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Black Hole, is a survival, low-fantasy, sci-fi story and I'd rate it as pg-13 for violence, some suggestive themes, and some nudity.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Episode 85 of my series. Black Hole, is a survival, low-fantasy, sci-fi story and I'd rate it as pg-13 for violence, some suggestive themes, and some nudity.", "writing": "Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 85\n\nChapter 841\n\nIratus leaned up against the sheer cliff as the others searched for the back entrance. He remembered everyone at the tower when the snow first came. Victoria and Aestus played some sort of snow game where they constructed little buildings of snow. Ignis was fascinated by the snow, but soon she and Resonatia diverted their attention to the children. Everyone else seemed quite annoyed at the snow, which, of course, they and he did, for the cold was very inconvenient.\n\nIratus was snapped out of his rest when Salvos called his name.\n\nSalvos: \"Let's go.\"\n\nIratus blinked, snapping out of his reverie. \n\nIratus: \"Hm? Sorry—yeah, let’s go.\"\n\nAs branches and shrubbery gave way, a large metal door emerged. William stepped forward to open it, revealing a cramped, pitch-black room where even the non-humans’ night vision struggled. Astrid flicked on her flashlight, and the others started to pile in through the doorway. The room was bare, made from part of the building on top of the cliff, with the only thing being in the room stairs leading up. Upstairs was another small room that was locked until William had his hands on it, and with a sharp pop, the door opened.\n\nBeyond lay another dim passageway. It branched into several rooms—a trio of small bedrooms, a kitchen, food and tool storage areas, a modest library, and even a water well room. The entire place was cramped and long since abandoned, with Salvos asking to gather some of the items together.\n\nIratus: \"Go ahead and grab everything then. Catch up with us when you can.\"\n\nThrough another dark stairway, the rest of the party traveled up with light at the end of it, which opened up into a more formal building-like room and structure, with windows and various office items. The place was divided by glass walls and doors. The party moved quietly, and when they saw no threats, started to look around.\n\n---\n\nChapter 842\n\nIratus looked over the electronic devices, televisions, and some computers, and of course, Iratus couldn't figure them out but was certain of what the items were. He squinted at the rows of electronic devices.\n\nIratus: \"Do these, uh, computers and stuff work?\"\n\nThe room was lit only by a pale glow from outside, and nothing seemed to be powered. Astrid tapped one of the computers, receiving no response.\n\nAstrid: \"I think there's no power here.\"\n\nResolutio, the goat woman with a wry smile, chimed in.\n\nResolutio: \"Are you sure you’ve pressed the power button? In my experience, these gadgets are notoriously fickle.\"\n\nAstrid: \"I'm certain. Electronics are simple once you get a feel for them.\"\n\nThe goat woman smiled and responded with a comedic tone.\n\nResolutio: \"Simple? It’s been years, and I still can’t figure them out.\"\n\nIratus: \"And I've barely interacted with such things.\" His cat eyes from his mouse visage looked around, expecting something to stick out. \"This stuff looks very different from the hospital's computers.\"\n\nAstrid: \"Right, you guys have some sort of hospital nearby. What shape is it even in?\"\n\nIratus: \"We've plugged in the solar panels before, and everything seemed to work.\"\n\nThe human William was making his own sounds, so Astrid had to talk to him. Then she turned back to the group.\n\nAstrid: \"Poor guy, he seems to get paranoid when we all start talking without him.\"\n\nIratus with a playful tone: \"Then maybe he should learn our language.\"\n\nAstrid: \"Who has time for that?\"\n\nGlancing back at the doorway, Iratus noted that the entrance was concealed behind the wall. A pungent mix of scents drifted in—faint but unmistakable traces of creatures, likely human or something akin to them from Purple City.\n\n---\n\nChapter 843\n\nIratus broke the silence.\n\nIratus: \"Astrid, ask our human friend about how much he knows about the raiders.\"\n\nShe frowned slightly.\n\nAstrid: \"Didn't we already cover that?\"\n\nIratus: \"No. He showed up because he was beaten up, and then he offered to lead us to where they were.\"\n\nAstrid turned to the injured man. In just a few words, she gathered his story. After a brief pause, she looked back at Iratus.\n\nAstrid: \"William was in the area—camping out—when he walked into their trap. He was captured, brought here, and then he managed to escape.\"\n\nIratus: \"Does he know where the controls are?\"\n\nAfter another translation, Astrid nodded her head.\n\nAstrid: \"The very top.\"\n\nThe office space had two exits. Iratus headed toward the elevator section first. As he approached, his nose caught a pungent whiff of decaying vegetation—a strong, wild scent of plant rot. The elevator doors lay pried open, yet no elevator or cables were in sight. The open shaft plunged into darkness, and within its depths, a writhing mass was visible.\n\nCurious, several of the party members gathered at the opening. Astrid swept her flashlight downward, revealing a squirming cluster of Edax Examina entangled in a mass of fungus. Unlike their kin, usually a drab bluish-green, these creatures were an eerie, stark white.\n\nIratus: \"Thank God the devourers of all things are here to give us their moral support.\" He was clearly joking, but no one was laughing.\n\nGazing upward, Iratus noted more fungal growths creeping along the shaft’s ceiling. With a shared sense of unease, the group slowly backed away.\n\nIratus: \"Okay, not that way.\"\n\nWith murmurs of agreement, the party moved away from the elevator and crossed the office. They soon reached a grand, spiraling stairway that ascended into the unknown.\n\n---\n\nChapter 844\n\nThe group reached the first plateau where a set of stairs continued upward. However, a large section of the steps had been torn away—destroyed beyond repair—blocking any straightforward ascent.\n\nWilliam murmured something, and Astrid quickly translated.\n\nAstrid: \"He says, That's new.\"\n\nResolutio: \"Then let's find another way around.\"\n\nElsewhere in the building, they discovered a network of crisscrossing hallways that twisted into a maze.\n\nOtiosus: \"What even is this place for?\"\n\nLarge glass windows in the rooms offered a glimpse into simulation chambers. Some rooms were filled with vibrant plant life and mini biomes, while others lay desolate, their greenery long since withered away. Iratus scanned the area where safety suits once hung on racks and noted that the laboratory equipment had all vanished.\n\nAstrid: \"If this facility could control the weather, these setups must have been for experimenting with various environmental conditions.\"\n\nBefore anyone could reply, Astrid’s eyes widened. From a distant hallway emerged a massive clump of fungus. Several Edax stirred within it, their movement signaling imminent awakening. In an instant, the party formed their signature spear wall.\n\nFour-legged puffball-like creatures launched themselves toward the group. Three of them were quickly felled in the ensuing skirmish.\n\nAfter the formation broke up and the group dispersed to explore further, the other mousefolk fell in step beside Iratus.\n\nOtiosus: \"Just like the times of old, huh, Iratus?\"\n\nIratus: \"What, like the Lionheart Empire days?\"\n\nOtiosus: \"I find it ironic that the blood of Lionheart runs in your veins—leading your own territory into battle.\"\n\nIratus: \"I’m from a side branch. Besides, you weren’t even around then.\"\n\nOtiosus grinned: \"Sure, but it still makes for a good story.\"\n\nAstrid interjected, a note of confusion in her tone.\n\nAstrid: \"Am I missing something? Some sort of mouse thing?\"\n\nOtiosus: \"Cat actually. The original mousefolk of our planet were, uh, bred out of existence. The house of Lionheart was the emperors' favorite slaves for generations. One day, the throne was empty, and because of political maneuvering and religious infighting, the last son of the late emperor was chosen to be the new monarch, a slave of the Lionheart family. Good stuff.\"\n\nAstrid: \"I was going to say, right, I know, cat, but I'll take the history lesson.\" She gave a pause. \"So, how did your empire take with a slave on the throne?\"\n\nOtiosus: \"With fake smiles as their empire was reformed into something nicer.\"\n\nIratus: \"In truth, the only real change was the abolition of slavery. It took several more generations for the empire to morph into the republic empire we know today. For all its problems, expanding citizenship was never one of them.\"\n\n---\n\nChapter 845\n\nWilliam continued to want to know the conversation, which Astrid made sure he was aware of everything. After a bit of back and forth, Astrid turned back to the group.\n\nAstrid: \"William here seems quite shocked at your history.\"\n\nIratus raised an eyebrow.\n\nIratus: \"In what way?\"\n\nAstrid: \"He never expected something so complex to have happened in an alien culture.\"\n\nOtiosus grinned mischievously.\n\nOtiosus: \"His face is alien.\"\n\nAstrid rolled her eyes.\n\nAstrid: \"Everyone here is an alien.\"\n\nOtiosus with a playful smirk: \"No, I'm a half mouse, half cat.\"\n\nIratus: \"He has a point.\"\n\nAstrid shook her head in exasperation.\n\nAstrid: \"Darn you two. Honestly, I think he’s just never really considered how others live on different planets.\"\n\nIratus: \"I can’t say I’ve given much thought to the histories of other species either—but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re just as bizarre.\"\n\nOtiosus: \"Unless it was really weird.\"\n\nBefore anyone could reply, the nix woman sighed and resumed walking with the group. Moments later, Salvos came running into the midst of them.\n\nIratus: \"About time.\"\n\nSalvos caught his breath.\n\nSalvos: \"Forget that, we got enemy combatants entering the building. I'm very certain they are aware of us.\"\n\nWith Astrid translating for the group, she added,\n\nAstrid: \"William says the other stairway is just up ahead.\"\n\nIratus: \"And I bet there are some people up there guarding the controls too. We need an alternate place to go.\"\n\nResolutio: \"We could always try the empty elevator shafts. I doubt anyone would expect us to hide in monster-infested areas.\"\n\nAstrid: \"You can't be serious.\"\n\nIratus: \"Shafts it is. Let's go!\"\n\n---\n\nChapter 846\n\nThis floor, like the others, featured open doors leading to an empty shaft. Iratus and Otiosus wasted no time—they sprinted and leaped agilely from one edge while the rest of the group descended carefully using a service ladder.\n\nReaching a ledge near a large fungal mass, Iratus and Otiosus paused. Iratus unsheathed his longsword, and Otiosus followed suit by raising his spear. Together, they plunged their weapons into the fungal ball. Expecting a swarm of Edax to burst forth, Iratus scanned the area—but instead, eyes in the mass opened. Their target revealed itself: the giant puff of fungal growth was, in fact, a massive Edax.\n\nBoth the mousefolk men grimaced at their mistake and continued to stab at the creature with faster strikes.\n\nBefore long, Resolutio’s voice cut through the chaos.\n\nResolutio: \"What are you two doing?\"\n\nAstrid: \"Ack, it was an Edax the whole time?\"\n\nSalvos: \"Hang on, I'm coming down.\"\n\nBut as if on cue, the Edax writhed in agony. The creature twisted desperately, trying to right itself under the relentless stabbings, until it finally flipped completely, exposing its underside. In a burst of speed, it clambered out of the shaft through an open door below.\n\nOtiosus: \"Heh, a little gift for our raider friends.\"\n\nIratus, still alert, scanned the area.\n\nIratus: \"Yeah. Now we just need to decide on our next action.\"\n\nResolutio: \"I suggest a night attack. These humans can't see anything in the dark.\"\n\nSalvos: \"We could use the old bottleneck approach—always works for us.\"\n\nAstrid: \"Or, if they’re resting, we raid their camp or set a trap.\"\n\nAs their planning continued, the chatter hushed suddenly. Faint sounds—clanging armor, muffled footsteps—echoed from the shaft, signaling the approach of enemy forces. The group tensed, waiting. Iratus remained silent for ten long minutes until he finally broke the stillness.\n\nIratus waited for another ten minutes of complete silence before speaking.\n\nIratus: \"The problem with keen ears is that sometimes you’re not sure if you’re hearing real sounds or if it’s just your mind playing tricks. What does everyone else hear?\"\n\nNo one answered, and after a few seconds, Salvos spoke up.\n\nSalvos: \"I smell blood. Fresh.\"\n\nBefore anyone could respond further, Astrid finished translating some hurried remarks from William, prompting him to yell. In the ensuing confusion, Otiosus suddenly shifted his tone to one of stern authority—a side of him Iratus had never heard before.\n\nOtiosus: \"Shut that man up!\"\n\nThe tension in the shaft grew more oppressive. Iratus winced as the sounds of conflict echoed from within the dark passage. With a heavy sigh, he rallied the group.\n\n---\n\nChapter 847\n\nThey climbed back to their previous floor, moving cautiously as every ear strained to catch even the faintest sound. Salvos led the way, pausing frequently to take measured sniffs of the air.\n\nSalvos: \"I'm now one hundred percent sure, blood.\"\n\nIratus: \"What the silver hell could have happened?\"\n\nOtiosus offered a wry guess.\n\nOtiosus: \"Maybe the Edax was more formidable than we thought?\"\n\nResolutio: \"Or something worse has come along. Either way, it’s time to finish what we came for and get out of here.\"\n\nAstrid: \"I'll say. My nerves feel shot already.\"\n\nWith careful movements, the group headed in the direction pointed out by William, and the group continued to see nothing. At first, the corridor appeared empty. However, as they reached a set of secondary stairs and climbed to a higher floor, the unmistakable scent of blood grew stronger.\n\nIn a long, dimly lit passage—where the stairwell and elevator shaft converged into what looked like a central hub—the group encountered a grim scene. Scattered across the entrance to the final room above lay several figures: five bodies clad in steel armor, shields and swords strewn about, and a few firearms carelessly discarded. Salvos quickly snatched up two of the guns.\n\nSalvos: \"Both these guns are loaded. They never even got a chance to fire.\"\n\nOtiosus nodded thoughtfully.\n\nOtiosus: \"Makes sense. I doubt we would have missed gunshots ringing out.\"\n\nAstrid: \"Anyone want to tell me what is going on here?\"\n\nIratus: \"We have a human, maybe the raiders, maybe not, who seemed to have had a bad run-in with something.\"\n\nAstrid: \"The Edax?\"\n\nIratus: \"I don’t think any Edax attack would leave bodies like these behind.\"\n\nNearby, Iratus noticed William standing at the edge of the scene, his eyes glistening with distress as if he were on the verge of tears. The man quickly wiped his face and pressed on, determined not to let emotion slow them down.\n\nIratus then motioned for his team to examine the fallen bodies for any useful items. Stepping aside, he walked over to a small window and peered outside, scanning the horizon for clues. His eyes darted over the landscape until one detail—something entirely out of place—caught his attention.\n\n---\n\nChapter 848\n\nFrom his elevated vantage point, Iratus surveyed the tower’s surroundings. The front entrance lay visible below, guarded by a makeshift gatehouse at the base of the stairs. Yet what truly captured his attention was a sprawling settlement tucked into a corner of the cliff face, a fairly large one, though its architecture bore the unmistakable marks of being pilfered from elsewhere. At its center stood a massive forge with coals exposed to the open air, a sight that stirred in Iratus a few thoughts about who William really was.\n\nShaking off these thoughts, Iratus returned to the group and led them upstairs to the top of the tower—the control room. Despite the grim reminder of more bodies scattered throughout the area, he forced his focus onto the task at hand. The room hummed with activity; lights and various devices blinked on panels and screens, all feeding data into a central system. After a while, Salvos called the group over.\n\nSalvos: \"Unless any of you can read the text, I'm going to guess that the computer here is the key.\"\n\nHe pointed to a workstation—a chair surrounded by devices and computer screens crisscrossed by cables.\n\nIratus: \"Well, you are the only one here that has grown up with computers and stuff. Do you think you could do something?\"\n\nSalvos immediately began examining the buttons. None were labeled, so he pressed a few at random. After about two minutes of trial and error, a screen flickered to life, displaying various status readings—weather patterns, temperature levels, and more.\n\nSalvos: \"I think I got something. I've learned some of these buttons, and I think I can make all of this stop.\"\n\nIratus leaned in, studying the main display—a high-definition image so vivid it almost seemed abrasive. He could make out enough details to deduce that the tower was actively forcing temperatures to their lowest extremes.\n\nIratus: \"Alright, let's shut this thing down.\"\n\nThe wolf man among them nodded. With deliberate precision and some further button pressing, Salvos managed to access the tower’s main power controls. Soon, the status screen flipped to show zero power, and the room’s lights sputtered and died with a strained, distant whirl—as if a massive force powering the tower was abruptly cut off.\n\nAstrid: \"Did you do the thing?\"\n\nSalvos: \"If I had to guess, I turned all power off.\"\n\nAstrid: \"But would that make the weather manipulation stop?\"\n\nSalvos: \"Give it a few days, and if the snow does not stop, we'll just come back and smash anything that looks like it could change the weather.\"\n\nResolutio: \"If the top room was still drawing power from somewhere, we should check the source. I might not know all the ins and outs of this tech, but I’m aware that every system has its power line.\"\n\nIratus: \"Let’s worry about that later. First, we need to make sure no one can just turn this thing back on.\"\n\nWith that, Iratus signaled the group. One by one, they reached into their backpacks and began pulling out C4.\n\n---\n\nChapter 849\n\nAs the group methodically set up their explosives, Iratus’s sharp ears picked up a movement falling back. Glancing toward the back, he saw their human guide, William, slipping away into the shadows.\n\nOnce the charges were in position and the wiring double-checked, Astrid’s eyes darted around in confusion.\n\nAstrid: \"Wait, where is William?\"\n\nIratus: \"Snuck out when we weren't looking.\"\n\nAstrid’s expression changed to one of disbelief.\n\nAstrid: \"And you just let him? We don't even know if he is with the Raiders or not.\"\n\nIratus: \"Honestly, I think he is with them. Lured us here in a trap.\"\n\nAstrid: \"Yeah, and into the place the raiders don't want us in?\"\n\nResolutio: \"It was a two-pronged attack. We would be stuck between the guard here and the pursuit team down below.\"\n\nSalvos: \"This is the reason we dived into that elevator shaft.\"\n\nAstrid: \"Well, you could have filled me in.\"\n\nIratus: \"We only had speculation—evidence, yes, but not enough proof. Besides, I have no time to coddle every uncertainty. I’m destroying this place and heading home before whatever killed these men shows its head or enemy reinforcements swarm in.\"\n\nHe paused, glancing over his companions.\n\nIratus: “If William is truly on our side, we will see him again. Until then, I’d rather not risk everything for a man whose loyalties I can’t trust.”\n\nWith the charges set, the group left the top floor and started to make their way downstairs, and as they reached the lower level, they huddled together in a narrow corridor, waiting for the inevitable. They were off for about thirty seconds, but the C4 went off, and the controls to the tower were now slag.\n\n---\n\nChapter 850\n\nBack in the office space, Iratus and the others gathered their gear and prepared to leave.\n\nOtiosus: \"I’m sure we can all smell that the humans came in through here. Do we really want to leave the same way?\"\n\nSalvos: \"Smell? They chased me up here. Of course they know about their little back entrance.\"\n\nIratus: \"I saw the front entrance from above. I don't think we should even try it.\"\n\nResolutio: \"Hmpf. If any of these raiders are left, then we should assume that we will be fighting them soon.\"\n\nIratus nodded, taking one last look around before leading the group toward the exit. But as they moved, something made him halt abruptly. The sound of footsteps—or something else—echoed ominously through the room. The others didn’t need an explanation; they all felt the shift in the air.\n\nSalvos: \"Huh, what?\"\n\nBefore anyone could react, Iratus spun around. In an instant, Salvos was hurled through a glass window with a shattering crash echoing throughout the room. Iratus’ eyes burned with frustration.\n\nIratus: \"Again?\"\n\nFury flashed across his face, but it quickly turned to shock as he took in the creature before him, another ebony. This one was nearly eight feet tall, stooping just enough to avoid the low ceiling. Its right arm was covered in thick, brown squirrel hides—stolen skin that was all too familiar. The rest of its body was clad in meticulously crafted armor, intricately carved with designs that told stories that only those from Valor would know.\n\nResolutio: \"That design... it’s from my world. You stole it!\"\n\nHer words tumbled out in disbelief as the monstrous figure advanced, leaving little time for further discussion. The creature wielded a considerably long two-handed saber, and around its neck hung a chain bearing a polished silver lantern. The lantern’s brightness sharply contrasted with the blood splattered on its armor.\n\nIn a violent moment, Astrid was slammed to the ground by the creature’s force, and it stepped forward once more. Iratus caught a glimpse of a black, viscous substance oozing inside the lantern.\n\nIratus: \"More not magic magic nonsense.\"\n\nResolutio was a large goat woman, but even she was tossed over its shoulder. It then roughly shoved Otiosus aside, leaving Iratus as the sole defender standing. With another determined step, the ebony drew so near that all light seemed to vanish, plunging Iratus into the same oppressive darkness he had encountered before with these creatures.\n\nA bitter smirk crossed his face.\n\nIratus: \"Pfft, another lantern for my collection.\"\n\n---\n\nEPISODE 85: END\n\n---\n\nEpisode 85 End Character Sheet\nName: Iratus Lionheart\nSpecies: Mousefolk\nAge: 16\nCoverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork), leather gloves, tactical vest, tailorcraft backpack, leather plate helmet, delicate gold chain with a small pendant shaped like a lion's glare, flashlight, bronze breastplate, bronze arm guards, bronze shin guards\nWeapons: long sword, 1 knifes, short sword, hammer, 1 dagger\nEquipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 5 copper coins, 2 small silver bricks, 20 silver coins, 30 gold coins\n\nWounds: none\n\nRelevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 3 glass jars, 8 bottles, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, several small fish nets, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, a large barrel, writing material, 52 cloaks and other clothing materials, some fabrics, 4 carts, 3 stitched tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenery, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing, gas generator, four flood lights, flute, lyre\n\nArmory: 24 short swords, 9 knifes, 15 daggers, 14 metal spears, 4 long swords, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 2 hunting traps, 5 snares, 4 backpacks, 3 katanas, 3 short katanas, crossbow, several pounds of C4\nAestus: gambeson, bronze breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, 2 knives, short sword, bronze long sword.\nVictoria: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, 2 daggers, flashlight\nResonanita: steel breastplate, gambeson, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, 1 knife, compound bow, flashlight\nIgnis: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar, 1 knife\n\nTreasure: 18 copper coins, 14 silver coins 16 iron coins, 2 gold coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, bronze lantern, bronze idol, some jeweled trinkets, iron lantern, silver lantern, gold crown with large sapphire\n\nHome Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates, clay pots, and wooden chests), Basic Workshop Area (lots of tools, woodcarving tools, glue, sandpaper), Kitchen Area (many tools, many cutlery items, pots&pans, makeshift grill, microwave), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools, first aid kit, plenty of medicine and equipment), Children's Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding, sensual antfolk sculpture), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding), four portable solar panels\n\nOutside Base: Butchering Hut (modern butchery kit, smoking rack), Tannery Hut, Underground Storage Area, Garden Area (fenced in), Tool Shed, Wooden Wall, Second Wooden Wall (20% complete), 3x Small Cabin, 8x Large Cabin, 2x Gravestones, Rabbit Hutches, Several Electrical Lights, Wooden House (Astrid)\n\nBooks: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), cards, Fractura's Notes, Tempestas's Notes, 12 survival guides, 3 technical manuals, 46 fiction novels, 11 encyclopedias, 4 dictionaries, 22 cookbooks, 2 gardening guides, 3 crafting books, 20 educational textbooks, 5 religious texts, 4 diaries, 12 children's books\n\nYear 2, Day 251\n---\n\nTOWER FOLK:\nIratus of House Lionheart\nmouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'6, age: 16, b day: 350\n-\nVictoria Mother of House Lionheart\nraccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'3, age: 16, b day: 5, (preg 64 days)\n-\nAestus of clan Riversinger\notter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'2, age: 16, b day: 99, (preg 256 days)\n-\nIgnis Yang\nred panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eye, 6'4, age: 16, b day: 344, (preg 156 days)\n-\nResonantia Diamond Heart Steel\nshark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 16, b day: 2\n---\n\n\nCHILDREN:\nNegligere Lionheart\nshark, male, steel gray skin, white hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 2\n-\nRuina Lionheart\notter, female, orange fur, vibrant orange hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 330\n-\nGula Lionheart\nred panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 340\n-\nTenacitas Lionheart\nraccoon, female, silver fur, dark blonde hair, amber eyes, age: 1, b day: 345\n\nFrustra Lionheart\nraccoon, male, gray fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 338\n\nDespero Lionheart\nshark, male, blue-gray skin, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 249\n---\n\n\nNEIGHBORS:\nEcho\nshark, male, gray skin with a white underbelly, black hair, black eyes, 6'8, age: 41, b day: 142\n\nFraus\nfeline, female, bright gray, white underbelly fur, white hair, blue eyes, 6'7, age: 18, b day: 90\n\nArcus\nfox, female, slightly dark brown fur, slightly dark brown hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 20, b day: 326\n\nResolutio\ngoat, female, black fur, black hair, blue eyes, 7'0, age: 52, b day: 13\n\nPraevalidum\nantfolk, female, blackish-brown chitin, dark gray skin, brown hair, green eyes, 6'3, age: 19, b day: 77\n\nOtiosus \nmousefolk, male, dark gray fur, dark gray hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 22, b day: 105\n\nSutura\nhyenafolk, female, brownish-blonde fur with black spots, gold hair, gold eyes, 6'7, age: 18, b day: 364\n\nOdorem \nfoxfolk, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 26, b day: 86\n\nInlecebra \nfoxfolk, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 25, b day: 343\n\nAstrid\nnixman, female, slightly purple skin, black hair, blue eyes, 6'0, age: 20, b day: 71\n---\n\n\nWINTER WINDS CLAN:\nStudium of Winter Winds\nfox, male, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 5'10, age 14, b day: 190\n\nFuligo Leaf Shadow\notter, female, black fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5'6, age 14, b day: 245, (preg 185 days)\n\nBellum of House War Knuckles\ncheetah, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6'0, age 15, b day: 91, (preg 221 days)\n---\n\n\nDARK SKY FAMILY:\nSalvos Dark Sky\nwolf, male, black fur, white hair, copper eyes, 6'8, age 27, b day: 66\n\nLeitmotif Schlange\nsnake, female, yellow and red scales, naga bodied, gold eyes, age 25, b day: 229\n\nOstinato Dark Sky\nsnake, male, black and red scales, white hair, bipedal, gold eyes, age 0, b day: 234\n---\n\n\n(farm)\nUMBRA OCEAN FAMILY:\nProcella Ocean Drinker\nweasel , female, blonde fur, black hair, green eyes, 6'5, age 23, b day: 207, (preg 200 days)\n\nIter of Sanguinem Umbra\ngoat, male, white fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, 6'7, age 20, b day: 334\n---\n\n\n(farm)\nTHE COBALTS:\nCommercium Jade Blue Cobalt\nrabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6'8, age: 26, b day: 221\n\nAbrasione\nhyena, female, tan fur with black spots, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'5, age: 20, b day: 4\n\n-\nKuxatura Jade Blue Cobalt\nhyena, male, tan fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 284\n\nVulnera Jade Blue Cobalt\nhyena, male, white with black spots fur, black hair with some golden strands, gray eyes, age: 0, b day: 189\n\nRuptura Jade Blue Cobalt\nhyena, male, pale tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 189\n---\n\n\nLAST MISTAKE\nDeficio\nlion, male, gray fur, rich gray hair, green eyes, 6'6, age: 47, b day: 111\n\nConfodere Oculi Acuti\nhyena, male, dark brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6'9, age 27, b day: 239\n\nMalignitas of House Brokensand\nfeline, male, light black fur, light black hair, brown eyes (single eye), 6'7, age 29, b day: 343\n\nLiora Woodleaf\ndeer, female, Light brown with white spots, blonde hair, hazel eyes, 5'9, age: 25, b day 323, (preg 11 days)", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 85

Chapter 841

Iratus leaned up against the sheer cliff as the others searched for the back entrance. He remembered everyone at the tower when the snow first came. Victoria and Aestus played some sort of snow game where they constructed little buildings of snow. Ignis was fascinated by the snow, but soon she and Resonatia diverted their attention to the children. Everyone else seemed quite annoyed at the snow, which, of course, they and he did, for the cold was very inconvenient.

Iratus was snapped out of his rest when Salvos called his name.

Salvos: "Let's go."

Iratus blinked, snapping out of his reverie.

Iratus: "Hm? Sorry—yeah, let’s go."

As branches and shrubbery gave way, a large metal door emerged. William stepped forward to open it, revealing a cramped, pitch-black room where even the non-humans’ night vision struggled. Astrid flicked on her flashlight, and the others started to pile in through the doorway. The room was bare, made from part of the building on top of the cliff, with the only thing being in the room stairs leading up. Upstairs was another small room that was locked until William had his hands on it, and with a sharp pop, the door opened.

Beyond lay another dim passageway. It branched into several rooms—a trio of small bedrooms, a kitchen, food and tool storage areas, a modest library, and even a water well room. The entire place was cramped and long since abandoned, with Salvos asking to gather some of the items together.

Iratus: "Go ahead and grab everything then. Catch up with us when you can."

Through another dark stairway, the rest of the party traveled up with light at the end of it, which opened up into a more formal building-like room and structure, with windows and various office items. The place was divided by glass walls and doors. The party moved quietly, and when they saw no threats, started to look around.

---

Chapter 842

Iratus looked over the electronic devices, televisions, and some computers, and of course, Iratus couldn't figure them out but was certain of what the items were. He squinted at the rows of electronic devices.

Iratus: "Do these, uh, computers and stuff work?"

The room was lit only by a pale glow from outside, and nothing seemed to be powered. Astrid tapped one of the computers, receiving no response.

Astrid: "I think there's no power here."

Resolutio, the goat woman with a wry smile, chimed in.

Resolutio: "Are you sure you’ve pressed the power button? In my experience, these gadgets are notoriously fickle."

Astrid: "I'm certain. Electronics are simple once you get a feel for them."

The goat woman smiled and responded with a comedic tone.

Resolutio: "Simple? It’s been years, and I still can’t figure them out."

Iratus: "And I've barely interacted with such things." His cat eyes from his mouse visage looked around, expecting something to stick out. "This stuff looks very different from the hospital's computers."

Astrid: "Right, you guys have some sort of hospital nearby. What shape is it even in?"

Iratus: "We've plugged in the solar panels before, and everything seemed to work."

The human William was making his own sounds, so Astrid had to talk to him. Then she turned back to the group.

Astrid: "Poor guy, he seems to get paranoid when we all start talking without him."

Iratus with a playful tone: "Then maybe he should learn our language."

Astrid: "Who has time for that?"

Glancing back at the doorway, Iratus noted that the entrance was concealed behind the wall. A pungent mix of scents drifted in—faint but unmistakable traces of creatures, likely human or something akin to them from Purple City.

---

Chapter 843

Iratus broke the silence.

Iratus: "Astrid, ask our human friend about how much he knows about the raiders."

She frowned slightly.

Astrid: "Didn't we already cover that?"

Iratus: "No. He showed up because he was beaten up, and then he offered to lead us to where they were."

Astrid turned to the injured man. In just a few words, she gathered his story. After a brief pause, she looked back at Iratus.

Astrid: "William was in the area—camping out—when he walked into their trap. He was captured, brought here, and then he managed to escape."

Iratus: "Does he know where the controls are?"

After another translation, Astrid nodded her head.

Astrid: "The very top."

The office space had two exits. Iratus headed toward the elevator section first. As he approached, his nose caught a pungent whiff of decaying vegetation—a strong, wild scent of plant rot. The elevator doors lay pried open, yet no elevator or cables were in sight. The open shaft plunged into darkness, and within its depths, a writhing mass was visible.

Curious, several of the party members gathered at the opening. Astrid swept her flashlight downward, revealing a squirming cluster of Edax Examina entangled in a mass of fungus. Unlike their kin, usually a drab bluish-green, these creatures were an eerie, stark white.

Iratus: "Thank God the devourers of all things are here to give us their moral support." He was clearly joking, but no one was laughing.

Gazing upward, Iratus noted more fungal growths creeping along the shaft’s ceiling. With a shared sense of unease, the group slowly backed away.

Iratus: "Okay, not that way."

With murmurs of agreement, the party moved away from the elevator and crossed the office. They soon reached a grand, spiraling stairway that ascended into the unknown.

---

Chapter 844

The group reached the first plateau where a set of stairs continued upward. However, a large section of the steps had been torn away—destroyed beyond repair—blocking any straightforward ascent.

William murmured something, and Astrid quickly translated.

Astrid: "He says, That's new."

Resolutio: "Then let's find another way around."

Elsewhere in the building, they discovered a network of crisscrossing hallways that twisted into a maze.

Otiosus: "What even is this place for?"

Large glass windows in the rooms offered a glimpse into simulation chambers. Some rooms were filled with vibrant plant life and mini biomes, while others lay desolate, their greenery long since withered away. Iratus scanned the area where safety suits once hung on racks and noted that the laboratory equipment had all vanished.

Astrid: "If this facility could control the weather, these setups must have been for experimenting with various environmental conditions."

Before anyone could reply, Astrid’s eyes widened. From a distant hallway emerged a massive clump of fungus. Several Edax stirred within it, their movement signaling imminent awakening. In an instant, the party formed their signature spear wall.

Four-legged puffball-like creatures launched themselves toward the group. Three of them were quickly felled in the ensuing skirmish.

After the formation broke up and the group dispersed to explore further, the other mousefolk fell in step beside Iratus.

Otiosus: "Just like the times of old, huh, Iratus?"

Iratus: "What, like the Lionheart Empire days?"

Otiosus: "I find it ironic that the blood of Lionheart runs in your veins—leading your own territory into battle."

Iratus: "I’m from a side branch. Besides, you weren’t even around then."

Otiosus grinned: "Sure, but it still makes for a good story."

Astrid interjected, a note of confusion in her tone.

Astrid: "Am I missing something? Some sort of mouse thing?"

Otiosus: "Cat actually. The original mousefolk of our planet were, uh, bred out of existence. The house of Lionheart was the emperors' favorite slaves for generations. One day, the throne was empty, and because of political maneuvering and religious infighting, the last son of the late emperor was chosen to be the new monarch, a slave of the Lionheart family. Good stuff."

Astrid: "I was going to say, right, I know, cat, but I'll take the history lesson." She gave a pause. "So, how did your empire take with a slave on the throne?"

Otiosus: "With fake smiles as their empire was reformed into something nicer."

Iratus: "In truth, the only real change was the abolition of slavery. It took several more generations for the empire to morph into the republic empire we know today. For all its problems, expanding citizenship was never one of them."

---

Chapter 845

William continued to want to know the conversation, which Astrid made sure he was aware of everything. After a bit of back and forth, Astrid turned back to the group.

Astrid: "William here seems quite shocked at your history."

Iratus raised an eyebrow.

Iratus: "In what way?"

Astrid: "He never expected something so complex to have happened in an alien culture."

Otiosus grinned mischievously.

Otiosus: "His face is alien."

Astrid rolled her eyes.

Astrid: "Everyone here is an alien."

Otiosus with a playful smirk: "No, I'm a half mouse, half cat."

Iratus: "He has a point."

Astrid shook her head in exasperation.

Astrid: "Darn you two. Honestly, I think he’s just never really considered how others live on different planets."

Iratus: "I can’t say I’ve given much thought to the histories of other species either—but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re just as bizarre."

Otiosus: "Unless it was really weird."

Before anyone could reply, the nix woman sighed and resumed walking with the group. Moments later, Salvos came running into the midst of them.

Iratus: "About time."

Salvos caught his breath.

Salvos: "Forget that, we got enemy combatants entering the building. I'm very certain they are aware of us."

With Astrid translating for the group, she added,

Astrid: "William says the other stairway is just up ahead."

Iratus: "And I bet there are some people up there guarding the controls too. We need an alternate place to go."

Resolutio: "We could always try the empty elevator shafts. I doubt anyone would expect us to hide in monster-infested areas."

Astrid: "You can't be serious."

Iratus: "Shafts it is. Let's go!"

---

Chapter 846

This floor, like the others, featured open doors leading to an empty shaft. Iratus and Otiosus wasted no time—they sprinted and leaped agilely from one edge while the rest of the group descended carefully using a service ladder.

Reaching a ledge near a large fungal mass, Iratus and Otiosus paused. Iratus unsheathed his longsword, and Otiosus followed suit by raising his spear. Together, they plunged their weapons into the fungal ball. Expecting a swarm of Edax to burst forth, Iratus scanned the area—but instead, eyes in the mass opened. Their target revealed itself: the giant puff of fungal growth was, in fact, a massive Edax.

Both the mousefolk men grimaced at their mistake and continued to stab at the creature with faster strikes.

Before long, Resolutio’s voice cut through the chaos.

Resolutio: "What are you two doing?"

Astrid: "Ack, it was an Edax the whole time?"

Salvos: "Hang on, I'm coming down."

But as if on cue, the Edax writhed in agony. The creature twisted desperately, trying to right itself under the relentless stabbings, until it finally flipped completely, exposing its underside. In a burst of speed, it clambered out of the shaft through an open door below.

Otiosus: "Heh, a little gift for our raider friends."

Iratus, still alert, scanned the area.

Iratus: "Yeah. Now we just need to decide on our next action."

Resolutio: "I suggest a night attack. These humans can't see anything in the dark."

Salvos: "We could use the old bottleneck approach—always works for us."

Astrid: "Or, if they’re resting, we raid their camp or set a trap."

As their planning continued, the chatter hushed suddenly. Faint sounds—clanging armor, muffled footsteps—echoed from the shaft, signaling the approach of enemy forces. The group tensed, waiting. Iratus remained silent for ten long minutes until he finally broke the stillness.

Iratus waited for another ten minutes of complete silence before speaking.

Iratus: "The problem with keen ears is that sometimes you’re not sure if you’re hearing real sounds or if it’s just your mind playing tricks. What does everyone else hear?"

No one answered, and after a few seconds, Salvos spoke up.

Salvos: "I smell blood. Fresh."

Before anyone could respond further, Astrid finished translating some hurried remarks from William, prompting him to yell. In the ensuing confusion, Otiosus suddenly shifted his tone to one of stern authority—a side of him Iratus had never heard before.

Otiosus: "Shut that man up!"

The tension in the shaft grew more oppressive. Iratus winced as the sounds of conflict echoed from within the dark passage. With a heavy sigh, he rallied the group.

---

Chapter 847

They climbed back to their previous floor, moving cautiously as every ear strained to catch even the faintest sound. Salvos led the way, pausing frequently to take measured sniffs of the air.

Salvos: "I'm now one hundred percent sure, blood."

Iratus: "What the silver hell could have happened?"

Otiosus offered a wry guess.

Otiosus: "Maybe the Edax was more formidable than we thought?"

Resolutio: "Or something worse has come along. Either way, it’s time to finish what we came for and get out of here."

Astrid: "I'll say. My nerves feel shot already."

With careful movements, the group headed in the direction pointed out by William, and the group continued to see nothing. At first, the corridor appeared empty. However, as they reached a set of secondary stairs and climbed to a higher floor, the unmistakable scent of blood grew stronger.

In a long, dimly lit passage—where the stairwell and elevator shaft converged into what looked like a central hub—the group encountered a grim scene. Scattered across the entrance to the final room above lay several figures: five bodies clad in steel armor, shields and swords strewn about, and a few firearms carelessly discarded. Salvos quickly snatched up two of the guns.

Salvos: "Both these guns are loaded. They never even got a chance to fire."

Otiosus nodded thoughtfully.

Otiosus: "Makes sense. I doubt we would have missed gunshots ringing out."

Astrid: "Anyone want to tell me what is going on here?"

Iratus: "We have a human, maybe the raiders, maybe not, who seemed to have had a bad run-in with something."

Astrid: "The Edax?"

Iratus: "I don’t think any Edax attack would leave bodies like these behind."

Nearby, Iratus noticed William standing at the edge of the scene, his eyes glistening with distress as if he were on the verge of tears. The man quickly wiped his face and pressed on, determined not to let emotion slow them down.

Iratus then motioned for his team to examine the fallen bodies for any useful items. Stepping aside, he walked over to a small window and peered outside, scanning the horizon for clues. His eyes darted over the landscape until one detail—something entirely out of place—caught his attention.

---

Chapter 848

From his elevated vantage point, Iratus surveyed the tower’s surroundings. The front entrance lay visible below, guarded by a makeshift gatehouse at the base of the stairs. Yet what truly captured his attention was a sprawling settlement tucked into a corner of the cliff face, a fairly large one, though its architecture bore the unmistakable marks of being pilfered from elsewhere. At its center stood a massive forge with coals exposed to the open air, a sight that stirred in Iratus a few thoughts about who William really was.

Shaking off these thoughts, Iratus returned to the group and led them upstairs to the top of the tower—the control room. Despite the grim reminder of more bodies scattered throughout the area, he forced his focus onto the task at hand. The room hummed with activity; lights and various devices blinked on panels and screens, all feeding data into a central system. After a while, Salvos called the group over.

Salvos: "Unless any of you can read the text, I'm going to guess that the computer here is the key."

He pointed to a workstation—a chair surrounded by devices and computer screens crisscrossed by cables.

Iratus: "Well, you are the only one here that has grown up with computers and stuff. Do you think you could do something?"

Salvos immediately began examining the buttons. None were labeled, so he pressed a few at random. After about two minutes of trial and error, a screen flickered to life, displaying various status readings—weather patterns, temperature levels, and more.

Salvos: "I think I got something. I've learned some of these buttons, and I think I can make all of this stop."

Iratus leaned in, studying the main display—a high-definition image so vivid it almost seemed abrasive. He could make out enough details to deduce that the tower was actively forcing temperatures to their lowest extremes.

Iratus: "Alright, let's shut this thing down."

The wolf man among them nodded. With deliberate precision and some further button pressing, Salvos managed to access the tower’s main power controls. Soon, the status screen flipped to show zero power, and the room’s lights sputtered and died with a strained, distant whirl—as if a massive force powering the tower was abruptly cut off.

Astrid: "Did you do the thing?"

Salvos: "If I had to guess, I turned all power off."

Astrid: "But would that make the weather manipulation stop?"

Salvos: "Give it a few days, and if the snow does not stop, we'll just come back and smash anything that looks like it could change the weather."

Resolutio: "If the top room was still drawing power from somewhere, we should check the source. I might not know all the ins and outs of this tech, but I’m aware that every system has its power line."

Iratus: "Let’s worry about that later. First, we need to make sure no one can just turn this thing back on."

With that, Iratus signaled the group. One by one, they reached into their backpacks and began pulling out C4.

---

Chapter 849

As the group methodically set up their explosives, Iratus’s sharp ears picked up a movement falling back. Glancing toward the back, he saw their human guide, William, slipping away into the shadows.

Once the charges were in position and the wiring double-checked, Astrid’s eyes darted around in confusion.

Astrid: "Wait, where is William?"

Iratus: "Snuck out when we weren't looking."

Astrid’s expression changed to one of disbelief.

Astrid: "And you just let him? We don't even know if he is with the Raiders or not."

Iratus: "Honestly, I think he is with them. Lured us here in a trap."

Astrid: "Yeah, and into the place the raiders don't want us in?"

Resolutio: "It was a two-pronged attack. We would be stuck between the guard here and the pursuit team down below."

Salvos: "This is the reason we dived into that elevator shaft."

Astrid: "Well, you could have filled me in."

Iratus: "We only had speculation—evidence, yes, but not enough proof. Besides, I have no time to coddle every uncertainty. I’m destroying this place and heading home before whatever killed these men shows its head or enemy reinforcements swarm in."

He paused, glancing over his companions.

Iratus: “If William is truly on our side, we will see him again. Until then, I’d rather not risk everything for a man whose loyalties I can’t trust.”

With the charges set, the group left the top floor and started to make their way downstairs, and as they reached the lower level, they huddled together in a narrow corridor, waiting for the inevitable. They were off for about thirty seconds, but the C4 went off, and the controls to the tower were now slag.

---

Chapter 850

Back in the office space, Iratus and the others gathered their gear and prepared to leave.

Otiosus: "I’m sure we can all smell that the humans came in through here. Do we really want to leave the same way?"

Salvos: "Smell? They chased me up here. Of course they know about their little back entrance."

Iratus: "I saw the front entrance from above. I don't think we should even try it."

Resolutio: "Hmpf. If any of these raiders are left, then we should assume that we will be fighting them soon."

Iratus nodded, taking one last look around before leading the group toward the exit. But as they moved, something made him halt abruptly. The sound of footsteps—or something else—echoed ominously through the room. The others didn’t need an explanation; they all felt the shift in the air.

Salvos: "Huh, what?"

Before anyone could react, Iratus spun around. In an instant, Salvos was hurled through a glass window with a shattering crash echoing throughout the room. Iratus’ eyes burned with frustration.

Iratus: "Again?"

Fury flashed across his face, but it quickly turned to shock as he took in the creature before him, another ebony. This one was nearly eight feet tall, stooping just enough to avoid the low ceiling. Its right arm was covered in thick, brown squirrel hides—stolen skin that was all too familiar. The rest of its body was clad in meticulously crafted armor, intricately carved with designs that told stories that only those from Valor would know.

Resolutio: "That design... it’s from my world. You stole it!"

Her words tumbled out in disbelief as the monstrous figure advanced, leaving little time for further discussion. The creature wielded a considerably long two-handed saber, and around its neck hung a chain bearing a polished silver lantern. The lantern’s brightness sharply contrasted with the blood splattered on its armor.

In a violent moment, Astrid was slammed to the ground by the creature’s force, and it stepped forward once more. Iratus caught a glimpse of a black, viscous substance oozing inside the lantern.

Iratus: "More not magic magic nonsense."

Resolutio was a large goat woman, but even she was tossed over its shoulder. It then roughly shoved Otiosus aside, leaving Iratus as the sole defender standing. With another determined step, the ebony drew so near that all light seemed to vanish, plunging Iratus into the same oppressive darkness he had encountered before with these creatures.

A bitter smirk crossed his face.

Iratus: "Pfft, another lantern for my collection."

---

EPISODE 85: END

---

Episode 85 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 16
Coverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork), leather gloves, tactical vest, tailorcraft backpack, leather plate helmet, delicate gold chain with a small pendant shaped like a lion's glare, flashlight, bronze breastplate, bronze arm guards, bronze shin guards
Weapons: long sword, 1 knifes, short sword, hammer, 1 dagger
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 5 copper coins, 2 small silver bricks, 20 silver coins, 30 gold coins

Wounds: none

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 3 glass jars, 8 bottles, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, several small fish nets, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, a large barrel, writing material, 52 cloaks and other clothing materials, some fabrics, 4 carts, 3 stitched tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenery, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing, gas generator, four flood lights, flute, lyre

Armory: 24 short swords, 9 knifes, 15 daggers, 14 metal spears, 4 long swords, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 2 hunting traps, 5 snares, 4 backpacks, 3 katanas, 3 short katanas, crossbow, several pounds of C4
Aestus: gambeson, bronze breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, 2 knives, short sword, bronze long sword.
Victoria: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, 2 daggers, flashlight
Resonanita: steel breastplate, gambeson, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, 1 knife, compound bow, flashlight
Ignis: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar, 1 knife

Treasure: 18 copper coins, 14 silver coins 16 iron coins, 2 gold coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, bronze lantern, bronze idol, some jeweled trinkets, iron lantern, silver lantern, gold crown with large sapphire

Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates, clay pots, and wooden chests), Basic Workshop Area (lots of tools, woodcarving tools, glue, sandpaper), Kitchen Area (many tools, many cutlery items, pots&pans, makeshift grill, microwave), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools, first aid kit, plenty of medicine and equipment), Children's Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding, sensual antfolk sculpture), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding), four portable solar panels

Outside Base: Butchering Hut (modern butchery kit, smoking rack), Tannery Hut, Underground Storage Area, Garden Area (fenced in), Tool Shed, Wooden Wall, Second Wooden Wall (20% complete), 3x Small Cabin, 8x Large Cabin, 2x Gravestones, Rabbit Hutches, Several Electrical Lights, Wooden House (Astrid)

Books: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), cards, Fractura's Notes, Tempestas's Notes, 12 survival guides, 3 technical manuals, 46 fiction novels, 11 encyclopedias, 4 dictionaries, 22 cookbooks, 2 gardening guides, 3 crafting books, 20 educational textbooks, 5 religious texts, 4 diaries, 12 children's books

Year 2, Day 251
---

TOWER FOLK:
Iratus of House Lionheart
mouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'6, age: 16, b day: 350
-
Victoria Mother of House Lionheart
raccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'3, age: 16, b day: 5, (preg 64 days)
-
Aestus of clan Riversinger
otter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'2, age: 16, b day: 99, (preg 256 days)
-
Ignis Yang
red panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eye, 6'4, age: 16, b day: 344, (preg 156 days)
-
Resonantia Diamond Heart Steel
shark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 16, b day: 2
---


CHILDREN:
Negligere Lionheart
shark, male, steel gray skin, white hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 2
-
Ruina Lionheart
otter, female, orange fur, vibrant orange hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 330
-
Gula Lionheart
red panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 340
-
Tenacitas Lionheart
raccoon, female, silver fur, dark blonde hair, amber eyes, age: 1, b day: 345

Frustra Lionheart
raccoon, male, gray fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 338

Despero Lionheart
shark, male, blue-gray skin, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 249
---


NEIGHBORS:
Echo
shark, male, gray skin with a white underbelly, black hair, black eyes, 6'8, age: 41, b day: 142

Fraus
feline, female, bright gray, white underbelly fur, white hair, blue eyes, 6'7, age: 18, b day: 90

Arcus
fox, female, slightly dark brown fur, slightly dark brown hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 20, b day: 326

Resolutio
goat, female, black fur, black hair, blue eyes, 7'0, age: 52, b day: 13

Praevalidum
antfolk, female, blackish-brown chitin, dark gray skin, brown hair, green eyes, 6'3, age: 19, b day: 77

Otiosus
mousefolk, male, dark gray fur, dark gray hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 22, b day: 105

Sutura
hyenafolk, female, brownish-blonde fur with black spots, gold hair, gold eyes, 6'7, age: 18, b day: 364

Odorem
foxfolk, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 26, b day: 86

Inlecebra
foxfolk, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 25, b day: 343

Astrid
nixman, female, slightly purple skin, black hair, blue eyes, 6'0, age: 20, b day: 71
---


WINTER WINDS CLAN:
Studium of Winter Winds
fox, male, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 5'10, age 14, b day: 190

Fuligo Leaf Shadow
otter, female, black fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5'6, age 14, b day: 245, (preg 185 days)

Bellum of House War Knuckles
cheetah, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6'0, age 15, b day: 91, (preg 221 days)
---


DARK SKY FAMILY:
Salvos Dark Sky
wolf, male, black fur, white hair, copper eyes, 6'8, age 27, b day: 66

Leitmotif Schlange
snake, female, yellow and red scales, naga bodied, gold  eyes, age 25, b day: 229

Ostinato Dark Sky
snake, male, black and red scales, white hair, bipedal, gold eyes, age 0, b day: 234
---


(farm)
UMBRA OCEAN FAMILY:
Procella Ocean Drinker
weasel , female, blonde fur, black hair, green eyes, 6'5, age 23, b day: 207, (preg 200 days)

Iter of Sanguinem Umbra
goat, male, white fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, 6'7, age 20, b day: 334
---


(farm)
THE COBALTS:
Commercium Jade Blue Cobalt
rabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6'8, age: 26, b day: 221

Abrasione
hyena, female, tan fur with black spots, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'5, age: 20, b day: 4

-
Kuxatura Jade Blue Cobalt
hyena, male, tan fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 284

Vulnera Jade Blue Cobalt
hyena, male, white with black spots fur, black hair with some golden strands, gray eyes, age: 0, b day: 189

Ruptura Jade Blue Cobalt
hyena, male, pale tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 0, b day: 189
---


LAST MISTAKE
Deficio
lion, male, gray fur, rich gray hair, green eyes, 6'6, age: 47, b day: 111

Confodere Oculi Acuti
hyena, male, dark brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6'9, age 27, b day: 239

Malignitas of House Brokensand
feline, male, light black fur, light black hair, brown eyes (single eye), 6'7, age 29, b day: 343

Liora Woodleaf
deer, female, Light brown with white spots, blonde hair, hazel eyes, 5'9, age: 25, b day 323, (preg 11 days)", "pools_count": 0, "title": "Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 85", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "text/rtf", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "5", "name": "Strong Violence", "description": "Strong violence, blood, serious injury or death", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "0", "views": "7" }