearby.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Spell Sword (Cast a spell on your sword after -satisfying its bloodlust): You can cast a spell on your sword to store -it for quick casting later: on your turn, if you hit with your sword, -you can automatically cast the stored spell in addition to doing damage -with the sword.
      2. -
    • -
-

Path of the Duck Outlaw

-

When Basket Duck is against the law, only outlaws will play Basket -Duck. And not even the angels will weep when this path eventually leads -to your inevitable death.

-

Inspired by juego del pato, the traditional, much maligned, -national sport of Argentina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pato. Credit to ~mio for -kicking off this idea.

-
    -
    • -
    1. Basket Duck (Given the opportunity to befriend a -duck, trap it instead and keep it in a basket): You can whip a crowd -into a frenzy. The very sight of your duck in a basket can provoke a -knife fight.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Gaucho (Right 100 leagues on horseback with your -basket duck): Your horsemanship is legendary. You can achieve feats of -daring, strength, and agility while on horseback. And while you carry -your basket duck.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Pate-au-pato (Fatten a duck for an abattoir): Your -foie gras recipe impresses any guest you invite to dine, increasing the -likelihood a request will be responded to in your favour.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Pecking Duck (Make a sauce 666 times): You gain a -2-dice Roasting skill with a chance of increased effectiveness on beasts -and decreased effectiveness on humanoids.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Duck Trap (Trap 44 ducks each under 44 seconds): -Your Trapping skills have improved, which is to say, they have gotten -worse at trapping ducks and better at trapping other somethings and -nothings. Increased chance of finding other things in any trap you -set.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Dog (Trap 100 ducks): You gain a small but vicious -dog who can help flush ducks out of the bush for you to trap. If you -ever fail to trap one though, it will laugh at and demoralize you.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Pants Is Overrated (Refuse to wear pants for 30 -days): For as long as you wear no pants, you can preen yourself to -become waterproof. This effect also extends to any items you carry. -People may not approve of your lack of attire. But you have a long -poncho right?
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Feather Fall (Survive a fall from over 20 feet high -with your basket duck): You can pluck a feather from your basket duck -and use it to slow your descent, landing safely on your feet.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Pato (Safely deliver your basket duck back to your -home; along the way, offer it to everyone you meet but don’t let them -take it): From now on, basket duck is outlawed by the government -wherever you go. At the same time, you are a hero of the people and can -muster a small mob to your aide.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Duck Typing (Make an ink from the roasted beans of -the java plant and a quill from a duck feather. Write on a parchment in -javascript 100 times “Thou art a duck”): If it looks like a -duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then—if you say it -is—it is a duck.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Arrogate (Kill the person who has stolen your -basket duck from you): The angels have turned their backs on you, -leaving you free to claim more than what is rightfully yours. You are -immune to the blessings and curses of any minor miracle worker.
      2. -
    • -
-

Path of the Murderhobo

-

You are an angel of death. A dirty, homeless angel of death with no -conscious or qualms with killing the innocent.

-
    -
    • -
    1. Hobo (Refuse to sleep under a roof or on the -ground): You gain a lot of resilience due to being unhoused. You are -partially immune to poison and disease, and can consume rotten food or -drink without any ill effects.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Bully (Destroy something weak and defenseless): You -always have the drop on somebody weaker, smaller, less wealthy, or -otherwise worse off than you.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Pocket Sand (Overcome a foe while blinded -yourself): You always have at least one handful of sand, gravel, grit, -or rubble in your pockets that you can use to attempt to blind your -foe.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. In Cold Blood (Kill an innocent person in cold -blood): When it is unprovoked or unexpected, your first attack always -hits its target.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Arsonist (Burn three different structures down to -the ground on three different occasions): You can always produce a flame -regardless of the circumstances. It might because you have waterproof -matches, a special lighter, or a magic candle. Anything you set your -magic flame to will catch fire. It may not stay lit and indeed may -immediately go out. But it will burn.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. The Devil’s Luck (Frame an innocent and see them -put to death for a crime you committed) Given your reputation for death -and destruction, they should have locked you up long ago and thrown away -the key. How are you possibly still a free man? Be it fear, -intimidation, or the devil’s blessing, people are likely to turn a blind -eye to your evil actions.
      2. -
    • -
-

Path of the Sarong-fu Master

-
    -
    • -
    1. Sarong-fu (Commit yourself to the Way of -Sarong-fu): Vow to carry and use no weapons, other than your sarong or -sash.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Light-footed (Wear no armor and carry no shield): -You are agile, nimble, and light of foot. You are exceptionally good at -dodging attacks, and are skilled at sneaking.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Whip (Defeat a foe with nothing but your sash): You -can twist a piece of cloth into a dangerous whip that you are proficient -with.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Entangle (Fight dirty): You can use your sash or -another cloth to trip up your foe.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Bag (Mug an unsuspecting victim): Swiftly slip your -sash over a foe’s head and cinch it, leaving them blind, confused, and -disoriented.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Rope (Scale a building and climb in through a 2nd -story window): Twist a cloth into a handy rope. When you’re done with -it, you can un-twist it back into cloth.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Starch (Do not bathe or wash your sash for 90 -days): You can stiffen cloth for extra protection when worn, or to -create hard constructs.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Deflect (Win hand-to-hand combat with your hands -bound together): Grip one end of your sash in either hand. When your foe -attacks, you can use your sash to deflect the blow.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Bind (Win a shoe tying contest three times): -Swiftly tie two objects together. Such as a person’s wrists.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Mending: (Wear the same garment until it falls -apart): You can repair torn or ripped fabric with a touch.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Glide (Survive a daring leap): You can use a large -square cloth to safely parachute down from tall heights, or to glide -over a long distance.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Sewing (Win 3 sewing bees): You can fashion fabric -into different shapes and garments and back with a touch.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Disarm (Successfully deflect 20 attacks): When you -deflect an attack, you can attempt to disarm your foe -by wrapping your sash around their weapon and yanking.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Garrote (Strangle a man to death): With a thin -piece of cloth, you can silently strangle your foe without leaving a -trace
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Advanced Bag (Bag 20 victims): When you -bag somebody and cinch the bag, you can choose to cut -off their air, causing them to suffocate, leading to unconsciousness or -even death.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Knot (Learn every knot in the Encyclopedia of -Knots): You can tie a knot that cannot be untied except for another -Sarong-fu Master of your level. Similarly, you can swiftly untie any -knot, save for one tied by a Sarong-fu Master whose level exceeds your -own.
      2. -
    • -
    • -
    1. Transcendent Sarong-fu (Fashion a small cloth -puppet. Keep it hidden on your person for 90 days. Speak to it every -night.): Fabric obeys your spoken command.
      2. -
    • -
+

Stats

+

Total length: 80312 words / 343 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 217 messages posted over 215 days since the first +post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.00.

Chapter 1

This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.

Jump to: 1 2

www

Current Story

-

Below are emails that I send to the mailing list.

+

The current story arc.

You can subscribe to these updates with the rss feed.

https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml

@@ -7305,426 +6633,6 @@ rainbow colored light crackling along the inside illuminating very little of the smoke-filled interior.

“What is it you seek from Dude 215R?”

WHAT DO YOU DO

-

Bestiary

-

Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

-
-
-
Aetherwael
-
-A void whale. Most commonly observed in the swimming in the earth’s -atmosphere, where they come to breath air. But they spend most of their -time in the void of space, where they dive to great depths. -
-
-
-
-aetherwael - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Aur
-
-Giant ears with bat wings. Very keen hearing obviously. Usually more of -an annoyance than a true deterent. Unless there’s a Centaur around. -
-
-
-
-aur - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Blahoblin
-
-a little goblinoid with the head of a goblin shark -
-
-
-
-blahoblin - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Centaur
-
-A hundred ears with a hundred wings. The size of a small horse. They can -really ruin your day. -
-
-
-
-centaur - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cobit
-
-A creature on the cob. The middle life stage of the corn creature, -between Aur and Centaur. It does not have wings. Its flesh is comprised -of thousands of hard microkernels. They travel in herds, and can hear at -the speed of sound. -
-
-
-
-cobit - -
-
-
-
-

-

-
-
Egre
-
-Giant muscle bird. Proud, muscly, vain, fashion forward. Beautiful -plumage. -
-
-
-
-egre - -
-
-
-
-

-

-
-
Gnome
-
-Tiny tinkerers. Highly combustible. Very explosive. Like making -contraptions powered by steam and/or coal -
-
-All gnomes are women. All gnomes are engineers. They have bright red -noses, and very long ears. And long nimble fingers. -
-
-
-
-gnome - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Gnu
-
-Bisonpeople. Long beards, long hair, horns. Poor personal hygiene. -Uncompromising idealists. They insist on a world of free and open-source -magic. They refuse to use any magic that they cannot study, modify, -redistribute, and use however they want. Theirs is a political movement -that borders on religion. Or a religious movement that borders on -politics. -
-
-
-
-gnu - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Groll
-
-A dirty mop head on long, stilt-like legs. Solitary wanderers. They love -magic, but have no natural aptitude for it, and so covet magical items -like wands, staves, and orbs. A typical groll is a walking arsenal of -runes and wands. -
-
-
-
-groll - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Harrowkrake
-
-A colossal many-tentacled sea monster with a hard shell. It drags itself -along the ocean floor, carving deep furrows in which it lives, catching -prey with its tentacles. -
-
-
-
-harrowkrake - -
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-
-
-
-
-
Hemogoblin
-
-A fluffy little goblinoid, dripping blood absolutely EVERYWHERE. Oh god, -don’t let it touch that! Ew. -
-
-Dispite everything, disgustingly cute. -
-
-Sole manufacturers of an extremely high quality synthetic blood, and -thus pretty much single-handedly support the “vegetarian” vampire -community. -
-
-
-
-hemogoblin - -
-
-
-
-
-
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Horkosgrampus
-
-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. -
-
-
-
-horkosgrampus - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Kobit
-
-Subterranean scaly ratdog creatures. Big luminous eyes, long droopy -mustaches. Extremely rarely, they may grow leathery wings, in which case -they are revered and elevated by the other kobits. -
-
-
-
-kobit - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Merbear
-
-Top half bear. Thick, hairless, leathery skin with a thick layer of -blubber to keep it warm. Bottom half fish. -
-
-
-
-merbear - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Noogle
-
-

A cat with owl wings. They wear a propeller hat, which helps them -hover in mid-air, as well as a bell and a cloth pouch with slips of -fortunes around their necks. When they are standing still, their default -facial expression makes them look as though they are either asleep on -their feet or aghast at the sight before them. However, a smirking -expression directed at a non-bird is a sign of trouble for their target: -the latter is about to become catnip.

-

While not rare, noogle sightings are uncommon. They sometimes appear -to lost travellers or people seeking an oracle for counsel. A fortune -can be obtained from a noogle in exchange for a good deed, large or -small, usually to be completed by the requester within a year of -receiving the fortune. If the counsel seeker neglects to fulfill the -deed, or completes it with ill intentions, a significant misfortune may -befall them.

-

It is said that dreaming of a noogle on the first night of a new year -will bring good fortune to the dreamer for the year.

-
-
-
-
-noogle - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tardigrade
-
-A water bear. It has eight jointless legs, each tipped with four sharp -claws. It wriggles and wobbles like jelly as it gesticulates. -
-
-
-
-tardigrade - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Toque
-
-Wild men of the mountains. Their long, sloping, vertically-creased -foreheads and their bulbous, floppy skullcaps make it look like they -wear chef’s hats. But no, that’s just what their heads look like. -
-
-
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-toque - -
-
-
-
-
-
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Torque
-
-The twisted people. Their bodies literally twisted and warped by magic -into gruesome forms, these wretched creatures are hated and reviled -across the lands. -
-
-
-
-torque - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Zephynos
-
-Juvenile cloud dragons. They have wide heads and lidless eyes. Multiple -pairs of filamented stalks behind their head help them fly. They have -six underdeveloped limbs with long, thin fingers that they use to -manipulate cloudstuff into solid objects. -
-
-
-
-zephynos - -
-
-
-
-

Geography

-
- -

Map

- -
-Map - -
-
-

Basmentaria is a group of islands that sits between the eastern -Sugrin Sea and the western Saldin Sea.

-

There is Primora, the sparsely populated northern somewhat -banana-shaped island. The city-state of Illivas, Primora’s only densely -populated area, sits between Harshwind Glade and the mountains of Kelsun -Peak.

-

And there Agendell, the southern also slightly banana-shaped island. -Its largest city is Vay’Nullar, bordered by the Gnomelands to the south, -and the Tammineaux Forest to the east. Beyond the forest is the Rana’For -Valley.

-

The two crescent-moon islands reach toward each other, and in the -center is the archipelago of Ginnarak, comprising the Cinderlands, Ashen -Vale, the Ember Steppe, and Drakspon Mountain.

-

00022

-

Cosmology

-

In a fantasy setting where there objectively are deities who walk the -earth and interact with humans, “atheism” is sometimes erroneously used -to signify an indifference to the gods. This is more accurately called -“transtheism”:

-
-

Transtheism refers to a system of thought or religious philosophy -that is neither theistic nor atheistic, but is beyond them. … [A system] -is theistic in the limited sense that gods exist but are irrelevant as -they are transcended by … a system that is not non-theistic, but in -which the gods are not the highest spiritual instance.

-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transtheism

-
-

That is, gods are sufficiently powerful enough to mold the earth and -shape the destiny of man, but are no different from man in that they are -fallible, flawed, and able to die.

-

They may be greatest power, but are not necessarily the highest -spiritual or moral authority. Nor are they endlessly enduring or -lasting.

-

THE TRINE:

-
    -

  • Neddas – Wise god of sages and starlight. -Androgynous, clad in purple robes, depicted with a golden third eye in -the middle of their forehead. They are often shown stoically bestowing -gifts upon the inhabitants of Basmentaria [1].

    • -

  • Nullar – God of time and tides. A bespectacled -male figure with a golden third eye on his forehead. He is dressed in a -dapper vest and bow tie, and is adorned with small cogs and gears. He is -depicted looking up at the stars from a mechanical contraption he is -working on [1].

    • -

  • Liandt – Goddess of war and flame. A primal, -elemental deity, she is depicted as a fiery warrior with a golden third -eye. The relief shows her on the battlefield during the Artifice wars. -The wars which reduced Ginnarak to the wastes of cinder and ash that -they are today. The wars which drained Liandt’s divine energies so -thoroughly that she fell into a deep sleep and has been absent from the -mortal realms ever since [1].

    • -
-

[1] episode 00010

-

History

-

In the days of old, the Artifice Wars ravaged the lands of -Basmentaria.

-

They reduced the once fertile lands of Ginnarak to ash and -embers.

Spoilers

@@ -8227,7 +7135,1105 @@ document to just abruptly end. So here you go: a kind farewell and a more gentle conclusion.

Thanks for reading.

dozens@tilde.team

-

Appendix A: Barefoot Quackery

+

Appendix A: Dramatis Personae

+

Alex

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Alex is like Corraidhin in some aspects, he’s younger, more brash, +more given to whim and fancy. He’s somewhat greedy and craven, attracted +to riches far too easily. He’s a passionate gambler, not due to his +skill, but by virtue of his ability to distract and confuse, which gives +him a delightful edge. Some would call it lucky, but he calls it +subterfuge. He has some sysorcerer skills, nothing quite as flexible as +Corraidhin, but he delightfully wreaks havoc with worms, scrapers, +ransom & spyware. If he can’t bypass something, he’ll delightfully +destroy it. If he can’t break in, he’ll distract someone or something so +he can slip by.

+
+
    +
  • Player: sinatra
    • +
  • XP: 1
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Investigation 2, Illusions 2, Sneaking 2, +Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2
    • +
  • Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand, The Triple Lindy
    • +
+

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.

+

I believe my skills naturally lend themselves to this expedition. I’m +certain you’ll need someone to elucidate upon the history of these +artifacts, and should trouble come our way I’m ready at hand with spells +a plenty. I’m not the best with a sword, but can hold my own with a bow +staff, but it may be best to leave the fighting up to you younguns. If +we encounter arcane ruins or cryptic texts you’ll find my skills just as +useful as the finest blade in battle.

+

I think with my share of the reward I’ll buy more books. Lots and +lots of books, a whole library of books! And then I’ll start a library, +yes that sounds delightful. And maybe one of those books will have some +information on ridding me of that accursed demon, but that’s another +story entirely.

+
+
    +
  • Player: sinatra
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Arcane Lore 2, Sneak 2, Combat Magic 2
    • +
  • Equipment: Sword of Yam’L, Ginnarak Crystal (Earth)
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start
    • +
  • Soulsword: Bloodlust
    • +
+

Gabs

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Gabs had a good life. Her little devil children were all grown adults +now, and she no longer wanted to toil away running a business. When she +initially shuttered her little tavern, she thought she might just +retire. She made it two whole years of working in a garden, occasionally +seeing grandkids, and reading romance novels. She eventually decided she +needed a vacation from her retirement and traveled to a nearby port +town. She was sure to find something fun to do there.

+

Gabs eventually sees Inquire Within, and the smell of debauchery +wafting from within made her miss her days gossiping at her tavern. She +enters and orders a terrible drink and listens and watches.

+

Hearing the tales being spun by Mister Three-Fingered, she decides, +“I’ve never been on a ship, that’s something that sounds exciting!”

+

Half-drunk and eager for something exciting, she will join on the +journey!

+

Gabs is a lanky older half-devil lady who is here to schmooze and +have fun!

+
+
    +
  • Player: archangelic
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Stabbing 2
    • +
  • Equipment:
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand
    • +
+

Glarg

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

I am Glarg, an earth elemental who was conjured by a wizard who was +immediately beheaded after summoning me. By some freak accident I was +not sent back home to the earth elemental plane when the spell should +have ended. While I have learned the common tonge in my time on this +plane, I have not developed the ability to speak it, because I have no +mouth. I’m a very gentle soul who is misunderstood because of my hard, +cold exterior.

+

I’m pretty durable and good with rocks.

+

With my share of the money, I plan to hire a mage to send me home, or +turn everyone else into earth elementals.

+
+
    +
  • Player: kindrobot
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand
    • +
+

Inky

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Inkulos Iridis greets you merrily! Some call me Inky the Tiny because +of my slight size (perfectly average for imps, I assure you!) and a +fondness for ink.

+

I may be small and nowhere as battle-hardened as knights in shining +armour, but I can skip out of a monster’s grasp before you can say +“scram!”, slip through the cracks (often unseen), scout for useful +items, and brew all kinds of ink with special effects for discerning +drinkers.

+

What do you plan to do with your cut of the money? Buy lots of ink +ingredients, of course! With the money, the very first ink patio with +the best paper nibbles will be opening to serve all from far and wide +very soon!

+
+
    +
  • Player: mio
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Persuasive 2, Plantomancy 2, Throwing 2, +Medicine 2
    • +
  • Equipment: Handy Duffer Discette, Fine Feathered Quills, Jade Tea +Set, Mountain Range Glyph Ink, Bead of the Werehare
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand, The Triple Lindy
    • +
  • Were-Hare: Lepusthropy, Beast Sense, Hybrid Form
    • +
  • Tasseomancer: Reading, Ceremony, Steeping, Blending
    • +
+

Jarrod

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

A broad-chested, olive skinned human finishes a pint of ale with a +long swig. He greets the group with a merry-looking smile, though it +doesn’t seem to touch his eyes. He seems a touch distracted, as if +something else is on his mind. A feeling of lingering sadness touches +his aura.

+

“Greetings, my friends! My name is Jarrod. And this here …” he taps a +heavy warhammer leaning against the back of his chair “… is Gertrude. +When it comes to danger, consider us your shield. I will blunt what +dangers may come from ahead and protect those who shelter behind. I’m +more than good in a fight, specializing in up-close battles and …” he +gives a small smirk “… alternative forms of negotiations.”

+

He leans over and places his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers +and leaning in with his chin touching them as he continues. A thin +leather cord adorned with small charms carved from bone is draped around +his left wrist.

+

“Other than that, I’m willing to take on cooking chores and spin the +occasional tale around a campfire. My cut of the money goes towards +opening my own tavern when I retire.”

+
+
    +
  • Player: marcus
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1, Oratory 2
    • +
  • Equipment: Fascinating Bangle
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand
    • +
+

Sneaky Willows

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

I’m “Sneaky” Willows (nobody knows my actual name), an elvish +pickpocket with a love for sneakin’, stabbin’ and music playin’! Some +people say I’m no good at music playin’, but then I go sneakin’ and +stabbin’ em!

+

On this team I think I’m gonna be good at sneakin’ up to those +crystals and grabbin’ em right from under the guard’s noses!

+

With my money I’m plannin’ to hire a bard to teach me more music, so +I can really impress people with my playin’ and maybe not even have to +stab them!

+
+
    +
  • Player: nico
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand
    • +
+

Tea Filler

+
+ +

Bio

+ +

Who: Teefoon Filler of the Bucket, Knight of the 3rd order of +Balmarlovemeer, Crester of the Golden-Fringed Ridge and 2nd to the +Keeper of the Grimoire Glorious. You may call me “Tea.” (Tea is, +notably, a giant. ~11ft tall).

+

What: Retired Cleric turned Archeologist.

+

Cash: A sturdy wagon and 5 head of oxen to pull it. I wish to travel +further than my legs can take me.

+
+
    +
  • Player: eli
    • +
  • XP: 0
    • +
  • Skills: Do Anything 1
    • +
+

Paths:

+
    +
  • Retriever: Contractual Obligation, An Auspicious Start, Two In The +Hand
    • +
+

Appendex B: Meta

+

Welcome to Basement Quest!

+

We’re gonna play this by ear, and cross each bridge only when we get +to it.

+

Policies

+
    +

  • Safety: Practice safe roleplaying.

    +
    • +

  • Cadence: I’ll move the story along roughly once a week. Hopefully +that gives everybody time to post something and participate.

    • +

  • Open Table / Inclusion over realism: If you disappear for a while +and then come back, your character will immediately reappear as though +they’ve been there the whole time. Come and go as you please. Open door +policy! Drop in and drop out as you please.

    • +

  • Linearity: Respond only to the most recent email in the thread. +(We might play around with time later, but for now, let’s keep it +simple.)

    • +
+

Mechanics

+

Shoes in the Dark:

+

https://dozens.itch.io/shoes-in-the-dark

+

To do something, say that you do it, and then it probably +happens!

+

If there is a risk, or chance of failure, we’ll roll dice to +determine the outcome. We’ll use a variation of “Roll for Shoes” because +it’s probably the most simple system there is. Everybody will start out +pretty even skills wise. But you will eventually get really good at +really specific things.

+

Everybody starts with one skill: Do anything 1

+

So to attempt to do anything, roll 1d6.

+
    +
  • 1 - 3: Things go poorly. Gain 1 xp.
    • +
  • 4 - 5: Partial success / success at cost
    • +
  • 6: Great success!
    • +
+

If you roll all sixes, you gain a new +1 skill which must be a subset +of the skill you just used.

+

Example:

+
+

Player: I kick down the door. I’ll roll Do Anything (1) aaaand, +that’s a six!”

+

Referee: You now have “Kicking Down Doors 2”

+

Later….

+

Player: I bust down the door with a flying kick! I’ll roll Kicking +Down Doors 2 aaaand, two sixes!

+

Referee: You now have “Doorbane 3”

+

Player: Siiiick, doors fear me.

+
+

Every time you fail a roll, you gain 1 xp.

+

You can spend xp to turn any die into a six for the purpose of +advancement.

+

Paths and Skills

+ +

About Paths

+

Paths are a kind of skill ladder that players can discover and unlock +through play as their characters learn more about the world by living in +it.

+

They are the lambda calculus answer to “classes” in traditional +ttrpgs: a kind of anonymous class that everybody has access to, that you +can combine and mix and match to your heart’s content. They are an +all-you-can-eat buffet of skills and talents.

+

How it works:

+

Each path has a bunch of skills.

+

Every skill starts with a rank (a number), followed by a name (in +bold), a trigger (in parenthesis), and finally a description.

+

You can unlock any skill by satisfying its trigger in-game, provided +you have already unlocked at least one skill of every rank below it, in +the same path. (The exceptions are skills of rank zero, which are the +entry level skills for each path, and do not have such a +requirement.)

+

Example:

+
+

Path of the Goblin Slayer

+
    +
    • +
    1. Favored Foe (Slay 100 goblins): You are now an +expert when facing this foe. From now on when attacking a goblin, a roll +of 5 - 6 is considered a critical success. 4 - 5 is a success. And 1 - 3 +is a mixed success.
      2. +
    • +
+
+

The path is “Path of the Goblin Slayer”. The rank of the first skill +is 0, so there are no prerequisites. (If it had been, say, 2, then you +would need to have unlocked a skill of rank 1 and of rank 0 in the same +path before unlocking this one.) The name is “Favored Foe”. The trigger +is “Slay 100 goblins”. And the perk is detailed in the description.

+

Path of the Retriever

+

The Perks of the Job

+
    +
    • +
    1. Contractual Obligation (Agree to retrieve 5 +crystals for the Benefactor): You have access to the Benefactor’s +resources through your handler, Blavin Blandfoot.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. An Auspicious Start (Retrieve 1 crystal): You gain +a team of rivals: the Retrieval Team 70 gophers. If you don’t have a 2 +dice skill yet, gain one of your choosing.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Two In The Hand (Retrieve 2 crystals): Two in the +hand are technically worth four in the bush. That’s the going exchange +rate, anyway. Gain one 2 dice skill of your choosing.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. The Triple Lindy (Retrieve 3 crystals): “Is that +hard?” “It’s impossible.” Turn any 2 dice skill into a 3 dice +skill.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Pareto Roll (Retrieve 4 crystals): A mere 20% of +resources drive 80% of the outcomes. What does that have to do with +crystals? I don’t know, but you have 80% of them now. From now on, you +can spend 1 xp to reroll any 1 die.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. HOT TUB PARTY (Retrieve 5 crystals): You win a +visit to the Benefactor’s mansion, including dinner and a dip in the hot +tub!
      2. +
    • +
+

Path of the Tasseomancer

+

If that’s your cup of tea…

+
    +
    • +
    1. Reading (Obtain a magical tea set): You can see +omens in the tea leaves left after drinking tea from your magic tea +set.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Ceremony (Perform a ritual tea ceremony every day +for a month): Time for tea! Once a day, you can announce a tea party, +temporarily putting an end to any hostilities for as long as it takes to +enjoy 3 cups of tea.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Steeping (Offer something of great personal value +to the teapot. It vanishes and does not return): Practically anything +can be steeped in your teapot to extract oils and soluables. Drinking +such a prepared concoction will temporarily grant you some aspect of +that which was steeped.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Gossip (Betray the trust of a loved one): During a +tea ceremony, you can compel one creature to answer one question +truthfully.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Blending (Create 24 different infusions): You can +steep two ingredients at once, gaining benefits from both when drinking +the infusion.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Scrying (Detain a guest at your tea ceremony for 24 +hours): The precise location of anybody who drinks your tea is known to +you for 24 hours after they consume it.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Caffeine (Stay up all night drinking tea for 3 +days): You can boost the stimulant effects of your tea. Perform a tea +ceremony forgo the need to sleep, while also gaining the benefits of a +full night’s rest.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Bottomless Pour (Make a single pot of tea last you +three days): Your teapot always has one more cup of tea in it.
      2. +
    • +
+

Path of the Were-Hare

+

You have been cursed to wander this world; half man, half rabbit.

+
    +
    • +
    1. Lepusthropy (Gain the curse of lepusthropy): Every +full moon, you become a monstrous human/rabbit hybrid with an insatiable +craving for fresh vegetables.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Beast Sense (Talk to a rabbit): Rabbits and hares +will obey your orders. You can sense when there are rabbits or hares +nearby.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Hybrid Form (Embrace the curse): You can assume +hybrid form at will. Your sharp, pointy teeth do damage as a 3 dice +skill. You can only maintain this form for a short time, and are left +weak afterwards.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Beast Form (Meditate on the form of a rabbit every +day for a month): You can assume the form or a rabbit or hare. The +longer you maintain this form, the more risk you won’t be able to change +back!
      2. +
    • +
+

Path of the Soulsword

+

You have a unique bond with a sentient sword

+
    +
    • +
    1. Bloodlust (Discover and obtain a sentient, magical +sword): Your sword has a lust for stabbing that can only be satisfied +with blood. Your sword counts as a 3 dice skill when attacking, but you +must also roll to resist being overcome by a mindless bloodlust, +striking out at whoever happens to be nearby.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Spell Sword (Cast a spell on your sword after +satisfying its bloodlust): You can cast a spell on your sword to store +it for quick casting later: on your turn, if you hit with your sword, +you can automatically cast the stored spell in addition to doing damage +with the sword.
      2. +
    • +
+

Path of the Duck Outlaw

+

When Basket Duck is against the law, only outlaws will play Basket +Duck. And not even the angels will weep when this path eventually leads +to your inevitable death.

+

Inspired by juego del pato, the traditional, much maligned, +national sport of Argentina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pato. Credit to ~mio for +kicking off this idea.

+
    +
    • +
    1. Basket Duck (Given the opportunity to befriend a +duck, trap it instead and keep it in a basket): You can whip a crowd +into a frenzy. The very sight of your duck in a basket can provoke a +knife fight.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Gaucho (Right 100 leagues on horseback with your +basket duck): Your horsemanship is legendary. You can achieve feats of +daring, strength, and agility while on horseback. And while you carry +your basket duck.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Pate-au-pato (Fatten a duck for an abattoir): Your +foie gras recipe impresses any guest you invite to dine, increasing the +likelihood a request will be responded to in your favour.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Pecking Duck (Make a sauce 666 times): You gain a +2-dice Roasting skill with a chance of increased effectiveness on beasts +and decreased effectiveness on humanoids.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Duck Trap (Trap 44 ducks each under 44 seconds): +Your Trapping skills have improved, which is to say, they have gotten +worse at trapping ducks and better at trapping other somethings and +nothings. Increased chance of finding other things in any trap you +set.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Dog (Trap 100 ducks): You gain a small but vicious +dog who can help flush ducks out of the bush for you to trap. If you +ever fail to trap one though, it will laugh at and demoralize you.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Pants Is Overrated (Refuse to wear pants for 30 +days): For as long as you wear no pants, you can preen yourself to +become waterproof. This effect also extends to any items you carry. +People may not approve of your lack of attire. But you have a long +poncho right?
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Feather Fall (Survive a fall from over 20 feet high +with your basket duck): You can pluck a feather from your basket duck +and use it to slow your descent, landing safely on your feet.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Pato (Safely deliver your basket duck back to your +home; along the way, offer it to everyone you meet but don’t let them +take it): From now on, basket duck is outlawed by the government +wherever you go. At the same time, you are a hero of the people and can +muster a small mob to your aide.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Duck Typing (Make an ink from the roasted beans of +the java plant and a quill from a duck feather. Write on a parchment in +javascript 100 times “Thou art a duck”): If it looks like a +duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then—if you say it +is—it is a duck.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Arrogate (Kill the person who has stolen your +basket duck from you): The angels have turned their backs on you, +leaving you free to claim more than what is rightfully yours. You are +immune to the blessings and curses of any minor miracle worker.
      2. +
    • +
+

Path of the Murderhobo

+

You are an angel of death. A dirty, homeless angel of death with no +conscious or qualms with killing the innocent.

+
    +
    • +
    1. Hobo (Refuse to sleep under a roof or on the +ground): You gain a lot of resilience due to being unhoused. You are +partially immune to poison and disease, and can consume rotten food or +drink without any ill effects.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Bully (Destroy something weak and defenseless): You +always have the drop on somebody weaker, smaller, less wealthy, or +otherwise worse off than you.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Pocket Sand (Overcome a foe while blinded +yourself): You always have at least one handful of sand, gravel, grit, +or rubble in your pockets that you can use to attempt to blind your +foe.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. In Cold Blood (Kill an innocent person in cold +blood): When it is unprovoked or unexpected, your first attack always +hits its target.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Arsonist (Burn three different structures down to +the ground on three different occasions): You can always produce a flame +regardless of the circumstances. It might because you have waterproof +matches, a special lighter, or a magic candle. Anything you set your +magic flame to will catch fire. It may not stay lit and indeed may +immediately go out. But it will burn.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. The Devil’s Luck (Frame an innocent and see them +put to death for a crime you committed) Given your reputation for death +and destruction, they should have locked you up long ago and thrown away +the key. How are you possibly still a free man? Be it fear, +intimidation, or the devil’s blessing, people are likely to turn a blind +eye to your evil actions.
      2. +
    • +
+

Path of the Sarong-fu Master

+

You are a master of soft, pliaable weapons.

+
    +
    • +
    1. Sarong-fu (Commit yourself to the Way of +Sarong-fu): Vow to carry and use no weapons, other than your sarong or +sash.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Light-footed (Wear no armor and carry no shield): +You are agile, nimble, and light of foot. You are exceptionally good at +dodging attacks, and are skilled at sneaking.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Whip (Defeat a foe with nothing but your sash): You +can twist a piece of cloth into a dangerous whip that you are proficient +with.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Entangle (Fight dirty): You can use your sash or +another cloth to trip up your foe.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Bag (Mug an unsuspecting victim): Swiftly slip your +sash over a foe’s head and cinch it, leaving them blind, confused, and +disoriented.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Rope (Scale a building and climb in through a 2nd +story window): Twist a cloth into a handy rope. When you’re done with +it, you can un-twist it back into cloth.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Starch (Do not bathe or wash your sash for 90 +days): You can stiffen cloth for extra protection when worn, or to +create hard constructs.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Deflect (Win hand-to-hand combat with your hands +bound together): Grip one end of your sash in either hand. When your foe +attacks, you can use your sash to deflect the blow.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Bind (Win a shoe tying contest three times): +Swiftly tie two objects together. Such as a person’s wrists.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Mending: (Wear the same garment until it falls +apart): You can repair torn or ripped fabric with a touch.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Glide (Survive a daring leap): You can use a large +square cloth to safely parachute down from tall heights, or to glide +over a long distance.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Sewing (Win 3 sewing bees): You can fashion fabric +into different shapes and garments and back with a touch.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Disarm (Successfully deflect 20 attacks): When you +deflect an attack, you can attempt to disarm your foe +by wrapping your sash around their weapon and yanking.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Garrote (Strangle a man to death): With a thin +piece of cloth, you can silently strangle your foe without leaving a +trace
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Advanced Bag (Bag 20 victims): When you +bag somebody and cinch the bag, you can choose to cut +off their air, causing them to suffocate, leading to unconsciousness or +even death.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Knot (Learn every knot in the Encyclopedia of +Knots): You can tie a knot that cannot be untied except for another +Sarong-fu Master of your level. Similarly, you can swiftly untie any +knot, save for one tied by a Sarong-fu Master whose level exceeds your +own.
      2. +
    • +
    • +
    1. Transcendent Sarong-fu (Fashion a small cloth +puppet. Keep it hidden on your person for 90 days. Speak to it every +night.): Fabric obeys your spoken command.
      2. +
    • +
+

Appendix C: Bestiary

+

Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria

+
+
+
Aetherwael
+
+A void whale. Most commonly observed in the swimming in the earth’s +atmosphere, where they come to breath air. But they spend most of their +time in the void of space, where they dive to great depths. +
+
+
+
+aetherwael + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Aur
+
+Giant ears with bat wings. Very keen hearing obviously. Usually more of +an annoyance than a true deterent. Unless there’s a Centaur around. +
+
+
+
+aur + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Blahoblin
+
+a little goblinoid with the head of a goblin shark +
+
+
+
+blahoblin + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Centaur
+
+A hundred ears with a hundred wings. The size of a small horse. They can +really ruin your day. +
+
+
+
+centaur + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Cobit
+
+A creature on the cob. The middle life stage of the corn creature, +between Aur and Centaur. It does not have wings. Its flesh is comprised +of thousands of hard microkernels. They travel in herds, and can hear at +the speed of sound. +
+
+
+
+cobit + +
+
+
+
+

+

+
+
Egre
+
+Giant muscle bird. Proud, muscly, vain, fashion forward. Beautiful +plumage. +
+
+
+
+egre + +
+
+
+
+

+

+
+
Gnome
+
+Tiny tinkerers. Highly combustible. Very explosive. Like making +contraptions powered by steam and/or coal +
+
+All gnomes are women. All gnomes are engineers. They have bright red +noses, and very long ears. And long nimble fingers. +
+
+
+
+gnome + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Gnu
+
+Bisonpeople. Long beards, long hair, horns. Poor personal hygiene. +Uncompromising idealists. They insist on a world of free and open-source +magic. They refuse to use any magic that they cannot study, modify, +redistribute, and use however they want. Theirs is a political movement +that borders on religion. Or a religious movement that borders on +politics. +
+
+
+
+gnu + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Groll
+
+A dirty mop head on long, stilt-like legs. Solitary wanderers. They love +magic, but have no natural aptitude for it, and so covet magical items +like wands, staves, and orbs. A typical groll is a walking arsenal of +runes and wands. +
+
+
+
+groll + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Harrowkrake
+
+A colossal many-tentacled sea monster with a hard shell. It drags itself +along the ocean floor, carving deep furrows in which it lives, catching +prey with its tentacles. +
+
+
+
+harrowkrake + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Hemogoblin
+
+A fluffy little goblinoid, dripping blood absolutely EVERYWHERE. Oh god, +don’t let it touch that! Ew. +
+
+Dispite everything, disgustingly cute. +
+
+Sole manufacturers of an extremely high quality synthetic blood, and +thus pretty much single-handedly support the “vegetarian” vampire +community. +
+
+
+
+hemogoblin + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Horkosgrampus
+
+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. +
+
+
+
+horkosgrampus + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Kobit
+
+Subterranean scaly ratdog creatures. Big luminous eyes, long droopy +mustaches. Extremely rarely, they may grow leathery wings, in which case +they are revered and elevated by the other kobits. +
+
+
+
+kobit + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Merbear
+
+Top half bear. Thick, hairless, leathery skin with a thick layer of +blubber to keep it warm. Bottom half fish. +
+
+
+
+merbear + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Noogle
+
+

A cat with owl wings. They wear a propeller hat, which helps them +hover in mid-air, as well as a bell and a cloth pouch with slips of +fortunes around their necks. When they are standing still, their default +facial expression makes them look as though they are either asleep on +their feet or aghast at the sight before them. However, a smirking +expression directed at a non-bird is a sign of trouble for their target: +the latter is about to become catnip.

+

While not rare, noogle sightings are uncommon. They sometimes appear +to lost travellers or people seeking an oracle for counsel. A fortune +can be obtained from a noogle in exchange for a good deed, large or +small, usually to be completed by the requester within a year of +receiving the fortune. If the counsel seeker neglects to fulfill the +deed, or completes it with ill intentions, a significant misfortune may +befall them.

+

It is said that dreaming of a noogle on the first night of a new year +will bring good fortune to the dreamer for the year.

+
+
+
+
+noogle + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Tardigrade
+
+A water bear. It has eight jointless legs, each tipped with four sharp +claws. It wriggles and wobbles like jelly as it gesticulates. +
+
+
+
+tardigrade + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Toque
+
+Wild men of the mountains. Their long, sloping, vertically-creased +foreheads and their bulbous, floppy skullcaps make it look like they +wear chef’s hats. But no, that’s just what their heads look like. +
+
+
+
+toque + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Torque
+
+The twisted people. Their bodies literally twisted and warped by magic +into gruesome forms, these wretched creatures are hated and reviled +across the lands. +
+
+
+
+torque + +
+
+
+
+
+
+
Zephynos
+
+Juvenile cloud dragons. They have wide heads and lidless eyes. Multiple +pairs of filamented stalks behind their head help them fly. They have +six underdeveloped limbs with long, thin fingers that they use to +manipulate cloudstuff into solid objects. +
+
+
+
+zephynos + +
+
+
+
+

Appendix D: Setting

+

The world of Basmentaria

+

Geography

+
+ +

Map

+ +
+Map + +
+
+

Basmentaria is a group of islands that sits between the eastern +Sugrin Sea and the western Saldin Sea.

+

There is Primora, the sparsely populated northern somewhat +banana-shaped island. The city-state of Illivas, Primora’s only densely +populated area, sits between Harshwind Glade and the mountains of Kelsun +Peak.

+

And there Agendell, the southern also slightly banana-shaped island. +Its largest city is Vay’Nullar, bordered by the Gnomelands to the south, +and the Tammineaux Forest to the east. Beyond the forest is the Rana’For +Valley.

+

The two crescent-moon islands reach toward each other, and in the +center is the archipelago of Ginnarak, comprising the Cinderlands, Ashen +Vale, the Ember Steppe, and Drakspon Mountain.

+

00022

+

Cosmology

+

In a fantasy setting where there objectively are deities who walk the +earth and interact with humans, “atheism” is sometimes erroneously used +to signify an indifference to the gods. This is more accurately called +“transtheism”:

+
+

Transtheism refers to a system of thought or religious philosophy +that is neither theistic nor atheistic, but is beyond them. … [A system] +is theistic in the limited sense that gods exist but are irrelevant as +they are transcended by … a system that is not non-theistic, but in +which the gods are not the highest spiritual instance.

+

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transtheism

+
+

That is, gods are sufficiently powerful enough to mold the earth and +shape the destiny of man, but are no different from man in that they are +fallible, flawed, and able to die.

+

They may be greatest power, but are not necessarily the highest +spiritual or moral authority. Nor are they endlessly enduring or +lasting.

+

THE TRINE:

+
    +

  • Neddas – Wise god of sages and starlight. +Androgynous, clad in purple robes, depicted with a golden third eye in +the middle of their forehead. They are often shown stoically bestowing +gifts upon the inhabitants of Basmentaria [1].

    • +

  • Nullar – God of time and tides. A bespectacled +male figure with a golden third eye on his forehead. He is dressed in a +dapper vest and bow tie, and is adorned with small cogs and gears. He is +depicted looking up at the stars from a mechanical contraption he is +working on [1].

    • +

  • Liandt – Goddess of war and flame. A primal, +elemental deity, she is depicted as a fiery warrior with a golden third +eye. The relief shows her on the battlefield during the Artifice wars. +The wars which reduced Ginnarak to the wastes of cinder and ash that +they are today. The wars which drained Liandt’s divine energies so +thoroughly that she fell into a deep sleep and has been absent from the +mortal realms ever since [1].

    • +
+

[1] episode 00010

+

History

+

In the days of old, the Artifice Wars ravaged the lands of +Basmentaria.

+

They reduced the once fertile lands of Ginnarak to ash and +embers.

+

Appendix E: Barefoot Quackery

Being apocryphal and supplemental material posted to the Barefoot Quackery thread on tildepals, including depictions of loose pages torn from books of the Runesocesius Library during the assault by the @@ -8714,7 +8720,7 @@ My Lady, I long to see you to kiss your fair golden tresses and take my vow with Nullar as witness, an Elixir to savour once more your everlasting beauty? -

Appendix B: Bean

+

Appendix F: Bean

Note: This story by mio was originally published in issue 6 of the tilde.town zine, and is included here with the author’s permission.

@@ -8945,7 +8951,7 @@ filled with a number of small red beans. Shaking them out in handfuls at a time, she counted 43 in total.

The girl smiled. When the time came, she and the beans will be ready.

-

Appendix C: Teale

+

Appendix G: Teale

This story by mio, while technically part of the Barefoot Quackery compendium, stands on its own enough to earn its own entry in the appendix. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.