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  "description": "Episode 104 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.",
  "description_bbcode_parsed": "<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>Episode 104 of my series. Black Hole, is a survival, low-fantasy, sci-fi story and I&#039;d rate it as pg-13 for violence, some suggestive themes, and some nudity.</span>",
  "writing": "Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 104\n\nChapter 1031\n\nNothing stopped the five from reaching the front door—the only door. With no windows, everything inside was an unknown. Iratus gave a signal, and Bai Xue pulled open the sliding metal doors. Immediately, a wave of steam burst out—so hot it was nearly skin-boiling.\n\nIratus resisted the urge to scream, keeping his focus as Laedere and Ardens went in first. Sagitta followed, with Bai Xue and Iratus bringing up the rear. The bottom room was empty. Unlike the first Yaqar tower, this one was smaller on the inside.\n\nThe walls matched the outside: uneven, shifting, and giving the unsettling impression of breathing. Steam hissed from dozens of vents, filling the room with heat.\n\nIratus: \"Wow. It's hot in here.\"\n\nThe group spread out, finding nothing else of note.\n\nSagitta: \"Perhaps their species comes from such an environment.\"\n\nSeveral panels in the walls stood open, revealing empty storage compartments. From above came a series of thumps, and everyone turned toward the stairs.\n\nArdens: \"I guess that means more of these things are waiting for us.\"\n\nIratus: \"Then let's figure out a plan.\"\n\nLaedere: \"But do we? If they're not just mindless monsters, why are we even here?\"\n\nIratus: \"We wanted control of several buildings in this city. And these things will fight to keep us out.\"\n\nSagitta and Ardens moved toward the stairs while the others found cover.\n\nLaedere: \"Or maybe we leave them alone. If they come back out, then we deal with them.\"\n\nIratus: \"Maybe. In a way, we're the intruders here. But they shot first. And they're holed up in this tower—which looks suspiciously like Yaqar's. Too many unknowns.\"\n\nSagitta crept partway up the stairs but froze.\n\nSagitta: \"Wait… I smell something. Definitely more of the purple creatures. But also… others. Folk. Bloodforged, like us.\"\n\nThe group sniffed the air. Only Sagitta's sharp nose caught anything solid, though Laedere eventually perked up.\n\nLaedere: \"Yeah… I smell it too.\"\n\nIratus: \"Hmm.\"\n\nThe mouseman climbed the stairs to a nearby vent, then shouted into it.\n\nEveryone except Bai Xue jolted in surprise.\n\nArdens: \"So much for stealth!\"\n\nLaedere: \"What are you doing, bud?\"\n\nBai Xue: \"…\"\n\nSagitta: \"You could've warned us.\"\n\nIratus ignored them, concentrating. At first, the others heard only static-like interference, but Iratus caught something beneath it—voices. He couldn't make out the words, but they were definitely words.\n\nIratus: \"People are here. I heard them.\"\n\nBai Xue: \"Looks like mice have the best hearing.\"\n\nIratus: \"All the way to ultrasonic.\"\n\nSagitta: \"Next time, give us some warning.\"\n\nThe noise above shifted. Something with four legs was approaching the stairs.\n\nLaedere: \"Technically, that still doesn't prove the purple creatures are in the wrong. Unlikely as that may be.\"\n\nIratus: \"Correct. But the odds lean toward them holding people here against their will. And that's reason enough to act.\"\n\n---\n\nChapter 1032\n\nEveryone tensed as the purple creatures drew nearer. Iratus kept his eyes on Sagitta, who had his weapon lowered and was waving, clearly trying to open a dialogue instead of a firefight. But everyone knew how it would end.\n\nThe wolf man leapt back as gunfire erupted. The team dove for cover—jagged plates and warped terrain offering what little protection there was. The stairs, built wide for quadrupedal beings, shook as one of the purples descended. Ardens and Laedere opened fire while Sagitta crouched behind sharp outcroppings and loosed his own shot. The creature, like the others they'd faced, shrugged off the barrage, refusing to go down.\n\nIt stepped lower on the stairs—just as Bai Xue lunged forward, spear flashing, and pierced its body.\n\nThe being wore leather armor strapped across its horse-like torso, saddlebags bulging with weapons and supplies. It ripped out a heavy pistol, aiming at the fluff dragon. Ardens, Sagitta, and Laedere rained more fire into it while Iratus charged in and grappled the gun arm. The pistol roared—deafening, even through their protection. Without it, their ears would've been shredded.\n\nAnother shot went wild as Iratus forced the weapon to the side. Bullets sparked against walls. Ardens drove arrows into its torso, Sagitta drew his short sword, stabbing in rapid bursts. The purple dropped its pistol, yanking free a massive knife, slashing at anyone in reach.\n\nIratus's fur was drenched, sweat stinging his eyes from both the suffocating steam and the brutal struggle.\n\nIratus: \"Someone grab its other arm!\"\n\nLaedere rushed in, not with a strike but a grapple, seizing the free arm. Together they hauled the purple down, pinning it under blade and claw until the fight ended in blood.\n\nIratus staggered back, chest heaving, smelling the sweat pouring off the others as well.\n\nIratus: \"This is too much. The heat, the endurance of these things, the danger…\"\n\nLaedere: \"We've scavenged weapons off three already, and now this one's pistol. What if we start using them?\"\n\nSagitta: \"Besides you and me, who here can even handle pistols? Never mind that giant machine gun.\"\n\nLaedere: \"Well, I'm nearly out of ammo. I'd like something else to fight with. That rifle you're lugging takes an age to reload.\"\n\nSagitta: \"Like four seconds.\"\n\nIratus pulled his hearing protection loose for a moment, ears twitching. Voices again—faint, muffled, but undeniably there. And above that, more movement.\n\nIratus: \"We've still got company.\"\n\nAt once, the group reset their grips, hearts pounding, and turned their focus toward the stairs.\n\n---\n\nChapter 1033\n\nAfter a minute, Iratus motioned everyone to leave, and once outside the tower, they all breathed in the cooler air.\n\nIratus: \"I don't know about anyone else, but I just need a breather.\"\n\nSagitta: \"I think we all do. That fight and the hot steam were brutal.\"\n\nLaedere: \"I still feel a bit bad for these people.\"\n\nIratus drank some water from his canteen.\n\nIratus: \"I understand, but we have to see what's on top.\"\n\nSagitta: \"And still no sign of the Sin Lord either.\"\n\nIratus: \"Okay, everyone ready for round two?\"\n\nEveryone nodded, so Iratus led the charge back in. No other purple creatures came down, so the group advanced to the second story. Laedere and Sagitta now held the alien pistols. The second room looked much like the first floor, though this one had counters and windows. Iratus spotted a laptop and immediately went to it.\n\nHe had seen enough technology to understand the basics. Grabbing the mouse and keyboard, he began poking through the interface.\n\nArdens: \"Here, let me take a look at this.\"\n\nIratus: \"Alright.\"\n\nHe watched the woman move the cursor to various icons.\n\nArdens: \"Definitely another language. I have no idea what any of this says.\"\n\nShe opened a few programs—one seemed to be some kind of math or accounting software—before stumbling into a set of files too garbled to make sense of.\n\nThe noises above continued, keeping everyone tense. Iratus placed a hand on the red panda girl's shoulder.\n\nIratus: \"Maybe later. We still have enemies around.\"\n\nLeaving the laptop behind, the group climbed to the third floor. This time, they found four purple creatures waiting—these ones slimmer, armed with spears instead of firearms. Iratus moved in with the others, both groups threatening each other with weapons. From upstairs came the sound of people shouting for help.\n\nBai Xue: \"Orders?\"\n\nIratus: \"Laedere, Ardens, and Sagitta—hold these four here. You and I will check upstairs.\"\n\nArdens: \"We're not going to kill them? If they all attack at once, we'll die.\"\n\nIratus: \"If they're not pushing the fight, then I say we ignore them.\"\n\nBai Xue: \"Works for me.\"\n\nIratus and Bai Xue advanced to the fourth floor—the top of the tower. It was just as hot and steamy as the rest. At the center stood a prison with four individuals locked inside cages… and even one of the purple creatures imprisoned with them.\n\n---\n\nChapter 1034\n\nIntroductions were brief: Interrogatio and Tonus, both male rabbitfolk; Invidia, a young female mousefolk; and Completio, a female raccoonfolk. All of them wore tattered clothes, drenched in sweat, and reeked from captivity.\n\nInterrogatio: \"Yeah, yeah—Iratus, right? Get us out of here!\"\n\nThe whole time, Bai Xue was fiddling with an improvised lockpick, but each attempt failed.\n\nBai Xue: \"We might need something else for these. These aren't normal locks.\"\n\nThe prisoners grumbled impatiently, but Iratus kept his composure.\n\nIratus: \"Guess we'll need a hardware store or something.\"\n\nBai Xue: \"Leave it to me.\"\n\nThe fluff dragon departed, and soon after Sagitta called down from the third floor.\n\nSagitta: \"Are we winning or what?\"\n\nIratus: \"Not yet. We need something to break these locks. They're messed up.\"\n\nAfter the exchange with the wolf, Iratus turned back to the prisoners.\n\nIratus: \"So, what's the story with the purple guy?\"\n\nInvidia: \"His species is called pa-teš. At least, that's what he told us.\"\n\nIratus: \"Really? We got nothing out of the others. You'll have to tell me more.\"\n\nTonus: \"I'd be surprised if you did.\"\n\nInterrogatio: \"Yeah, this one was tortured badly—bloodied, beaten, the works. He said it was because he came from further ahead in his people's timeline.\"\n\nThe rabbitfolk shook his head slowly.\n\nInvidia: \"His people… they had no resistance to war or violence. Only in their enlightened age did peace and coexistence become fashionable. That's about all he managed to tell us before they threw him in here with us. Then he died.\"\n\nIratus: \"And how long have you four been trapped here?\"\n\nInvidia: \"Four—uh, I mean forty days. Except for Completio.\"\n\nCompletio: \"I've only been here fifteen.\"\n\n---\n\nChapter 1035\n\nTime was dragging, and Iratus was beginning to grow worried. The four pa-teš downstairs hadn't moved or caused any trouble—they seemed unwilling to leave the tower.\n\nArdens: \"As long as they don't cause trouble, who cares?\"\n\nSagitta: \"We promised the people at Rise we'd clear out the hostiles here. It'll be hard to tell them not to worry about a bloodthirsty species still living around.\"\n\nIratus frowned in thought for a moment before turning back to the prisoners.\n\nIratus: \"Do you know anything about Yaqar?\"\n\nEach of them shook their heads or otherwise indicated a negative response.\n\nInterrogatio: \"Should we?\"\n\nIratus: \"I guess it doesn't matter.\"\n\nAt that moment, Bai Xue returned, carrying several hefty mauls.\n\nIratus: \"Oh… I guess we're doing this the old-fashioned way?\"\n\nBai Xue: \"Smashing doors is a national pastime. Don't know what you're on about.\"\n\nIratus chuckled and grabbed a maul himself. Together, they eventually tore down the cages holding the four prisoners.\n\nInterrogatio—twenty-nine, with dusty brown fur streaked with white along his ears and golden-amber eyes—retrieved his equipment from a bronze crate, grabbing his courier's satchel with lockpicks.\n\nInterrogatio: \"Okay, you freed us… now what's the catch?\"\n\nTonus, thirty-four, with charcoal gray fur flecked with silver and ice-blue eyes, grabbed his vest full of electrician tools.\n\nTonus: \"I have to agree with my friend. You rescued us, but nothing comes free.\"\n\nInvidia, nineteen, with sandy beige fur, a dark brown tuft on her head, and green eyes, discovered her equipment was gone.\n\nInvidia: \"No! My stuff! What conspiracy is this, Lord God?\"\n\nIratus: \"I don't think God had anything to do with your missing equipment.\"\n\nInvidia: \"It's not fair! Everyone else got their stuff!\"\n\nCompletio, the oldest of the group (though still young for a Bloodforge), had dark mask-like markings, silver-streaked fur, and brown eyes. She pulled her journal from the crate.\n\nCompletio: \"Forget these three. What's the next part of the plan?\"\n\nIratus: \"No plan. Just seeing what's around town. This tower happened to be here.\"\n\n---\n\nChapter 1036\n\nEveryone was finally starting to leave the tower. The former prisoners cast murderous looks at the remaining pa-teš, but they didn't act when Iratus's party showed no hostility. Before leaving, Iratus approached the strange people.\n\nIratus: \"Yaqar?\" He motioned around the tower.\n\nIt was difficult to read their body language—if they even had one—but Iratus caught something that looked like shock, quickly withdrawn. Was it confusion, or recognition? Then one of the creatures waved its hand side to side. In most cultures Iratus knew, that meant no. But with these people? Who could say.\n\nNearby, Ardens fiddled with the laptop again, but eventually gave up and set it back where she found it.\n\nInterrogatio: \"You still haven't answered my question.\"\n\nIratus: \"I don't need a reason to help others. Honestly, I don't know anything about the four of you. Do whatever you want. If you return to my settlement, all I ask is that you're not a problem for the people there. Beyond that, you're free.\"\n\nInterrogatio: \"What are you then—some kind of dictator? A king?\"\n\nIratus: \"I just live in a tower. It's everyone else who calls me king.\"\n\nInterrogatio: \"And there it is.\"\n\nIratus rolled his eyes.\n\nBefore leaving, he gave the tower one last glance. No sign of Yaqar, and this tower was smaller than the first—enough to make him doubt. With a sigh, he shook his head and turned away.\n\nIratus: \"The Humvee can't fit everyone. So I'll ask—what do you four want?\"\n\nCompletio: \"I'd like to see your settlement before making any plans.\"\n\nInvidia: \"Kinsman, you wound me. Where else would any of us go? I don't know much about the Nexus Prime, but I was told this planet is incredibly dangerous.\"\n\nIratus: \"That's two. Now, the rabbits.\"\n\nInterrogatio: \"We'll take our chances.\"\n\nTonus: \"I'm not leaving Interrogatio. But I'll say this—if you two really are going with this stranger…\"\n\nInvidia: \"You're both just paranoid.\"\n\nCompletio: \"Hardly, Invidia. Even with our rescue, there's no proof these people are trustworthy. Not without seeing their settlement first. That said, I am inclined to believe in them so far.\"\n\nIratus: \"Thank you.\"\n\nThe debate lingered, but eventually sides were chosen. Iratus climbed into the Humvee with Laedere, Completio, Invidia, and Sagitta. When they returned to the Rise building, Iratus relayed what had happened.\n\nCarmen: \"So the creatures were just normal people all along.\"\n\nIratus: \"Classic.\"\n\nCarmen: \"When you left, I realized I didn't explain clearly enough what's really in that city.\"\n\nIratus leaned in closer.\n\n---\n\nChapter 1037\n\nCarmen: \"Bicycles, scooters, various shops with useful things—backpacks, supplies—and something that really caught my eye: a hunting store.\"\n\nIratus: \"I didn't get a good look around the city, but most of it looked looted.\"\n\nCarmen: \"True, but the stores are still there. And soon, you'll see the benefits.\"\n\nIratus returned home with the others. Within a few days, those left behind in the city were driven back as well. Five days later, he was called to meet with the four new arrivals.\n\nIratus: \"It's been five days.\"\n\nThe meeting, like most, was held in the communal kitchen.\n\nIratus: \"The growing population keeps supplies tight, and the looming war takes whatever's left. I need an answer now—or else you'll have to try the other settlements I mentioned.\"\n\nCompletio: \"To be fair, they aren't really settlements if they're just satellites of Lionhearth.\"\n\nInvidia: \"Of course a relative of the great Lionheart dynasty would name it that.\"\n\nIratus: \"Branch family.\"\n\nInvidia: \"So, you are House Lionheart.\"\n\nIratus: \"I guess you got me there.\"\n\nThe mouse girl stepped forward.\n\nInvidia: \"House Bloodmoon is here to stay.\"\n\nFrom the side, Bellum scoffed.\n\nBellum: \"Bloodmoon, huh? So now we've got royalty of the money variety too.\"\n\nInvidia: \"We have to stick together. I've heard about Purple City and the people there—from you all. I still want to stay here.\"\n\nThe two rabbits spoke next.\n\nInterrogatio: \"Interrogatio Pink Diamond. The wilderness is the worst, and you've got an actual village here.\"\n\nTonus: \"Basically a small city at this point. Oh, and I'm Tonus Black Onyx.\"\n\nResonantia: \"Pink and Black? I'm unfamiliar with those naming conventions.\"\n\nFinally, the older raccoon lady spoke.\n\nCompletio: \"Completio, if you didn't already know. I'd like to live here as well. I just need help setting up a home and all that.\"\n\nVictoria: \"Another clanless?\"\n\nIratus: \"I've heard no complaints about the four of you. Build your homes where you like. Anyone who's willing can help.\"\n\nSome people clapped.\n\nCompletio: \"Then I'll do my best for Lionhearth.\"\n\nInterrogatio: \"I'm keeping my options open. No way I'm sticking to Last Mistake, the farm, or Rise. But seeing how you let people live freely here, I'll enjoy the ride—and yes, I'll fight in the coming war.\"\n\nIratus: \"That means a lot to me.\"\n\n---\n\nChapter 1038\n\nThe four newcomers soon built their cabins, with plenty of help, and before long they joined the military drills with everyone else. Another three peaceful days passed. Iratus enjoyed the calm, almost as if the threat of Purple City didn't exist. But on the afternoon of day 101, he received a report.\n\nIratus: \"That's everything?\"\n\nSalvos: \"Yeah. We've got intruders building something along the coast.\"\n\nIratus: \"By God… I hope this isn't Purple City setting up. Alright—grab the Humvees. We'll have to talk to these people.\"\n\nIratus gathered a squad and drove two Humvees south, following the path to the beach, then up the coast and away from the old hospital. When they neared their destination, they stopped, dismounted, and advanced on foot.\n\nResonantia and Salvos carried bows. Inlecebra and Certamen had crossbows. Sagitta, Odorem, and Astrid were armed with alien pistols. Resolutio held her heavy maul, Otiosus his rapier, Collaboratio a spear, and Iratus brought his longsword. All of them wore their Lionhearth armor as they crept toward the new village.\n\nSagitta: \"You know, if we'd waited a few more days, Rise probably would've finished those hunting bows. Everyone could've had a ranged option.\"\n\nIratus: \"Let's see what we're dealing with first.\"\n\nThe settlement looked freshly built—wooden huts still half-finished. Thirteen humans and two apemen milled about, four of them women.\n\nIratus: \"Excuse me.\"\n\nAstrid translated for the group.\n\nIratus: \"I'm sorry, but there are borders and laws here. Please tell me who you are.\"\n\nThe villagers snatched up weapons, shouting back.\n\nAstrid: \"Uh… they think we're attacking.\"\n\nIratus: \"I guess rolling up with cars and guns wasn't the best approach. Thought we'd kept enough distance.\"\n\nSalvos: \"Whatever. Let's pull back to the Humvees and let them come to us.\"\n\nThey fell back only a little, lingering by the vehicles for nearly a minute. Then the arrows came. The villagers loosed a volley, shafts clattering harmlessly off steel and armor. Half the squad wasn't even in cover, standing exposed to show they meant no harm—but once the arrows struck, everyone shifted into combat formation.\n\nIratus: \"Non-lethal, if possible.\"\n\nResolutio: \"Helmets, breastplates, and gambesons stop arrows, sure. But armor still has gaps. We'll be at a disadvantage.\"\n\nIratus: \"Pretend they're Purple City. If I wanted a justification for war, I'd provoke us into attacking, then strike back.\"\n\nResolutio: \"If they are Purple City, then yeah, I'd do that.\"\n\nAnother arrow glanced off a Humvee's side.\n\nSalvos: \"Always the hard way.\"\n\nThe nixwoman shouted back in the villagers' tongue.\n\nAstrid: \"Stop firing or we'll return fire.\"\n\nThe arrows didn't stop.\n\nIratus: \"I wonder how many they've got.\"\n\nSalvos: \"Please tell me that's not your plan.\"\n\nIratus: \"Why not? They can't pierce the Humvees. As long as nothing slips through the helmets, we'll be fine.\"\n\nThe wolfman shrugged. Resolutio only rolled her eyes.\n\n---\n\nChapter 1039\n\nThe arrows eventually stopped, and Iratus stepped forward. The others followed closely behind. A human with a bow emerged, clearly intent on protesting.\n\nAstrid: \"These people are stubborn. What do you want me to say?\"\n\nIratus: \"What I said before—everyone here is trespassing.\"\n\nAstrid translated.\n\nMan: \"We are not trespassing anywhere. This is our land.\"\n\nIratus: \"You are mistaken, sir. We have borders and dealings with multiple settlements. The coast belongs to Lionhearth.\"\n\nIn truth, Iratus suspected this was a ploy. What he said was technically true, but it would only matter to Purple City. If these people weren't from there, he could always retract part of his statement later.\n\nMan: \"You can't own everything. If you don't have a presence here, then we have every right to stay.\"\n\nIratus sighed.\n\nIratus: \"Are you from Purple City?\"\n\nMan: \"And what if we are?\"\n\nIratus: \"Purple City and Lionhearth have very clear borders.\"\n\nMan: \"As I said—you don't live here, so this is ours now.\"\n\nIratus's companions bristled at the response.\n\nResonantia: \"Tell them we hunt this far out.\"\n\nOdorem: \"Not to mention they just appeared within walking distance of our settlement.\"\n\nAstrid translated.\n\nMan: \"That isn't our problem.\"\n\nIratus: \"So you admit to taking our hunting grounds?\"\n\nMan: \"Sure.\"\n\nIratus: \"Sir, this is our land. You can't simply steal it.\"\n\nMan: \"And we don't care what you think. We live here now, and there's nothing you can do about it.\"\n\nIratus exhaled, taking a moment to think.\n\nIratus: \"What do you imagine would happen if you stayed here, on our land? If we came around to hunt or fish, how would those conflicts end?\"\n\nMan: \"You come into our territory, and we'll kill you. Everything around here is ours, and we will kill anyone who trespasses.\"\n\nIratus: \"And yet when someone steps into our territory, we show restraint.\"\n\nHe decided to take a chance.\n\nIratus: \"Return to Purple City, and we will forget this incident.\"\n\nMan: \"Purple City goes where it pleases. We want access to the ocean, and now we have it. Stay away from us, and we will forgive this assault.\"\n\nAnd with that, Iratus had confirmation of exactly who they were.\n\n---\n\nChapter 1040\n\nIratus: \"If Purple City wants access to the ocean, then it needs to negotiate.\"\n\nMan: \"No, we don't. We have the right to settle where we please. Whatever claims other settlements make are not recognized by Purple City.\"\n\nIratus paused at that statement. It sounded exactly like the leaders of Purple City themselves.\n\nIratus: \"So borders and agreements mean nothing to Purple City? I don't believe it. I'll give you four days to clear out. After that, we'll take you back to Purple City by force.\"\n\nMan: \"That would be war, and we will destroy you.\"\n\nIratus: \"If that were true, you wouldn't need to fabricate a reason for war.\"\n\nIratus was already upset, and his voice nearly gave him away. This—he realized—was how the war would begin. He had called it. Perhaps not everyone in Purple City followed their leaders blindly, but all they needed was an altercation where Lionhearth could be painted as the aggressor. Why not stage a false-flag operation instead? The only reason Iratus could imagine was that they were gambling. If he chose kindness and understanding, perhaps he would let this slide in the name of peace. But Iratus did not see himself as a fool. If Purple City claimed this land, already so close to Lionhearth, they would keep expanding until Lionhearth was choked out.\n\nIratus: \"Peaceful coexistence is what builds civilizations.\"\n\nMan: \"Only a child would think that. War makes civilizations.\"\n\nIratus: \"Your people are not bred for war.\"\n\nThe human scoffed.\n\nIratus: \"Even if your planet has a history of violence and death, in the end, soulbound are not meant to kill each other—and humans are more restrained by that conscience than others. Please, choose peace.\"\n\nIratus turned away, and the others followed. The man shouted something after them, but Astrid didn't bother to translate.\n\nAstrid: \"You know they will choose war.\"\n\nIratus: \"Yup. This is where it begins.\"\n\nOtiosus: \"So be it.\"\n\nResolutio: \"I could have stayed my lust for vengeance for peace, but I'd be lying if I said war here is bad. I've told you many times, Iratus—Purple City, and most civilizations, want war. War is their religion. Not literally, but by the worship they give without realizing it.\"\n\nIratus: \"And that's why Lionhearth has trained and planned, knowing my calls for peace would never be answered.\"\n\nWhen the convoy returned home, Iratus doubled their security efforts and border patrols.\n\nWar was coming.\n\n---\n\nEPISODE 104: END\n\n---\n\nEpisode 104 End Character Sheet\nName: Iratus Lionheart\nSpecies: Mousefolk\nAge: 20\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 full arm guards, bronze shin guards, hearing protection\nWeapons: long sword, short sword, hammer, 3 dagger\nEquipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack\n\nWounds: None\n\nArmory: 12 short swords, 2 knifes, 7 daggers, 12 metal spears, 1 long sword, semi-automatic rifle, 4 hunting traps, 18 snares, 17 backpacks, 2 katanas, crossbow, bolt-action rifle, 2 heavy pistols\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\nImportant Treasure: 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\nLionhearth -\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, outside house area\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, 9 Small Cabin, 14 Large Cabin, 2 Gravestones, Rabbit Hutches, Several Electrical Lights, Wooden House (Astrid), Kitchen Building, Guest House, Patchwork Garage (1 Humvee), Simple Dock, Watchtower, Schoolhouse, Compost Area, Small Workshop Hut, various private gardens, various small animal farms\n\nBooks: 5 woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, 2 war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), 2 sketch books, Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), playing cards, Fractura's Notes, Tempestas's Notes, 18 survival guides, 5 technical manuals, 68 fiction novels, 12 encyclopedias, 5 dictionaries, 28 cookbooks, 4 gardening guides, 4 crafting books, 30 educational textbooks, 6 religious texts, 10 diaries, 18 children's books, Ever Dark RPG, 15 different tabletop games\n\nYear 6, Day 101\n\n---\n\nTOWER FOLK:\nIratus of House Lionheart\nmouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'9, age: 20, b day: 350\n-\nVictoria Mother of House Lionheart\nraccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'6, age: 20, b day: 5, (preg 80)\n-\nAestus of clan Riversinger\notter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'4, age: 20, b day: 99 (preg 11)\n-\nIgnis Yang\nred panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eyes, 6'7, age: 20, b day: 344, (preg 105)\n-\nResonantia Diamond Heart Steel\nshark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 20, b day: 2\n---\n\n\nCHILDREN:\nNegligere Lionheart\nshark, male, steel gray skin, white hair, gold eyes, age: 5, b day: 2\n-\nRuina Lionheart\notter, female, orange fur, vibrant orange hair, blue eyes, age: 5, b day: 330\n-\nGula Lionheart\nred panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 5, b day: 340\n-\nTenacitas Lionheart\nraccoon, female, silver fur, dark blonde hair, amber eyes, age: 5, b day: 345\n\nFrustra Lionheart\nraccoon, male, gray fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 4, b day: 338\n\nDespero Lionheart\nshark, male, blue-gray skin, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 3, b day: 249\n\nTempestas\notter, male, white fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 2, b day: 272\n\nNebula\notter, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, age: 2, b day: 272\n\nVentus Lionheart\nred panda, female, reddish-brown and white fur, blonde-black gradient hair, gold with a hint of silver eyes, age: 3, b day: 17\n\nLignum Lionheart\nred panda, male, fur of reddish-brown with golden-blonde highlights, especially around chest, muzzle, and ears, gold-blonde hair, amber-gold eyes, age: 3, b day: 17\n\nConstantia Lionheart\nraccoon, female, fur is pale gray with soft gold undertones, hair is light brown with streaks of black, eyes are bright gold with brown flecks, age: 2, b day: 118\n\nJustus Lionheart\nraccoon, male, fur is silver-gray with darker banding at the tail, hair is Dark blonde, slightly curly, amber-gold eyes, age: 2, b day: 118\n\nVindicta Lionheart\nshark, female, dark steel blue skin with a pearly undertone, blonde hair almost white at the tips, blue eyes with golden rings around the iris, age: 1, b day: 159\n\nPatientia Lionheart\nshark, female, soft gray-blue skin with subtle mottling around the shoulders and back, white hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 159\n\nPudor Lionheart\notter, female, copper-red fur, golden-red hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 269\n---\n\n\nNEIGHBORS:\nEcho\nshark, male, gray skin with a white underbelly, black hair, black eyes, 6'8, age: 44, b day: 142\n\nResolutio\ngoat, female, black fur, black hair, blue eyes, 7'0, age: 55, b day: 13\n\nDolor\nhyena, male, rich brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 5'1, age: 13, b day: 301\n\nDiffido\nmouse, male, black fur, black hair, brown eyes, 5'4, age: 15, b day: 145\n\nPusillanimitas of House Redtide\nlion, female, tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'8, age: 21, b day: 1\n\nCommuniquer Zircon Beaumont\nrabbit, female, soft gray with white patches around the nose and underbelly, chestnut brown hair, Amber-gold eyes, 6'7, age: 31, b day: 88\n\nSagitta Cloud Wake\nwolf, male, dark charcoal with silver streaks around the muzzle and tail tipfur, steel gray hair, ice blue eyes, 6'9, age: 46, b day: 33\n\nParabula of Arcanum Vitae\ngoat, male, sandy beige with dark brown patches along his limbs, black hair, bright green eyes, 6'7, age: 35, b day: 55\n\nInterrogatio Pink Diamond\nrabbit, male, fur is dusty brown with a streak of white along ears, brown hair, golden amber eyes, 6'6, age: 29, b day: 276\n\nTonus Black Onyx\nrabbit, male, fur charcoal gray with flecks of silver, silver hair, ice blue eyes, 6'8, age: 34, b day: 363\n\nInvidia of House Bloodmoon\nmouse, female, sandy beige fur, dark brown hair, green eyes, 6'5, age: 19, b day: 235\n\nCompletio\nraccoon, female, dark mask markings and silver-streaked fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'9, age: 42, b day: 144\n\n7 others: a female tanuki, a male hyena, a female raccoon, and 4 others.\n---\n\n\nWINTER WINDS CLAN:\nStudium of Winter Winds\nfox, male, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 6'4, age: 17, b day: 190\n\nFuligo Leaf Shadow\notter, female, black fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6'2, age: 17, b day: 245, (preg: 2)\n\nBellum of House War Knuckles\ncheetah, female, blonde fur with black spots, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age 20, b day: 91\n-\nAmbitiosus of Winter Winds\ncheetah, male, blonde fur with black spots, black hair, blue eyes, age 3, b day: 322\n\nVertex of Winter Winds\notter, female, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, age 2, b day: 360\n\nVirtus of Winter Winds\ncheetah, male, sandy gold fur with dense black spotting, black streaked with blonde hair, blue eyes, age 1, b day: 162\n\nVenatio of Winter Winds\notter, male, charcoal black fur with silvery undertones around the chest and face, blonde hair, blue eyes, age 1, b day: 207\nYear 4, Day 210\n\n---\n\n\nDARK SKY FAMILY:\nSalvos Dark Sky\nwolf, male, black fur, white hair, copper eyes, 6'8, age 31, b day: 66\n\nLeitmotif Schlange\nsnake, female, yellow and red scales, naga bodied, gold eyes, age 28, b day: 229\n-\nOstinato Dark Sky\nsnake, male, black and red scales, white hair, bipedal, gold eyes, age 3, b day: 234\n\nDiscordia Dark Sky\nsnake, female, scales are crimson with deep onyx patterning along back and limbs, white hair, bipedal, bright gold eyes, age 1, b day: 6\n\nCaligo Dark Sky\nsnake, male, scales are dusky gold with shadowy undertones, short, black hair with hints of auburn, bipedal, copper-red eyes, age 1, b day: 6\n---\n\n\nOCULI ACUTI FAMILY\nConfodere Oculi Acuti\nhyena, male, dark brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6'9, age 30, b day: 239\n\nLiora Woodleaf\ndeer, female, light brown with white spots, blonde hair, hazel eyes, 5'9, age: 29, b day 323, (preg 82)\n\nSutura Vigilia Nocturna\nhyena, female, brownish-blonde fur with black spots, gold hair, gold eyes, 6'8, age: 22, b day: 364\n-\nCandela Woodleaf-Oculi\ndeer, female, fur is tawny beige with faint white spots that form a flame-like pattern across her back, hair is black with golden highlights, unusually thick and slightly wavy, amber-hazel eyes, age 2, b day 168\n\nCaelum Woodleaf-Oculi\ndeer, male, fur is chestnut with darker brown shoulders and legs, with only faint spotting, hair is blonde with streaks of dark brown near the roots, gold eyes, age 2, b day 168\n\nFerox Vigilia Nocturna\nhyena, male, dark sable-brown fur with dense black spotting, gold hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 219\n---\n\n\nHOT WAVES AND BRASSMOON FAMILY\nOdorem of Hot Waves\nfox, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 30, b day: 86\n\nFraus of House Brassmoon\nfeline, female, bright gray, white underbelly fur, white hair, blue eyes, 6'7, age: 22, b day: 90, (preg 167)\n-\nVana Hotbrass\nfeline, female, pale silver-gray fur with a subtle red-orange tint across the back and cheeks, deep auburn-red hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 174\n---\n\n\nHOT WAVES AND WHITE SKY FAMILY\nInlecebra of Hot Waves\nfox, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 29, b day: 343\n\nArcus of White Sky \nfox, female, slightly dark brown fur, slightly dark brown hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 23, b day: 326\n-\nExcelsa Hotsky\nfox, female, deep reddish-brown fur with subtle orange undertone, dark auburn hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 235\n\nFidelis Hotsky\nfox, male, mahogany brown fur with red-tinged highlights and darker markings along the shoulders, deep red hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 235\n\n---\n\n\nHOUSE OWLEYE\nOtiosus of House Owleye\nmouse, male, dark gray fur, dark gray hair, blue eyes, 6'8, age: 25, b day: 105\n\nBai Xue\nfluff dragon, female, white fur, white hair, green eyes, 7'1, age: 28, b day: 309\n\nAstrid Kuivuus\nnixman, female, slightly purple skin, black hair, blue eyes, 6'0, age: 24, b day: 71\n-\nTranquilla Owleye\nfluff dragon, female, white fur with light silver-gray patterning along her back and neck, pale silver hair with white streaks, deep green eyes, age: 1, b day: 246\n\nEirik Kuivuus\nnixman, male, pale lavender skin, black hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 81\n---\n\n\nLOST FIRE\nCertamen of the Lost Quickness\nraccoon, male, dark gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 6'9, age: 27, b day: 76\n\nArdens Ignifera\nredpanda, female, red fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6'5, age: 24, b day: 187\n-\nFulgora Lost Fire\nredpanda, female, fur is deep reddish-orange with charcoal-gray markings on the arms and legs; tail is ringed with darker red and slate-gray stripes, black hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 251\n---\n\n\nMALONDO FAMILY\nLaedere Malondo\nhyena, male, fur is sandy beige with darker brown spots and a stripe down spine, white hair, orange-gold eyes, 6'4, age: 20, b day: 22\n\nPraevalidum\nant, female, blackish-brown chitin, dark gray skin, brown hair, green eyes, 6'5, age: 23, b day: 77\n-\nFerrox Malondo\nant, male, deep brown-black chitin with subtle sandy undertones on the limbs and thorax, white hair, green eyes, age: 1, b day: 3\n---\n\n\nRENNICK FAMILY\nCollaboratio Diamond Rennick\nrabbit, male, fur is pale cream with soft gray ears and speckling along the shoulders, orange hair, hazel eyes, 6'11, age: 24, b day: 284\n\nVesper Red Queen\nmoth, female, gray fur, silver hair, brown eyes, 6'4, age: 23, b day: 37\n-\nAurora Diamond Rennick\nmoth, female, soft silvery-gray fur with creamy undertones around the cheeks, forearms, and tail base; subtle pale speckling across her shoulders, fluffy orange-tinged hair, brown eyes, age: 1, b day: 65\n---\n\n\n(farm)\nUMBRA OCEAN FAMILY:\nProcella Ocean Drinker\nweasel, female, blonde fur, black hair, green eyes, 6'5, age 26, b day: 207\n\nIter of Sanguinem Umbra\ngoat, male, white fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, 6'7, age 23, b day: 334\n-\nBothynus Umbra Ocean\nweasel, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, age 2, b day: 351\n\nLamentia Umbra Ocean\nweasel, female, creamy golden-blonde fur with subtle white patches around the shoulders and chest, black hair, olive green eyes with a golden ring around the iris, age 1, b day: 210\n---\n\n\n(farm)\nLevi Ackerman\nnixman, male, light purple skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'1, age: 26, b day: 303\n---\n\n\n(farm)\nTHE COBALTS:\nCommercium Jade Blue Cobalt\nrabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6'8, age: 29, b day: 221\n\nAbrasione\nhyena, female, tan fur with black spots, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'5, age: 24, b day: 4\n-\nKuxatura Jade Blue Cobalt\nhyena, male, tan fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 5, b day: 284\n\nVulnera Jade Blue Cobalt\nhyena, male, white with black spots fur, black hair with some golden strands, gray eyes, age: 2, b day: 189\n\nRuptura Jade Blue Cobalt\nhyena, male, pale tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 2, b day: 189\n---\n\n\nLAST MISTAKE\nDeficio\nlion, male, gray fur, rich gray hair, green eyes, 6'6, age: 50, b day: 111\n\nMalignitas of House Brokensand\nfeline, male, light black fur, light black hair, brown eyes (single eye), 6'7, age 33, b day: 343\n\nDisputatio Sapphire Halberd \nrabbit, male, fur is tawny tan with salt-and-pepper flecks along his back and cheeks, hair is dusty brown with streaks of white at the temples, green eyes, 6'5, age: 58, b day: 183\n\nAnd 8 others.\n---\n\n\n(Last Mistake)\nClan Sootdrinker:\nPulvis of Clan Sootdrinker\notter, male, dark‑brown fur, dark-brown hair, blue eyes, 6'7, age: 36, b day: 180\n\nCaedes, Mother of Clan Sootdrinker\nmouse, male, black fur, white hair, green eyes, 6'5, age: 28, b day: 105\n-\nInertia Sootdrinker\nmouse, female, jet black fur, silvery white hair, deep blue-green eyes, age: 2, b day: 315\n\nFumus Sootdrinker\nmouse, male, smoky gray-brown fur that is darker around the limbs and tail, white streaked with faint brown undertones hair, pale blue eyes, age: 2, b day: 315",
  "writing_bbcode_parsed": "<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 104<br /><br />Chapter 1031<br /><br />Nothing stopped the five from reaching the front door&mdash;the only door. With no windows, everything inside was an unknown. Iratus gave a signal, and Bai Xue pulled open the sliding metal doors. Immediately, a wave of steam burst out&mdash;so hot it was nearly skin-boiling.<br /><br />Iratus resisted the urge to scream, keeping his focus as Laedere and Ardens went in first. Sagitta followed, with Bai Xue and Iratus bringing up the rear. The bottom room was empty. Unlike the first Yaqar tower, this one was smaller on the inside.<br /><br />The walls matched the outside: uneven, shifting, and giving the unsettling impression of breathing. Steam hissed from dozens of vents, filling the room with heat.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Wow. It&#039;s hot in here.&quot;<br /><br />The group spread out, finding nothing else of note.<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;Perhaps their species comes from such an environment.&quot;<br /><br />Several panels in the walls stood open, revealing empty storage compartments. From above came a series of thumps, and everyone turned toward the stairs.<br /><br />Ardens: &quot;I guess that means more of these things are waiting for us.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Then let&#039;s figure out a plan.&quot;<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;But do we? If they&#039;re not just mindless monsters, why are we even here?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;We wanted control of several buildings in this city. And these things will fight to keep us out.&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta and Ardens moved toward the stairs while the others found cover.<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;Or maybe we leave them alone. If they come back out, then we deal with them.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Maybe. In a way, we&#039;re the intruders here. But they shot first. And they&#039;re holed up in this tower&mdash;which looks suspiciously like Yaqar&#039;s. Too many unknowns.&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta crept partway up the stairs but froze.<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;Wait&hellip; I smell something. Definitely more of the purple creatures. But also&hellip; others. Folk. Bloodforged, like us.&quot;<br /><br />The group sniffed the air. Only Sagitta&#039;s sharp nose caught anything solid, though Laedere eventually perked up.<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;Yeah&hellip; I smell it too.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Hmm.&quot;<br /><br />The mouseman climbed the stairs to a nearby vent, then shouted into it.<br /><br />Everyone except Bai Xue jolted in surprise.<br /><br />Ardens: &quot;So much for stealth!&quot;<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;What are you doing, bud?&quot;<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;&hellip;&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;You could&#039;ve warned us.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus ignored them, concentrating. At first, the others heard only static-like interference, but Iratus caught something beneath it&mdash;voices. He couldn&#039;t make out the words, but they were definitely words.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;People are here. I heard them.&quot;<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;Looks like mice have the best hearing.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;All the way to ultrasonic.&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;Next time, give us some warning.&quot;<br /><br />The noise above shifted. Something with four legs was approaching the stairs.<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;Technically, that still doesn&#039;t prove the purple creatures are in the wrong. Unlikely as that may be.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Correct. But the odds lean toward them holding people here against their will. And that&#039;s reason enough to act.&quot;<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1032<br /><br />Everyone tensed as the purple creatures drew nearer. Iratus kept his eyes on Sagitta, who had his weapon lowered and was waving, clearly trying to open a dialogue instead of a firefight. But everyone knew how it would end.<br /><br />The wolf man leapt back as gunfire erupted. The team dove for cover&mdash;jagged plates and warped terrain offering what little protection there was. The stairs, built wide for quadrupedal beings, shook as one of the purples descended. Ardens and Laedere opened fire while Sagitta crouched behind sharp outcroppings and loosed his own shot. The creature, like the others they&#039;d faced, shrugged off the barrage, refusing to go down.<br /><br />It stepped lower on the stairs&mdash;just as Bai Xue lunged forward, spear flashing, and pierced its body.<br /><br />The being wore leather armor strapped across its horse-like torso, saddlebags bulging with weapons and supplies. It ripped out a heavy pistol, aiming at the fluff dragon. Ardens, Sagitta, and Laedere rained more fire into it while Iratus charged in and grappled the gun arm. The pistol roared&mdash;deafening, even through their protection. Without it, their ears would&#039;ve been shredded.<br /><br />Another shot went wild as Iratus forced the weapon to the side. Bullets sparked against walls. Ardens drove arrows into its torso, Sagitta drew his short sword, stabbing in rapid bursts. The purple dropped its pistol, yanking free a massive knife, slashing at anyone in reach.<br /><br />Iratus&#039;s fur was drenched, sweat stinging his eyes from both the suffocating steam and the brutal struggle.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Someone grab its other arm!&quot;<br /><br />Laedere rushed in, not with a strike but a grapple, seizing the free arm. Together they hauled the purple down, pinning it under blade and claw until the fight ended in blood.<br /><br />Iratus staggered back, chest heaving, smelling the sweat pouring off the others as well.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;This is too much. The heat, the endurance of these things, the danger&hellip;&quot;<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;We&#039;ve scavenged weapons off three already, and now this one&#039;s pistol. What if we start using them?&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;Besides you and me, who here can even handle pistols? Never mind that giant machine gun.&quot;<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;Well, I&#039;m nearly out of ammo. I&#039;d like something else to fight with. That rifle you&#039;re lugging takes an age to reload.&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;Like four seconds.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus pulled his hearing protection loose for a moment, ears twitching. Voices again&mdash;faint, muffled, but undeniably there. And above that, more movement.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;We&#039;ve still got company.&quot;<br /><br />At once, the group reset their grips, hearts pounding, and turned their focus toward the stairs.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1033<br /><br />After a minute, Iratus motioned everyone to leave, and once outside the tower, they all breathed in the cooler air.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I don&#039;t know about anyone else, but I just need a breather.&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;I think we all do. That fight and the hot steam were brutal.&quot;<br /><br />Laedere: &quot;I still feel a bit bad for these people.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus drank some water from his canteen.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I understand, but we have to see what&#039;s on top.&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;And still no sign of the Sin Lord either.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Okay, everyone ready for round two?&quot;<br /><br />Everyone nodded, so Iratus led the charge back in. No other purple creatures came down, so the group advanced to the second story. Laedere and Sagitta now held the alien pistols. The second room looked much like the first floor, though this one had counters and windows. Iratus spotted a laptop and immediately went to it.<br /><br />He had seen enough technology to understand the basics. Grabbing the mouse and keyboard, he began poking through the interface.<br /><br />Ardens: &quot;Here, let me take a look at this.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Alright.&quot;<br /><br />He watched the woman move the cursor to various icons.<br /><br />Ardens: &quot;Definitely another language. I have no idea what any of this says.&quot;<br /><br />She opened a few programs&mdash;one seemed to be some kind of math or accounting software&mdash;before stumbling into a set of files too garbled to make sense of.<br /><br />The noises above continued, keeping everyone tense. Iratus placed a hand on the red panda girl&#039;s shoulder.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Maybe later. We still have enemies around.&quot;<br /><br />Leaving the laptop behind, the group climbed to the third floor. This time, they found four purple creatures waiting&mdash;these ones slimmer, armed with spears instead of firearms. Iratus moved in with the others, both groups threatening each other with weapons. From upstairs came the sound of people shouting for help.<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;Orders?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Laedere, Ardens, and Sagitta&mdash;hold these four here. You and I will check upstairs.&quot;<br /><br />Ardens: &quot;We&#039;re not going to kill them? If they all attack at once, we&#039;ll die.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;If they&#039;re not pushing the fight, then I say we ignore them.&quot;<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;Works for me.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus and Bai Xue advanced to the fourth floor&mdash;the top of the tower. It was just as hot and steamy as the rest. At the center stood a prison with four individuals locked inside cages&hellip; and even one of the purple creatures imprisoned with them.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1034<br /><br />Introductions were brief: Interrogatio and Tonus, both male rabbitfolk; Invidia, a young female mousefolk; and Completio, a female raccoonfolk. All of them wore tattered clothes, drenched in sweat, and reeked from captivity.<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;Yeah, yeah&mdash;Iratus, right? Get us out of here!&quot;<br /><br />The whole time, Bai Xue was fiddling with an improvised lockpick, but each attempt failed.<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;We might need something else for these. These aren&#039;t normal locks.&quot;<br /><br />The prisoners grumbled impatiently, but Iratus kept his composure.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Guess we&#039;ll need a hardware store or something.&quot;<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;Leave it to me.&quot;<br /><br />The fluff dragon departed, and soon after Sagitta called down from the third floor.<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;Are we winning or what?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Not yet. We need something to break these locks. They&#039;re messed up.&quot;<br /><br />After the exchange with the wolf, Iratus turned back to the prisoners.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;So, what&#039;s the story with the purple guy?&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;His species is called pa-te&scaron;. At least, that&#039;s what he told us.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Really? We got nothing out of the others. You&#039;ll have to tell me more.&quot;<br /><br />Tonus: &quot;I&#039;d be surprised if you did.&quot;<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;Yeah, this one was tortured badly&mdash;bloodied, beaten, the works. He said it was because he came from further ahead in his people&#039;s timeline.&quot;<br /><br />The rabbitfolk shook his head slowly.<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;His people&hellip; they had no resistance to war or violence. Only in their enlightened age did peace and coexistence become fashionable. That&#039;s about all he managed to tell us before they threw him in here with us. Then he died.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;And how long have you four been trapped here?&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;Four&mdash;uh, I mean forty days. Except for Completio.&quot;<br /><br />Completio: &quot;I&#039;ve only been here fifteen.&quot;<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1035<br /><br />Time was dragging, and Iratus was beginning to grow worried. The four pa-te&scaron; downstairs hadn&#039;t moved or caused any trouble&mdash;they seemed unwilling to leave the tower.<br /><br />Ardens: &quot;As long as they don&#039;t cause trouble, who cares?&quot;<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;We promised the people at Rise we&#039;d clear out the hostiles here. It&#039;ll be hard to tell them not to worry about a bloodthirsty species still living around.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus frowned in thought for a moment before turning back to the prisoners.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Do you know anything about Yaqar?&quot;<br /><br />Each of them shook their heads or otherwise indicated a negative response.<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;Should we?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I guess it doesn&#039;t matter.&quot;<br /><br />At that moment, Bai Xue returned, carrying several hefty mauls.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Oh&hellip; I guess we&#039;re doing this the old-fashioned way?&quot;<br /><br />Bai Xue: &quot;Smashing doors is a national pastime. Don&#039;t know what you&#039;re on about.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus chuckled and grabbed a maul himself. Together, they eventually tore down the cages holding the four prisoners.<br /><br />Interrogatio&mdash;twenty-nine, with dusty brown fur streaked with white along his ears and golden-amber eyes&mdash;retrieved his equipment from a bronze crate, grabbing his courier&#039;s satchel with lockpicks.<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;Okay, you freed us&hellip; now what&#039;s the catch?&quot;<br /><br />Tonus, thirty-four, with charcoal gray fur flecked with silver and ice-blue eyes, grabbed his vest full of electrician tools.<br /><br />Tonus: &quot;I have to agree with my friend. You rescued us, but nothing comes free.&quot;<br /><br />Invidia, nineteen, with sandy beige fur, a dark brown tuft on her head, and green eyes, discovered her equipment was gone.<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;No! My stuff! What conspiracy is this, Lord God?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I don&#039;t think God had anything to do with your missing equipment.&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;It&#039;s not fair! Everyone else got their stuff!&quot;<br /><br />Completio, the oldest of the group (though still young for a Bloodforge), had dark mask-like markings, silver-streaked fur, and brown eyes. She pulled her journal from the crate.<br /><br />Completio: &quot;Forget these three. What&#039;s the next part of the plan?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;No plan. Just seeing what&#039;s around town. This tower happened to be here.&quot;<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1036<br /><br />Everyone was finally starting to leave the tower. The former prisoners cast murderous looks at the remaining pa-te&scaron;, but they didn&#039;t act when Iratus&#039;s party showed no hostility. Before leaving, Iratus approached the strange people.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Yaqar?&quot; He motioned around the tower.<br /><br />It was difficult to read their body language&mdash;if they even had one&mdash;but Iratus caught something that looked like shock, quickly withdrawn. Was it confusion, or recognition? Then one of the creatures waved its hand side to side. In most cultures Iratus knew, that meant no. But with these people? Who could say.<br /><br />Nearby, Ardens fiddled with the laptop again, but eventually gave up and set it back where she found it.<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;You still haven&#039;t answered my question.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I don&#039;t need a reason to help others. Honestly, I don&#039;t know anything about the four of you. Do whatever you want. If you return to my settlement, all I ask is that you&#039;re not a problem for the people there. Beyond that, you&#039;re free.&quot;<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;What are you then&mdash;some kind of dictator? A king?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I just live in a tower. It&#039;s everyone else who calls me king.&quot;<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;And there it is.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus rolled his eyes.<br /><br />Before leaving, he gave the tower one last glance. No sign of Yaqar, and this tower was smaller than the first&mdash;enough to make him doubt. With a sigh, he shook his head and turned away.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;The Humvee can&#039;t fit everyone. So I&#039;ll ask&mdash;what do you four want?&quot;<br /><br />Completio: &quot;I&#039;d like to see your settlement before making any plans.&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;Kinsman, you wound me. Where else would any of us go? I don&#039;t know much about the Nexus Prime, but I was told this planet is incredibly dangerous.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;That&#039;s two. Now, the rabbits.&quot;<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;We&#039;ll take our chances.&quot;<br /><br />Tonus: &quot;I&#039;m not leaving Interrogatio. But I&#039;ll say this&mdash;if you two really are going with this stranger&hellip;&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;You&#039;re both just paranoid.&quot;<br /><br />Completio: &quot;Hardly, Invidia. Even with our rescue, there&#039;s no proof these people are trustworthy. Not without seeing their settlement first. That said, I am inclined to believe in them so far.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Thank you.&quot;<br /><br />The debate lingered, but eventually sides were chosen. Iratus climbed into the Humvee with Laedere, Completio, Invidia, and Sagitta. When they returned to the Rise building, Iratus relayed what had happened.<br /><br />Carmen: &quot;So the creatures were just normal people all along.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Classic.&quot;<br /><br />Carmen: &quot;When you left, I realized I didn&#039;t explain clearly enough what&#039;s really in that city.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus leaned in closer.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1037<br /><br />Carmen: &quot;Bicycles, scooters, various shops with useful things&mdash;backpacks, supplies&mdash;and something that really caught my eye: a hunting store.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I didn&#039;t get a good look around the city, but most of it looked looted.&quot;<br /><br />Carmen: &quot;True, but the stores are still there. And soon, you&#039;ll see the benefits.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus returned home with the others. Within a few days, those left behind in the city were driven back as well. Five days later, he was called to meet with the four new arrivals.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;It&#039;s been five days.&quot;<br /><br />The meeting, like most, was held in the communal kitchen.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;The growing population keeps supplies tight, and the looming war takes whatever&#039;s left. I need an answer now&mdash;or else you&#039;ll have to try the other settlements I mentioned.&quot;<br /><br />Completio: &quot;To be fair, they aren&#039;t really settlements if they&#039;re just satellites of Lionhearth.&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;Of course a relative of the great Lionheart dynasty would name it that.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Branch family.&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;So, you are House Lionheart.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I guess you got me there.&quot;<br /><br />The mouse girl stepped forward.<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;House Bloodmoon is here to stay.&quot;<br /><br />From the side, Bellum scoffed.<br /><br />Bellum: &quot;Bloodmoon, huh? So now we&#039;ve got royalty of the money variety too.&quot;<br /><br />Invidia: &quot;We have to stick together. I&#039;ve heard about Purple City and the people there&mdash;from you all. I still want to stay here.&quot;<br /><br />The two rabbits spoke next.<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;Interrogatio Pink Diamond. The wilderness is the worst, and you&#039;ve got an actual village here.&quot;<br /><br />Tonus: &quot;Basically a small city at this point. Oh, and I&#039;m Tonus Black Onyx.&quot;<br /><br />Resonantia: &quot;Pink and Black? I&#039;m unfamiliar with those naming conventions.&quot;<br /><br />Finally, the older raccoon lady spoke.<br /><br />Completio: &quot;Completio, if you didn&#039;t already know. I&#039;d like to live here as well. I just need help setting up a home and all that.&quot;<br /><br />Victoria: &quot;Another clanless?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I&#039;ve heard no complaints about the four of you. Build your homes where you like. Anyone who&#039;s willing can help.&quot;<br /><br />Some people clapped.<br /><br />Completio: &quot;Then I&#039;ll do my best for Lionhearth.&quot;<br /><br />Interrogatio: &quot;I&#039;m keeping my options open. No way I&#039;m sticking to Last Mistake, the farm, or Rise. But seeing how you let people live freely here, I&#039;ll enjoy the ride&mdash;and yes, I&#039;ll fight in the coming war.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;That means a lot to me.&quot;<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1038<br /><br />The four newcomers soon built their cabins, with plenty of help, and before long they joined the military drills with everyone else. Another three peaceful days passed. Iratus enjoyed the calm, almost as if the threat of Purple City didn&#039;t exist. But on the afternoon of day 101, he received a report.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;That&#039;s everything?&quot;<br /><br />Salvos: &quot;Yeah. We&#039;ve got intruders building something along the coast.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;By God&hellip; I hope this isn&#039;t Purple City setting up. Alright&mdash;grab the Humvees. We&#039;ll have to talk to these people.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus gathered a squad and drove two Humvees south, following the path to the beach, then up the coast and away from the old hospital. When they neared their destination, they stopped, dismounted, and advanced on foot.<br /><br />Resonantia and Salvos carried bows. Inlecebra and Certamen had crossbows. Sagitta, Odorem, and Astrid were armed with alien pistols. Resolutio held her heavy maul, Otiosus his rapier, Collaboratio a spear, and Iratus brought his longsword. All of them wore their Lionhearth armor as they crept toward the new village.<br /><br />Sagitta: &quot;You know, if we&#039;d waited a few more days, Rise probably would&#039;ve finished those hunting bows. Everyone could&#039;ve had a ranged option.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Let&#039;s see what we&#039;re dealing with first.&quot;<br /><br />The settlement looked freshly built&mdash;wooden huts still half-finished. Thirteen humans and two apemen milled about, four of them women.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Excuse me.&quot;<br /><br />Astrid translated for the group.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I&#039;m sorry, but there are borders and laws here. Please tell me who you are.&quot;<br /><br />The villagers snatched up weapons, shouting back.<br /><br />Astrid: &quot;Uh&hellip; they think we&#039;re attacking.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I guess rolling up with cars and guns wasn&#039;t the best approach. Thought we&#039;d kept enough distance.&quot;<br /><br />Salvos: &quot;Whatever. Let&#039;s pull back to the Humvees and let them come to us.&quot;<br /><br />They fell back only a little, lingering by the vehicles for nearly a minute. Then the arrows came. The villagers loosed a volley, shafts clattering harmlessly off steel and armor. Half the squad wasn&#039;t even in cover, standing exposed to show they meant no harm&mdash;but once the arrows struck, everyone shifted into combat formation.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Non-lethal, if possible.&quot;<br /><br />Resolutio: &quot;Helmets, breastplates, and gambesons stop arrows, sure. But armor still has gaps. We&#039;ll be at a disadvantage.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Pretend they&#039;re Purple City. If I wanted a justification for war, I&#039;d provoke us into attacking, then strike back.&quot;<br /><br />Resolutio: &quot;If they are Purple City, then yeah, I&#039;d do that.&quot;<br /><br />Another arrow glanced off a Humvee&#039;s side.<br /><br />Salvos: &quot;Always the hard way.&quot;<br /><br />The nixwoman shouted back in the villagers&#039; tongue.<br /><br />Astrid: &quot;Stop firing or we&#039;ll return fire.&quot;<br /><br />The arrows didn&#039;t stop.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;I wonder how many they&#039;ve got.&quot;<br /><br />Salvos: &quot;Please tell me that&#039;s not your plan.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Why not? They can&#039;t pierce the Humvees. As long as nothing slips through the helmets, we&#039;ll be fine.&quot;<br /><br />The wolfman shrugged. Resolutio only rolled her eyes.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1039<br /><br />The arrows eventually stopped, and Iratus stepped forward. The others followed closely behind. A human with a bow emerged, clearly intent on protesting.<br /><br />Astrid: &quot;These people are stubborn. What do you want me to say?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;What I said before&mdash;everyone here is trespassing.&quot;<br /><br />Astrid translated.<br /><br />Man: &quot;We are not trespassing anywhere. This is our land.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;You are mistaken, sir. We have borders and dealings with multiple settlements. The coast belongs to Lionhearth.&quot;<br /><br />In truth, Iratus suspected this was a ploy. What he said was technically true, but it would only matter to Purple City. If these people weren&#039;t from there, he could always retract part of his statement later.<br /><br />Man: &quot;You can&#039;t own everything. If you don&#039;t have a presence here, then we have every right to stay.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus sighed.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Are you from Purple City?&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;And what if we are?&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Purple City and Lionhearth have very clear borders.&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;As I said&mdash;you don&#039;t live here, so this is ours now.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus&#039;s companions bristled at the response.<br /><br />Resonantia: &quot;Tell them we hunt this far out.&quot;<br /><br />Odorem: &quot;Not to mention they just appeared within walking distance of our settlement.&quot;<br /><br />Astrid translated.<br /><br />Man: &quot;That isn&#039;t our problem.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;So you admit to taking our hunting grounds?&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;Sure.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Sir, this is our land. You can&#039;t simply steal it.&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;And we don&#039;t care what you think. We live here now, and there&#039;s nothing you can do about it.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus exhaled, taking a moment to think.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;What do you imagine would happen if you stayed here, on our land? If we came around to hunt or fish, how would those conflicts end?&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;You come into our territory, and we&#039;ll kill you. Everything around here is ours, and we will kill anyone who trespasses.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;And yet when someone steps into our territory, we show restraint.&quot;<br /><br />He decided to take a chance.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Return to Purple City, and we will forget this incident.&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;Purple City goes where it pleases. We want access to the ocean, and now we have it. Stay away from us, and we will forgive this assault.&quot;<br /><br />And with that, Iratus had confirmation of exactly who they were.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Chapter 1040<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;If Purple City wants access to the ocean, then it needs to negotiate.&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;No, we don&#039;t. We have the right to settle where we please. Whatever claims other settlements make are not recognized by Purple City.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus paused at that statement. It sounded exactly like the leaders of Purple City themselves.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;So borders and agreements mean nothing to Purple City? I don&#039;t believe it. I&#039;ll give you four days to clear out. After that, we&#039;ll take you back to Purple City by force.&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;That would be war, and we will destroy you.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;If that were true, you wouldn&#039;t need to fabricate a reason for war.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus was already upset, and his voice nearly gave him away. This&mdash;he realized&mdash;was how the war would begin. He had called it. Perhaps not everyone in Purple City followed their leaders blindly, but all they needed was an altercation where Lionhearth could be painted as the aggressor. Why not stage a false-flag operation instead? The only reason Iratus could imagine was that they were gambling. If he chose kindness and understanding, perhaps he would let this slide in the name of peace. But Iratus did not see himself as a fool. If Purple City claimed this land, already so close to Lionhearth, they would keep expanding until Lionhearth was choked out.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Peaceful coexistence is what builds civilizations.&quot;<br /><br />Man: &quot;Only a child would think that. War makes civilizations.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Your people are not bred for war.&quot;<br /><br />The human scoffed.<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Even if your planet has a history of violence and death, in the end, soulbound are not meant to kill each other&mdash;and humans are more restrained by that conscience than others. Please, choose peace.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus turned away, and the others followed. The man shouted something after them, but Astrid didn&#039;t bother to translate.<br /><br />Astrid: &quot;You know they will choose war.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;Yup. This is where it begins.&quot;<br /><br />Otiosus: &quot;So be it.&quot;<br /><br />Resolutio: &quot;I could have stayed my lust for vengeance for peace, but I&#039;d be lying if I said war here is bad. I&#039;ve told you many times, Iratus&mdash;Purple City, and most civilizations, want war. War is their religion. Not literally, but by the worship they give without realizing it.&quot;<br /><br />Iratus: &quot;And that&#039;s why Lionhearth has trained and planned, knowing my calls for peace would never be answered.&quot;<br /><br />When the convoy returned home, Iratus doubled their security efforts and border patrols.<br /><br />War was coming.<br /><br />---<br /><br />EPISODE 104: END<br /><br />---<br /><br />Episode 104 End Character Sheet<br />Name: Iratus Lionheart<br />Species: Mousefolk<br />Age: 20<br />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&#039;s glare, flashlight, bronze breastplate, bronze full arm guards, bronze shin guards, hearing protection<br />Weapons: long sword, short sword, hammer, 3 dagger<br />Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack<br /><br />Wounds: None<br /><br />Armory: 12 short swords, 2 knifes, 7 daggers, 12 metal spears, 1 long sword, semi-automatic rifle, 4 hunting traps, 18 snares, 17 backpacks, 2 katanas, crossbow, bolt-action rifle, 2 heavy pistols<br />Aestus: gambeson, bronze breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, 2 knives, short sword, bronze long sword.<br />Victoria: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, 2 daggers, flashlight<br />Resonanita: steel breastplate, gambeson, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, 1 knife, compound bow, flashlight<br />Ignis: bronze breastplate, gambeson, leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar, 1 knife<br /><br />Important Treasure: 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<br /><br />Lionhearth -<br />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&amp;pans, makeshift grill, microwave), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools, first aid kit, plenty of medicine and equipment), Children&#039;s Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding, sensual antfolk sculpture), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding), four portable solar panels, outside house area<br /><br />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, 9 Small Cabin, 14 Large Cabin, 2 Gravestones, Rabbit Hutches, Several Electrical Lights, Wooden House (Astrid), Kitchen Building, Guest House, Patchwork Garage (1 Humvee), Simple Dock, Watchtower, Schoolhouse, Compost Area, Small Workshop Hut, various private gardens, various small animal farms<br /><br />Books: 5 woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, 2 war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), 2 sketch books, Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), playing cards, Fractura&#039;s Notes, Tempestas&#039;s Notes, 18 survival guides, 5 technical manuals, 68 fiction novels, 12 encyclopedias, 5 dictionaries, 28 cookbooks, 4 gardening guides, 4 crafting books, 30 educational textbooks, 6 religious texts, 10 diaries, 18 children&#039;s books, Ever Dark RPG, 15 different tabletop games<br /><br />Year 6, Day 101<br /><br />---<br /><br />TOWER FOLK:<br />Iratus of House Lionheart<br />mouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6&#039;9, age: 20, b day: 350<br />-<br />Victoria Mother of House Lionheart<br />raccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6&#039;6, age: 20, b day: 5, (preg 80)<br />-<br />Aestus of clan Riversinger<br />otter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;4, age: 20, b day: 99 (preg 11)<br />-<br />Ignis Yang<br />red panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eyes, 6&#039;7, age: 20, b day: 344, (preg 105)<br />-<br />Resonantia Diamond Heart Steel<br />shark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 20, b day: 2<br />---<br /><br /><br />CHILDREN:<br />Negligere Lionheart<br />shark, male, steel gray skin, white hair, gold eyes, age: 5, b day: 2<br />-<br />Ruina Lionheart<br />otter, female, orange fur, vibrant orange hair, blue eyes, age: 5, b day: 330<br />-<br />Gula Lionheart<br />red panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 5, b day: 340<br />-<br />Tenacitas Lionheart<br />raccoon, female, silver fur, dark blonde hair, amber eyes, age: 5, b day: 345<br /><br />Frustra Lionheart<br />raccoon, male, gray fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 4, b day: 338<br /><br />Despero Lionheart<br />shark, male, blue-gray skin, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 3, b day: 249<br /><br />Tempestas<br />otter, male, white fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 2, b day: 272<br /><br />Nebula<br />otter, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, age: 2, b day: 272<br /><br />Ventus Lionheart<br />red panda, female, reddish-brown and white fur, blonde-black gradient hair, gold with a hint of silver eyes, age: 3, b day: 17<br /><br />Lignum Lionheart<br />red panda, male, fur of reddish-brown with golden-blonde highlights, especially around chest, muzzle, and ears, gold-blonde hair, amber-gold eyes, age: 3, b day: 17<br /><br />Constantia Lionheart<br />raccoon, female, fur is pale gray with soft gold undertones, hair is light brown with streaks of black, eyes are bright gold with brown flecks, age: 2, b day: 118<br /><br />Justus Lionheart<br />raccoon, male, fur is silver-gray with darker banding at the tail, hair is Dark blonde, slightly curly, amber-gold eyes, age: 2, b day: 118<br /><br />Vindicta Lionheart<br />shark, female, dark steel blue skin with a pearly undertone, blonde hair almost white at the tips, blue eyes with golden rings around the iris, age: 1, b day: 159<br /><br />Patientia Lionheart<br />shark, female, soft gray-blue skin with subtle mottling around the shoulders and back, white hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 159<br /><br />Pudor Lionheart<br />otter, female, copper-red fur, golden-red hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 269<br />---<br /><br /><br />NEIGHBORS:<br />Echo<br />shark, male, gray skin with a white underbelly, black hair, black eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 44, b day: 142<br /><br />Resolutio<br />goat, female, black fur, black hair, blue eyes, 7&#039;0, age: 55, b day: 13<br /><br />Dolor<br />hyena, male, rich brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 5&#039;1, age: 13, b day: 301<br /><br />Diffido<br />mouse, male, black fur, black hair, brown eyes, 5&#039;4, age: 15, b day: 145<br /><br />Pusillanimitas of House Redtide<br />lion, female, tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 21, b day: 1<br /><br />Communiquer Zircon Beaumont<br />rabbit, female, soft gray with white patches around the nose and underbelly, chestnut brown hair, Amber-gold eyes, 6&#039;7, age: 31, b day: 88<br /><br />Sagitta Cloud Wake<br />wolf, male, dark charcoal with silver streaks around the muzzle and tail tipfur, steel gray hair, ice blue eyes, 6&#039;9, age: 46, b day: 33<br /><br />Parabula of Arcanum Vitae<br />goat, male, sandy beige with dark brown patches along his limbs, black hair, bright green eyes, 6&#039;7, age: 35, b day: 55<br /><br />Interrogatio Pink Diamond<br />rabbit, male, fur is dusty brown with a streak of white along ears, brown hair, golden amber eyes, 6&#039;6, age: 29, b day: 276<br /><br />Tonus Black Onyx<br />rabbit, male, fur charcoal gray with flecks of silver, silver hair, ice blue eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 34, b day: 363<br /><br />Invidia of House Bloodmoon<br />mouse, female, sandy beige fur, dark brown hair, green eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 19, b day: 235<br /><br />Completio<br />raccoon, female, dark mask markings and silver-streaked fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6&#039;9, age: 42, b day: 144<br /><br />7 others: a female tanuki, a male hyena, a female raccoon, and 4 others.<br />---<br /><br /><br />WINTER WINDS CLAN:<br />Studium of Winter Winds<br />fox, male, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;4, age: 17, b day: 190<br /><br />Fuligo Leaf Shadow<br />otter, female, black fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;2, age: 17, b day: 245, (preg: 2)<br /><br />Bellum of House War Knuckles<br />cheetah, female, blonde fur with black spots, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;5, age 20, b day: 91<br />-<br />Ambitiosus of Winter Winds<br />cheetah, male, blonde fur with black spots, black hair, blue eyes, age 3, b day: 322<br /><br />Vertex of Winter Winds<br />otter, female, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, age 2, b day: 360<br /><br />Virtus of Winter Winds<br />cheetah, male, sandy gold fur with dense black spotting, black streaked with blonde hair, blue eyes, age 1, b day: 162<br /><br />Venatio of Winter Winds<br />otter, male, charcoal black fur with silvery undertones around the chest and face, blonde hair, blue eyes, age 1, b day: 207<br />Year 4, Day 210<br /><br />---<br /><br /><br />DARK SKY FAMILY:<br />Salvos Dark Sky<br />wolf, male, black fur, white hair, copper eyes, 6&#039;8, age 31, b day: 66<br /><br />Leitmotif Schlange<br />snake, female, yellow and red scales, naga bodied, gold eyes, age 28, b day: 229<br />-<br />Ostinato Dark Sky<br />snake, male, black and red scales, white hair, bipedal, gold eyes, age 3, b day: 234<br /><br />Discordia Dark Sky<br />snake, female, scales are crimson with deep onyx patterning along back and limbs, white hair, bipedal, bright gold eyes, age 1, b day: 6<br /><br />Caligo Dark Sky<br />snake, male, scales are dusky gold with shadowy undertones, short, black hair with hints of auburn, bipedal, copper-red eyes, age 1, b day: 6<br />---<br /><br /><br />OCULI ACUTI FAMILY<br />Confodere Oculi Acuti<br />hyena, male, dark brown fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6&#039;9, age 30, b day: 239<br /><br />Liora Woodleaf<br />deer, female, light brown with white spots, blonde hair, hazel eyes, 5&#039;9, age: 29, b day 323, (preg 82)<br /><br />Sutura Vigilia Nocturna<br />hyena, female, brownish-blonde fur with black spots, gold hair, gold eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 22, b day: 364<br />-<br />Candela Woodleaf-Oculi<br />deer, female, fur is tawny beige with faint white spots that form a flame-like pattern across her back, hair is black with golden highlights, unusually thick and slightly wavy, amber-hazel eyes, age 2, b day 168<br /><br />Caelum Woodleaf-Oculi<br />deer, male, fur is chestnut with darker brown shoulders and legs, with only faint spotting, hair is blonde with streaks of dark brown near the roots, gold eyes, age 2, b day 168<br /><br />Ferox Vigilia Nocturna<br />hyena, male, dark sable-brown fur with dense black spotting, gold hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 219<br />---<br /><br /><br />HOT WAVES AND BRASSMOON FAMILY<br />Odorem of Hot Waves<br />fox, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 30, b day: 86<br /><br />Fraus of House Brassmoon<br />feline, female, bright gray, white underbelly fur, white hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;7, age: 22, b day: 90, (preg 167)<br />-<br />Vana Hotbrass<br />feline, female, pale silver-gray fur with a subtle red-orange tint across the back and cheeks, deep auburn-red hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 174<br />---<br /><br /><br />HOT WAVES AND WHITE SKY FAMILY<br />Inlecebra of Hot Waves<br />fox, male, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 29, b day: 343<br /><br />Arcus of White Sky <br />fox, female, slightly dark brown fur, slightly dark brown hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 23, b day: 326<br />-<br />Excelsa Hotsky<br />fox, female, deep reddish-brown fur with subtle orange undertone, dark auburn hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 235<br /><br />Fidelis Hotsky<br />fox, male, mahogany brown fur with red-tinged highlights and darker markings along the shoulders, deep red hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 235<br /><br />---<br /><br /><br />HOUSE OWLEYE<br />Otiosus of House Owleye<br />mouse, male, dark gray fur, dark gray hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 25, b day: 105<br /><br />Bai Xue<br />fluff dragon, female, white fur, white hair, green eyes, 7&#039;1, age: 28, b day: 309<br /><br />Astrid Kuivuus<br />nixman, female, slightly purple skin, black hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;0, age: 24, b day: 71<br />-<br />Tranquilla Owleye<br />fluff dragon, female, white fur with light silver-gray patterning along her back and neck, pale silver hair with white streaks, deep green eyes, age: 1, b day: 246<br /><br />Eirik Kuivuus<br />nixman, male, pale lavender skin, black hair, blue eyes, age: 1, b day: 81<br />---<br /><br /><br />LOST FIRE<br />Certamen of the Lost Quickness<br />raccoon, male, dark gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;9, age: 27, b day: 76<br /><br />Ardens Ignifera<br />redpanda, female, red fur, black hair, gold eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 24, b day: 187<br />-<br />Fulgora Lost Fire<br />redpanda, female, fur is deep reddish-orange with charcoal-gray markings on the arms and legs; tail is ringed with darker red and slate-gray stripes, black hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 251<br />---<br /><br /><br />MALONDO FAMILY<br />Laedere Malondo<br />hyena, male, fur is sandy beige with darker brown spots and a stripe down spine, white hair, orange-gold eyes, 6&#039;4, age: 20, b day: 22<br /><br />Praevalidum<br />ant, female, blackish-brown chitin, dark gray skin, brown hair, green eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 23, b day: 77<br />-<br />Ferrox Malondo<br />ant, male, deep brown-black chitin with subtle sandy undertones on the limbs and thorax, white hair, green eyes, age: 1, b day: 3<br />---<br /><br /><br />RENNICK FAMILY<br />Collaboratio Diamond Rennick<br />rabbit, male, fur is pale cream with soft gray ears and speckling along the shoulders, orange hair, hazel eyes, 6&#039;11, age: 24, b day: 284<br /><br />Vesper Red Queen<br />moth, female, gray fur, silver hair, brown eyes, 6&#039;4, age: 23, b day: 37<br />-<br />Aurora Diamond Rennick<br />moth, female, soft silvery-gray fur with creamy undertones around the cheeks, forearms, and tail base; subtle pale speckling across her shoulders, fluffy orange-tinged hair, brown eyes, age: 1, b day: 65<br />---<br /><br /><br />(farm)<br />UMBRA OCEAN FAMILY:<br />Procella Ocean Drinker<br />weasel, female, blonde fur, black hair, green eyes, 6&#039;5, age 26, b day: 207<br /><br />Iter of Sanguinem Umbra<br />goat, male, white fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, 6&#039;7, age 23, b day: 334<br />-<br />Bothynus Umbra Ocean<br />weasel, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, age 2, b day: 351<br /><br />Lamentia Umbra Ocean<br />weasel, female, creamy golden-blonde fur with subtle white patches around the shoulders and chest, black hair, olive green eyes with a golden ring around the iris, age 1, b day: 210<br />---<br /><br /><br />(farm)<br />Levi Ackerman<br />nixman, male, light purple skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;1, age: 26, b day: 303<br />---<br /><br /><br />(farm)<br />THE COBALTS:<br />Commercium Jade Blue Cobalt<br />rabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6&#039;8, age: 29, b day: 221<br /><br />Abrasione<br />hyena, female, tan fur with black spots, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 24, b day: 4<br />-<br />Kuxatura Jade Blue Cobalt<br />hyena, male, tan fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 5, b day: 284<br /><br />Vulnera Jade Blue Cobalt<br />hyena, male, white with black spots fur, black hair with some golden strands, gray eyes, age: 2, b day: 189<br /><br />Ruptura Jade Blue Cobalt<br />hyena, male, pale tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 2, b day: 189<br />---<br /><br /><br />LAST MISTAKE<br />Deficio<br />lion, male, gray fur, rich gray hair, green eyes, 6&#039;6, age: 50, b day: 111<br /><br />Malignitas of House Brokensand<br />feline, male, light black fur, light black hair, brown eyes (single eye), 6&#039;7, age 33, b day: 343<br /><br />Disputatio Sapphire Halberd <br />rabbit, male, fur is tawny tan with salt-and-pepper flecks along his back and cheeks, hair is dusty brown with streaks of white at the temples, green eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 58, b day: 183<br /><br />And 8 others.<br />---<br /><br /><br />(Last Mistake)<br />Clan Sootdrinker:<br />Pulvis of Clan Sootdrinker<br />otter, male, dark‑brown fur, dark-brown hair, blue eyes, 6&#039;7, age: 36, b day: 180<br /><br />Caedes, Mother of Clan Sootdrinker<br />mouse, male, black fur, white hair, green eyes, 6&#039;5, age: 28, b day: 105<br />-<br />Inertia Sootdrinker<br />mouse, female, jet black fur, silvery white hair, deep blue-green eyes, age: 2, b day: 315<br /><br />Fumus Sootdrinker<br />mouse, male, smoky gray-brown fur that is darker around the limbs and tail, white streaked with faint brown undertones hair, pale blue eyes, age: 2, b day: 315</span>",
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  "title": "Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 104",
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