68

basement.order

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ src/epistolary/00064.md
 src/epistolary/00065.md
 src/epistolary/00066.md
 src/epistolary/00067.md
+src/epistolary/00068.md
 src/notes.md
 src/acknowledgements.md
 src/afterword.md

src/characters/alex.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Alex is like Corraidhin in some aspects, he’s younger, more brash, more given
 - Player: sinatra
 - XP: 1
 - Skills: Do Anything 1, Investigation 2, Illusions 2, Sneaking 2, Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2
-- Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones
+- Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones, stone of *courage*
 
 Paths:
 

src/epistolary/00068.md

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+---
+title: 00068
+created: Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:14:47 -0700
+updated: Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:14:47 -0700
+public: yes
+syndicated: yes
+---
+### 00068 {#00068}
+
+The fingertips of the Nyxmaer graze the eye and an eldritch wind
+begins to howl inside the fish market.
+
+It whips around and around inside the ritual circle, flipping
+blankets and tossing pillows. The dreamers also toss and turn in
+their sleep, but still do not wake. The foul wind tugs at their hair
+and at their clothing.
+
+The small candles around the edge of the circle go out, plunging the
+room into near darkness. The dark flame of the demon candle sputters.
+
+The wind screams as it pushes through the small smudged gap in the
+circle and out onto the floor of the market. It coils around Rind's
+feet and teases at the hem of the child's dress. It ruffles the
+duck's feathers.
+
+The fingertips flick over the eye, caress it, draw it close. And
+finally its fist closes tightly around it.
+
+The last candle goes out, plunging the room into darkness. The wind
+and the sirens stop all at once, and in the silence all that can be
+heard is the steady rain outside.
+
+> "Look Trine or not, I need a little more than this. I ain't nobodies
+> errand boy, and insofar as I can tell either the Gods are dead, or
+> they haven't given a rats ass about me or anyone else. What's more,
+> you're claiming to be some sort of divinity, yet you can only
+> manifest here amongst my nightmares, the same ones I learned years
+> ago to shut out. You never forget the face of your first mark, but
+> what they don't tell you is it doesn't have to haunt you either."
+> Alex looks directly at the apparition.
+> 
+> "But I'm reasonable too. Give me some proof you say what you are. You
+> say you have power to share? Well power I need. I have people to
+> protect, and an unclue to rescue. I'll be damned if I let anything
+> happen to them. Yet here I am, stuck in this god firsaken place
+> chittering away with my own subconcious getting attacked by freaking
+> mushrooms people."
+> 
+> "Just give it to me straight Neddas, what assistance are you
+> offering, and what must I give in return? If you an guarantee me a
+> way to protect those close to me, I don't give a rats ass about the
+> rest." 
+
+Neddas silently holds your gaze for a long moment.
+
+"What you ask of me is fair, since I am asking so much of you."
+
+They hold out their hands and present you with a stone amulet. It
+slightly resembles the Ginnarak Crystals. Much smaller. And more
+almond shaped than melon shaped. But it is the same shade of blue,
+with the same veins of slightly pulsating gold throughout. It hangs
+from a fine chain of small silver links.
+
+"As long as this stone is in your possession, you will find you have
+the courage to do what you think is right. Be aware that it is a
+piece of me. And those who know about it will try to take it from
+you."
+
+In the distance you can hear alarms and terrible moans carried on a
+howling wind.
+
+~
+
+Corraidhín impatiently flips over the first three tumbrot cards in
+front of Inky:
+
+1. A tall man looks from a battlemented roof over sea and shore; he
+holds a globe in his right hand, while a staff in his left rests on
+the battlement; another is fixed in a ring. The Rose and Cross and
+Lily should be noticed on the left side.
+
+2. Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially
+those of the fantastic spirit.
+
+3. A ferryman carrying passengers in his punt to the further shore.
+The course is smooth, and seeing that the freight is light, it may be
+noted that the work is not beyond his strength.
+
+Felixe the Cat passes the two six-sided tumbrot dice to Inky and
+recites a small pome for the inkling:
+
+> ```
+> In the superior world it is
+> A young man, leaning on his
+> to indicate therein. It is
+> speaking, to the traditional
+> red standard has been
+> ```
+
+You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and
+battering at the windows.
+
+"Well?" Balvin prompts. "What do you do?"

www/index.html

@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@
 <li><a href="#00065" id="toc-00065">00065</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00066" id="toc-00066">00066</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00067" id="toc-00067">00067</a></li>
+<li><a href="#00068" id="toc-00068">00068</a></li>
 </ul></li>
 <li><a href="#afterword" id="toc-afterword">Afterword</a></li>
 <li><a href="#appendix-a-dramatis-personae"
@@ -364,11 +365,11 @@ into the <a href="#current-story">current story arc</a>.</p>
 you can <a href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml">subscribe to
 the rss feed</a>.</p>
 <h2 id="stats">Stats</h2>
-<p>Total length: 87088 words / 372 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
+<p>Total length: 87969 words / 375 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
 length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not
 just the story.)</p>
-<p>There have been 235 messages posted over 231 days since the first
+<p>There have been 236 messages posted over 231 days since the first
-post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.01.</p>
+post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.02.</p>
 <h2 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h2>
 <p>This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.</p>
 <p>Jump to: <a href="#00001">1</a> <a href="#00002">2</a> <a
@@ -7314,6 +7315,83 @@ new age for Basmentaria!”</p>
 down, in a cross. Three across, three high. It sets the remainder of the
 deck aside and looks at you expectantly.</p>
 <p>WHAT DO YOU DO?</p>
+<h3 id="00068">00068</h3>
+<p>The fingertips of the Nyxmaer graze the eye and an eldritch wind
+begins to howl inside the fish market.</p>
+<p>It whips around and around inside the ritual circle, flipping
+blankets and tossing pillows. The dreamers also toss and turn in their
+sleep, but still do not wake. The foul wind tugs at their hair and at
+their clothing.</p>
+<p>The small candles around the edge of the circle go out, plunging the
+room into near darkness. The dark flame of the demon candle
+sputters.</p>
+<p>The wind screams as it pushes through the small smudged gap in the
+circle and out onto the floor of the market. It coils around Rind’s feet
+and teases at the hem of the child’s dress. It ruffles the duck’s
+feathers.</p>
+<p>The fingertips flick over the eye, caress it, draw it close. And
+finally its fist closes tightly around it.</p>
+<p>The last candle goes out, plunging the room into darkness. The wind
+and the sirens stop all at once, and in the silence all that can be
+heard is the steady rain outside.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Look Trine or not, I need a little more than this. I ain’t nobodies
+errand boy, and insofar as I can tell either the Gods are dead, or they
+haven’t given a rats ass about me or anyone else. What’s more, you’re
+claiming to be some sort of divinity, yet you can only manifest here
+amongst my nightmares, the same ones I learned years ago to shut out.
+You never forget the face of your first mark, but what they don’t tell
+you is it doesn’t have to haunt you either.” Alex looks directly at the
+apparition.</p>
+<p>“But I’m reasonable too. Give me some proof you say what you are. You
+say you have power to share? Well power I need. I have people to
+protect, and an unclue to rescue. I’ll be damned if I let anything
+happen to them. Yet here I am, stuck in this god firsaken place
+chittering away with my own subconcious getting attacked by freaking
+mushrooms people.”</p>
+<p>“Just give it to me straight Neddas, what assistance are you
+offering, and what must I give in return? If you an guarantee me a way
+to protect those close to me, I don’t give a rats ass about the
+rest.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Neddas silently holds your gaze for a long moment.</p>
+<p>“What you ask of me is fair, since I am asking so much of you.”</p>
+<p>They hold out their hands and present you with a stone amulet. It
+slightly resembles the Ginnarak Crystals. Much smaller. And more almond
+shaped than melon shaped. But it is the same shade of blue, with the
+same veins of slightly pulsating gold throughout. It hangs from a fine
+chain of small silver links.</p>
+<p>“As long as this stone is in your possession, you will find you have
+the courage to do what you think is right. Be aware that it is a piece
+of me. And those who know about it will try to take it from you.”</p>
+<p>In the distance you can hear alarms and terrible moans carried on a
+howling wind.</p>
+<p>~</p>
+<p>Corraidhín impatiently flips over the first three tumbrot cards in
+front of Inky:</p>
+<ol type="1">
+<li><p>A tall man looks from a battlemented roof over sea and shore; he
+holds a globe in his right hand, while a staff in his left rests on the
+battlement; another is fixed in a ring. The Rose and Cross and Lily
+should be noticed on the left side.</p></li>
+<li><p>Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially
+those of the fantastic spirit.</p></li>
+<li><p>A ferryman carrying passengers in his punt to the further shore.
+The course is smooth, and seeing that the freight is light, it may be
+noted that the work is not beyond his strength.</p></li>
+</ol>
+<p>Felixe the Cat passes the two six-sided tumbrot dice to Inky and
+recites a small pome for the inkling:</p>
+<blockquote>
+<pre><code>In the superior world it is
+A young man, leaning on his
+to indicate therein. It is
+speaking, to the traditional
+red standard has been</code></pre>
+</blockquote>
+<p>You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and
+battering at the windows.</p>
+<p>“Well?” Balvin prompts. “What do you do?”</p>
 <h2 id="afterword">Afterword</h2>
 <p>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
@@ -7342,7 +7420,7 @@ he can slip by.</p>
 <li>XP: 1</li>
 <li>Skills: Do Anything 1, Investigation 2, Illusions 2, Sneaking 2,
 Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2</li>
-<li>Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones</li>
+<li>Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones, stone of <em>courage</em></li>
 </ul>
 <p>Paths:</p>
 <ul>

www/spoilers.html

@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@
 <li><a href="#00065" id="toc-00065">00065</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00066" id="toc-00066">00066</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00067" id="toc-00067">00067</a></li>
+<li><a href="#00068" id="toc-00068">00068</a></li>
 </ul></li>
 <li><a href="#spoilers" id="toc-spoilers">Spoilers</a></li>
 <li><a href="#acknowledgements"
@@ -367,11 +368,11 @@ into the <a href="#current-story">current story arc</a>.</p>
 you can <a href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml">subscribe to
 the rss feed</a>.</p>
 <h2 id="stats">Stats</h2>
-<p>Total length: 87088 words / 372 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
+<p>Total length: 87969 words / 375 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
 length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not
 just the story.)</p>
-<p>There have been 235 messages posted over 231 days since the first
+<p>There have been 236 messages posted over 231 days since the first
-post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.01.</p>
+post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of 1.02.</p>
 <h2 id="chapter-1">Chapter 1</h2>
 <p>This is the first installment of BASEMENT QUEST.</p>
 <p>Jump to: <a href="#00001">1</a> <a href="#00002">2</a> <a
@@ -7317,6 +7318,83 @@ new age for Basmentaria!”</p>
 down, in a cross. Three across, three high. It sets the remainder of the
 deck aside and looks at you expectantly.</p>
 <p>WHAT DO YOU DO?</p>
+<h3 id="00068">00068</h3>
+<p>The fingertips of the Nyxmaer graze the eye and an eldritch wind
+begins to howl inside the fish market.</p>
+<p>It whips around and around inside the ritual circle, flipping
+blankets and tossing pillows. The dreamers also toss and turn in their
+sleep, but still do not wake. The foul wind tugs at their hair and at
+their clothing.</p>
+<p>The small candles around the edge of the circle go out, plunging the
+room into near darkness. The dark flame of the demon candle
+sputters.</p>
+<p>The wind screams as it pushes through the small smudged gap in the
+circle and out onto the floor of the market. It coils around Rind’s feet
+and teases at the hem of the child’s dress. It ruffles the duck’s
+feathers.</p>
+<p>The fingertips flick over the eye, caress it, draw it close. And
+finally its fist closes tightly around it.</p>
+<p>The last candle goes out, plunging the room into darkness. The wind
+and the sirens stop all at once, and in the silence all that can be
+heard is the steady rain outside.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Look Trine or not, I need a little more than this. I ain’t nobodies
+errand boy, and insofar as I can tell either the Gods are dead, or they
+haven’t given a rats ass about me or anyone else. What’s more, you’re
+claiming to be some sort of divinity, yet you can only manifest here
+amongst my nightmares, the same ones I learned years ago to shut out.
+You never forget the face of your first mark, but what they don’t tell
+you is it doesn’t have to haunt you either.” Alex looks directly at the
+apparition.</p>
+<p>“But I’m reasonable too. Give me some proof you say what you are. You
+say you have power to share? Well power I need. I have people to
+protect, and an unclue to rescue. I’ll be damned if I let anything
+happen to them. Yet here I am, stuck in this god firsaken place
+chittering away with my own subconcious getting attacked by freaking
+mushrooms people.”</p>
+<p>“Just give it to me straight Neddas, what assistance are you
+offering, and what must I give in return? If you an guarantee me a way
+to protect those close to me, I don’t give a rats ass about the
+rest.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Neddas silently holds your gaze for a long moment.</p>
+<p>“What you ask of me is fair, since I am asking so much of you.”</p>
+<p>They hold out their hands and present you with a stone amulet. It
+slightly resembles the Ginnarak Crystals. Much smaller. And more almond
+shaped than melon shaped. But it is the same shade of blue, with the
+same veins of slightly pulsating gold throughout. It hangs from a fine
+chain of small silver links.</p>
+<p>“As long as this stone is in your possession, you will find you have
+the courage to do what you think is right. Be aware that it is a piece
+of me. And those who know about it will try to take it from you.”</p>
+<p>In the distance you can hear alarms and terrible moans carried on a
+howling wind.</p>
+<p>~</p>
+<p>Corraidhín impatiently flips over the first three tumbrot cards in
+front of Inky:</p>
+<ol type="1">
+<li><p>A tall man looks from a battlemented roof over sea and shore; he
+holds a globe in his right hand, while a staff in his left rests on the
+battlement; another is fixed in a ring. The Rose and Cross and Lily
+should be noticed on the left side.</p></li>
+<li><p>Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially
+those of the fantastic spirit.</p></li>
+<li><p>A ferryman carrying passengers in his punt to the further shore.
+The course is smooth, and seeing that the freight is light, it may be
+noted that the work is not beyond his strength.</p></li>
+</ol>
+<p>Felixe the Cat passes the two six-sided tumbrot dice to Inky and
+recites a small pome for the inkling:</p>
+<blockquote>
+<pre><code>In the superior world it is
+A young man, leaning on his
+to indicate therein. It is
+speaking, to the traditional
+red standard has been</code></pre>
+</blockquote>
+<p>You can suddenly hear an ominous wind whistling outside the club and
+battering at the windows.</p>
+<p>“Well?” Balvin prompts. “What do you do?”</p>
 <h2 id="spoilers">Spoilers</h2>
 <details>
 <summary>
@@ -7841,7 +7919,7 @@ he can slip by.</p>
 <li>XP: 1</li>
 <li>Skills: Do Anything 1, Investigation 2, Illusions 2, Sneaking 2,
 Sysorcery 2, Stabbing 2</li>
-<li>Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones</li>
+<li>Equipment: a bunch of STAG drones, stone of <em>courage</em></li>
 </ul>
 <p>Paths:</p>
 <ul>