Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 80

Chapter 781

The next day, people gathered around the courtyard, or Iratus's home. Iratus himself was finishing up any morning chores before meeting up with his lovers. The courtyard buzzed with activity as the afternoon light came.

Iratus: "Looks like we have a large crowd this time."

Ignis: "Is it a crowd beyond our normal numbers?"

Aestus: "Looked out the window; I think most everyone is here."

Resonantia: "Ridiculous. When armies and hostile forces beat down our doors, most people stay home and don't care, but when a friendly festival with dark overtones shows up and everyone is ready to fight."

Victoria: "I think it makes more sense that ever since Purple City was revealed to be a major threat, people have been working into being a more cohesive fighting force."

As Iratus tied the gold-trimmed sash around his waist, he glanced at the polished metal mirror hanging by the door. The half-robe felt heavy against his medium frame from all of its regal look while each of his wives wore various luxury wear. Iratus opened the door and walked outside, where many of the locals stopped their murmuring. When all eyes were on Iratus, the mouse boy began his speech. 

Iratus: "Friends, neighbors, by now you should be aware of the strangers who have gathered to the east and are currently in the middle of their Festival of Blood. Their threat is most likely minimum to us, for we have not seen them wander near us or heard any plots involving us. However, they plan on killing many people for a ritual that can be summarized as killing off criminals."

He looked around, seeing most people seem to already be aware of all this information. He coughed and then continued.

As Iratus’s words hung in the air, a murmur rippled through the crowd. Some nodded in agreement, their eyes steely with resolve, while others avoided his gaze, the weight of his message settling uneasily on their shoulders

Iratus: "While we can't be certain of their threat to us, we are sure that people are going to die soon—four more days—and we must decide if we are to venture back to see if any of them can be saved or if we must fight these festival people to free these people, which might in itself be a trap. I open the conversation up, so, who is first?"

---

Chapter 782

Several people came up to talk, with the one-eyed cat being first with his tail flicking impatiently behind him.

Malignitas: "These are not bad people. All you've heard is overly blown out of proportional accusations. They do plan to execute prisoners, but these are people you can't just let back out into the world."

He crossed his arms and scanned the crowd, looking for anyone to dare jeer at him. The goat woman, Resolutio, also had a chance to speak.

Resolutio: "I suspect something will befowl us if we should return. I suggest we don't go back, and in addition, if it is true that they are executing criminals, then we are better off finding better people to try to recruit. I know more than most what happens when you trust criminals."

The sound of one of the chickens flapping their wings as they moved about the courtyard. Finally, Resonantia also took a turn to speak.

Resonantia: "We are full of missing information. How about we send two or three people to continue collecting information?"

After her time was up, people were nodding their heads, and many people began to talk about the shark girl's idea. When talks of who to send, it would fall to Malignitas and Resolutio.

Malignitas: "I already have an in. If there are any evil doings, I'll find out."

Resolutio: "I have a badge because I was personally invited a long time ago."

Malignitas overly sarcastically: "Aren't you all like; everything is a trap, oooh."

The goat woman only side-eyed at the feline before continuing.

Resolutio: "Not long after I arrive in the Nexus Prime, someone I knew from when I was alive was captured by these people, and I was personally invited by Metam to come rescue him. Considering everything that was happening at the time, I never went to that Festival of Blood."

Iratus: "That sounds familiar."

Resolutio nodded.

Resolutio: "That Roy person is facing a similar situation; hence, why I suspect something is wrong."

Iratus: "No matter what you find, I appreciate what you are doing. I can see if there is some sort of reward or payment I can give."

 Resolutio: "A small monetary reward is all I need."

Iratus could hear some of the conversations wrapping up and people starting to head out.

Echo: "If they have imprisoned a person from Purple City, then maybe they could be used against them."

Bellum: "Right, this Roy is trying to free an imprisoned ally of some sort. I'd like to see if these Fesitival of Blood people could be used as a weapon against our enemy, but if they are killing prisoners, specifically in a ritualistic way, then we must ask if allying with such people would be a good idea."

Off to the side, another conversation was wrapping up.

Arcus: "And this is why communities are a bad idea."

Fraus: "Equal having requires equal working. If you don't want any responsibility, then you can withdraw your vote."

Arcus: "Aw man, monsters, rival civilizations, and now freaks. There has to be a better way for me to help our community than dealing with all this non-sense."

The last person to leave was Procella, the weasel girl from the farm.

Procella: "I really wish I wasn't pregnant right now. Ever since I was imprisoned and torchered by the Numb Walkers, I've been itching to get my rage out on any sort of jailor."

Studium: "The goal is to not fight. Combat is deadly, so if these people just go away after their party, then its a win."

---

Chapter 783

Resolutio and Malignitas left to prepare for their journey while Iratus returned to his tower, where he continued his fatherly duties as well as prepared for any chores that needed to be done. After taking his turn with the children, Iratus handed them over to Victoria. The raccoon girl’s tail twitched as she cradled the youngest in her arms. As Iratus left the baby room, he gave her tail a playful tug.

Victoria: "Ack. Very funny, love."

The mouse boy chuckled and grinned.

Iratus: "Have to liven up the day somehow." he quipped, dodging the playful swat she aimed at his retreating back.

When it came time to cut up a deer, Iratus was drafted to discard the animal's organs. The carcass rested on a sturdy wooden table, its fur already stripped away, while Ignis leaned casually against the counter. She gestured toward a large plastic bin sitting on the floor.

Iratus: "Why am I always dumping the refuse out?"

The red panda girl smiled and winked at him.

Ignis: "Oh, love, it’s your failing for leaving us incapable by having us carry your progeny. Also, it’s really heavy."

Iratus groaned.

Iratus: "It takes two to make babies." He huffed as he lifted the heavy plastic ben.

The air was a bit more chilly then the normal tropical-like area usually was.

Later in the day, Iratus and Aestus sat across from each other when the deer was processed, but the smell of meat still hung in the air. The table between them was cluttered with a worn deck of cards. Aestus studied her hand, her blue eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. Iratus kept his face neutral until he smiled and played a card. He placed it in the middle of the clutter of cards, where cards depicting bandits and city guards formed a chaotic scene.

Iratus: "And that’s game." He revealed his hand with a flourish. "And not a single loot card."

Aestus revealed her hand to reveal various victory point cards.

Aestus: "What a coincidence, neither do I."

Iratus blinked in disbelief.

Iratus: "You discarded all your loot cards?"

Aestus: "Well yeah, you were clearly setting up a law enforcement combo, so I ditched them." She pointed to the face-down discard pile.

Iratus groaned, running a hand through his hair. 

Iratus: "Ah, shoot. You got me."

Aestus: "I can be quite cunning when I need to, you know?"

As the evening settled, Iratus joined Resonantia in the workshop corner, where the faint metallic tang of oil and steel hung in the air. Resonantia was repairing bolts for the crossbows as well as creating paper cartridge bullets for the rifle. Resonantia glanced up as Iratus entered, her expression softening as he took a seat beside her.

Resonantia: "If there’s any fighting, I hope this will be enough contribution for me to have taken part."

Iratus picked up a bolt and inspected her handiwork, running a thumb along its sharp edge.

Iratus: "Gardening, construction, tinkering, and childrearing are all just as important. After all, what's the point in winning a war if you starve to death or have no children to inherit it?"

Resonantia sighed, a wistful look crossing her face. She leaned into him, her head resting briefly on his shoulder.

Resonantia: "I spent my whole life learning how to fight and fire a bow from horseback. I don’t regret spending my youth being a mother, but I do miss life-threatening battles."

Iratus: "When you have the chance, I look forward to fighting alongside you."

The shark girl chuckled, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. 

---

Chapter 784

Days passed until day 208, the ritual day, came. Iratus, Resonantia, Resolutio, Studium, Commercium, and Confodere looked over a hand-drawn map of the city where the Festival of Blood was taking place. Despite the cloudy day, there was still enough light through the slits of the tower to see well.

Iratus: "We can't wait forever; we will have to go over the plan without Malignitas."

No one voiced any decent, so Iratus continued.

Iratus: "According to the reports of you two." He motioned to Resolutio. "We can be sure that despite their disgusting ritualistic sacrifice, it is not of a hostile nature."

Resolutio: "At least as far as the festival goers know."

Iratus nodded.

Iratus: "Right. The prisoners are reportedly all various criminals, and not just the petty theft kind, but we still can't be one hundred percent sure. Now, the problem."

The mouse boy stood up straight and took a step back as the goat woman leaned in and spoke just as calmly as ever.

Resolutio: "Over the past few days, you should already know my findings. The Festival of Blood is an event created by three different warbands, now two. There is some sort of infighting, but not the physical kind, and honestly, I wouldn't even call it conflict, just perception. There is something going on, or rather the leaders are trying to make something happen, which means there could be a trap in waiting for us to create some sort of escalation within the festival. It honestly would be better for us to stay clear of the place, but there is one problem. The human, Roy, might be dead set on trying to rescue some sort of friend who had been captured by these people. If he takes action, there might be some sort of probability that there could be fallout on us, the only other strangers to the festival."

She took a step back, and he nodded his head.

Iratus: "Thus, we will go with my plan. Resolutio found the way for us to attempt to recruit some of these criminals; of course, if they actually are bad people, then it will just be a wash." He shrugged. "We will go to insure that the festival does not consider us and Roy to be on the same side, but we will keep all our options open depending on our findings or evolving situation."

Commercium: "Of course, recruiting criminals can only have positive results."

Confodere: "Well, Malignitas has been a boon all things considered."

The rabbit man gave a smug expression as he retorted.

Commercium: "I rest my case."

The goat woman crossed her arms.

Resonantia: "I'll get everyone ready for battle. We won't expect a fight, but we will be ready to siege the city to free you if there is one."

Studium: "Just because the festival itself does not want to mess with us does not mean all those people are loyal to it. From what I hear, we should leave behind a proper garrison in case a few of these people come knocking."

Commercium: "Leave some people at my farm too."

The hyena man Confodere moved a few pieces on the crudely hand-drawn map.

Confodere: "Don't forget Last Mistake has our own ways of doing things, so I'll be representing us in this endeavor."

---

Chapter 785

The party bustled with activity as everyone prepared for the coming journey. Armor clinked and straps tightened as they donned their battle gear. Spears were sharpened to gleaming points, and the air carried the tang of oiled steel. Even the goat woman now stood proud in the tower's standard gear. However, the lion priest kept his usual attire which made a few people take some glances at him.

Iratus scanned the group until he found his target, Studium, was fumbling with his belt pouch.

Iratus: "I hope you don't mind, but I'd like some extra protection for the farm up there."

Studium’s ears twitched in mock indignation as he raised his arms dramatically.

Studium: "Boo. It's because I'm the youngest here, isn't it?"

Iratus: "By your age, I was fighting all kinds of various monsters around the Nexus Prime. However, I do feel some responsibility in keeping you out of the line of fire."

Studium: "I'd say that's not fair, but I don't like the idea of fighting or killing people."

Iratus: "Wow, you took that in strides."

The fox boy stood up straight.

Studium: "Don't get me wrong; I'd like to fight along with you and the others, but I think my nerves would do better with simple guarding."

Iratus nodded.

Iratus: "We may not expect any raiders, but that does not mean some rouges are among the festival and will scout out our homes."

As the final checks were made, Salvos stood by the makeshift gate, his posture relaxed.

Iratus: "Are you staying?"

Salvos: "My wife will be giving birth any day now. I prefer to stay nearby if you don't mind."

Iratus: "Don't worry about it. Everyone here is a volunteer."

He gave the wolfman a thumbs up before heading out to lead his army. His neighbors, Echo, Fraus, Arcus, and Resolutio, took the vanguard with him, while the farmer folk, Iter, and Commercium took the rear as the people from Last Mistake, Deficio, Confodere, and Liora were in the middle. Commercium held the rifle with a bag of bullets for the rifle while Confodere got to use the bow.

---

Chapter 786

The group stood at the edge of the Festival of Blood, the distant sound of drums and cheers reaching their ears. The scent of spiced food and woodsmoke mingled with something foul, the mass grave was finally starting to rot.

Iratus: "Honestly, I doubt we will have an all-out fight here. We are going to see if any of these prisoners are recruitable and get out before any conflict erupts between the festival's factions."

The priest frowned.

Deficio: "And we won't stop their ungodly ritual?"

Iratus: "I'm sure everyone here finds these...spectacle executions to be disgusting, but we are strangers here, and they have their own ways of dealing with criminals. It is not right for us to inflict our own will upon cultures we find to be displeasing."

Deficio: "If they are killing criminals."

Iratus: "We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, focus on the task at hand."

Behind them, the rest of the small army stirred restlessly. A few whispered among themselves, their voices low but not inaudible. Resolutio’s eyes drifted to the rifle Commercium carried.

Resolutio: "That's my sister's rifle." She said flatly.

Commercium: "Yup."

Resolutio: "By all rights, it should be mine now."

Commercium: "Sounds reasonable."

Resolutio: "Then give it."

The rabbit only had a board look on his face.

Commercium: "You left it behind as well as the rest of us, so as far as I care, it's mine. Uh, I'm not saying this in a spiteful way.  We're still friends."

Iratus: "It’s mine, actually. Everything here is communal property. But... I suppose now that you’re back, we could return it to you."

Iratus: "Well, I suppose now that you're back, we could return it to you."

Commercium gestures towards Resolutio.

Commercium: "She already has that great big maul."

Resolutio: "Compared to what? This is standard medieval size, friend. Regardless, I think was too hasty. It would be better to keep me in melee anyways."

Once all the conversations wrapped up, Iratus and his detachment, Resolutio, Deficio, and Commercium, left to enter into the city and into the Festival of Blood. 

Iratus: "Alright. Let's move."

---

Chapter 787

Through questioning the festival goers, and talking to several guards, each armored with various armors from kevlar to old Bronze Age attire, the group eventually was led into the heart of the festival. Stripped couches, chairs, tables, and other furniture all taken from the abandoned city to be used by the festival. There were curtains and ripped clothes to act as banners as the revelry in the heart of the city was its most grand. The crowd was rowdy, and the talking and cheering were louder than the booming music.

Iratus stopped several times scouting out normal-looking people, those who were only visiting the festival and not regulars who drowned their sorrows or sought out their fix.

First was a group of friends who didn't really want to hear anything Iratus was talking about, as this group just wanted to be free and unburdened. Iratus left with talking about the ritual killings, which disturbed this group to the point that after Iratus left them, he saw them asking around before becoming disgusted and leaving the festival.

Iratus also talked with a pair of humans who wanted nothing to do with his people and also left when they heard about the ritual. Off to the side, Iratus talked to a bright red-furred rabbitfolk man who was only around for money and had no need to settle down.

Red Furred Rabbit: "These crazies wanted a cannon installed." He pointed over by a roof nearby, but Iratus couldn't see from the angle. "Not sure what good it’ll do unless it’s ornamental. Anyway, unless you're paying me for stuff like that, I won't be sticking around anywhere."

There were a few others, but all of them clearly didn't want to be tied down to a fixed location, especially with a settlement full of strangers. Eventually, Iratus and his group managed to find the cages where the Festival of Blood had its prisoners. With a heavy sigh, Iratus looked over the prisoners, who all looked anywhere from resigned to screaming.

---

Chapter 788

Deficio tried to offer Last Rites to the prisoners, but only one took the offer. Iratus grabbed the bridge of his nose and sighed as he had just taken ten minutes talking to these prisoners, and most of them were truly depraved and horrendous individuals.

One was a red-furred weasel man who looked like he had some sort of mange who discussed how he was caught before being able to murder a little girl. Another was a red panda woman who murdered men by using seduction to convince men to kill for her. An antfolk male, a male nixman, a male mousefolk, and a male human, each of them had a story to tell, each being darker and more depraved then the last and not one seemed the least bit sorry for their crimes.

Mousefolk Criminal: "They had stuff, so I took the stuff. That’s how the world works. Law and order types are just fooling themselves if they think they can stop people like me."

Iratus: "I've never heard a fellow cat say such things."

This statement made most people turn their heads.

Mousefolk Criminal: "Every time." He sighed. "Mouse looks, cat insides."

Several "Ah" comically came from a lot of people around.

Regardless, Iratus took a step back to shake his head, but his ears twitched as his rabbit friend came around.

Commercium: "We might have a problem."

Iratus: "Go on."

The rabbit gestured grimly towards some of the cages.

Commercium: "The last four prisoners are not criminals, they come from Purple City. I checked. Three of them were taken during raids. They’re prisoners of war, not criminals."

Iratus turned and gritted his teeth before looking back.

Commercium: "I've learned that the factions that make up the Festival of Blood are at war with Purple City."

Resolutio grabbed her chin to think while the priest came over to join the conversation.

Deficio: "I hate to say this, but if these people are against Purple City, then maybe it is possible to work with them. Of course, these ritual killings and these imprisoned innocents are an ungodly dilemma that must be rectified."

Iratus gave another heavy sigh.

Iratus: "Even if they are from our nemesis neighbors, if they are not criminals, then we can't leave them here. Is Tristan the other guy?"

Commercium: "I didn't ask, but hold on. Fighting is dangerous, and killing others is bad for all our healths. If we just ally ourselves with these crazy people against Purple City, which I remind you an AI-like intelligence predicted a war between our two peoples, then we will have one heck of an ally in this war. Just look at all these festival people."

Iratus: "I'm not going against my religious beliefs. I'll talk to the others, but we should get ready for a fight. Please go get them."

Commercium was about to protest until Iratus commanded him, and the rabbit man was quite obedient, so much so that it felt really weird to Iratus.

---

Chapter 789

Iratus, Resolutio, and Deficio headed deeper into the festival, leaving the cages and heading for an open area where a makeshift stadium has been set up. A hand grabbed Iratus's shoulder, an armored individual who wore similar armor to what Iratus only loosely knew as samurai armor.

Sanguinare: "Iratus, right? My name is Sanguinare, and my warleader has asked me to help you in any way."

Irauts: "Oh, hello sir. I guess you could start by answering why you people plan on killing non-combatants from Purple City."

The man took off his helmet and revealed that he was a hyenafolk with sandy brown fur, black spots, black hair, and had amber eyes.

Sanguinare: "I thought that might be a problem. Luckily, Metam is willing to lend aid."

Irauts: "How so?"

The hyena waved him forward.

Sanguinare: "Let me bring you to Sucus, the other warleader of the festival, and you can let out your problems with him."

Despite this, there was quite the line to meet the man, and after several minutes, Iratus and the others were able to walk up to a viewing box looking out into the stadium. As Iratus walked up the steps, he turned around to see an executioner's block being set up with several thin ditches to dispose of the blood just finished being dug, though their effectiveness in Iratus's mind couldn't be that well. The stadium itself was not particularly large, with the stands fitting some less than one hundred people; almost half the festival people seemed to be here, and yet the stands were not completely packed.

Upon reaching the viewing box, many people were already leaving, revealing the human Roy talking to a large man on a throne.

Roy: "Sucus, please, I'll pay any price to get Tristan back."

Iratus could hear the man's words.

Sucus: "Talk to the family that man killed; their graves are still near Purple City, assuming those animals didn't leave their cadavers out on the road."

Iratus looked upon the other leader of the Festival of Blood, Sucus. Standing at an imposing 7 feet tall (214 cm), this was a male bat-looking person who was lean and muscular. His sleek fur was dark gray fur with a slight silvery sheen under the light. Long wings extend from his forearms, their veins faintly visible through the deep, shadowy gray membranes. When folded, the wings drape along his sides like a cloak, and finally his bat ears were large and stretched upwards that twitched when Iratus came up.

The bat person stood up on his digitigrade legs with two other bat-looking females coming up to his sides, these women being more on the normal height for beings like Iratus. Iratus's sight focused on the man's small scar on his left shoulder, then to his face, where he could see the man's brown eyes nearly covered by his black hair.

Sucus: "Excuse me, Roy, but I have another appointment to make."

Resolutio, Deficio, Commercium, and even Iratus were dumbstruck looking at this strange-looking man.

Commercium: "What the heck is this guy?"

Resolutio: "Don't look at me. Iratus, did Venatio or the other outsiders talk about these folk?"

Iratus: "No, and I've heard all kinds of species from her, but not once did she ever mention a batfolk."

Iratus looked over to Deficio, but the lion man's focus was elsewhere.

---

Chapter 790

Sucus: "I hope this night has been quite favorable today. I am Sucus Stoutness, and I am the host of the Festival of Blood, the festival where all who have become lost can come to find solace, if only for a few days, and surround themselves with fellows who too have become just as scarred. I have heard of a mouse-cat from a nearby settlement coming to recruit people for his civilization, and I assume it must be you."

Iratus's tail twitched slightly from a bit of nerviousness.

Iratus: "That is correct, and unfortunately, I have not found any good prospects."

The batfolk smiled and his teeth glinted in the lights.

Sucus: "Visitors, prisoners—how unfortunate they do not meet your standards. But think not of it as a loss. Tonight marks a momentous occasion. Soon, I shall be crowned king, with a crown forged from the jewel of one called Kobalt." He didn't get to finish.

Iratus and a few others nearby could sense the distress in Deficio to a point that Iratus looked over at him and saw the priest sneer at a man leaning up against the wall. It was a human with no hair, not even eyebrows, who was just as tall as Sucus and had a bit of a deep tan color to his human skin.

Deficio: "Traitor." He spat, "That crown was not yours to take, Noah."

The tall human gave an exaggerated shrug before speaking.

Noah: "All these years and that's how you greet an old friend?"

The lion gave a menecing display of his teeth.

Deficio: "You stole Kobalt's jewel and what, tracked me down or something?"

Noah: "I told you, our mission was to find a worthy monarch. Sucus is that monarch. I assume the mousefolk boy is your candidate?"

Iratus felt a little bit more nervous from how the conversation was going.

Deficio: "Kobalt gave us no such mission. He was adamant about the crown’s value. You twist his words to suit your ambition."

Noah: "So he what, saved our lives for fun?" His tone was light, but a hint of bitterness could be heard from it.

Deficio finally calmed down and returned to a more sedated tone.

Deficio: "Every time we discuss this, you fall back on that argument. Look, I’m sorry for leaving you when the bombs dropped, but Kobalt’s intent was clear. He wasn’t some benevolent savior playing god—he had plans for that crown. Plans that didn’t involve this."

Noah: "No, it’s fine. We didn’t kill each other when you sided with the raiders, and we’ve managed civil conversations since. I suppose we can continue the trend."

Deficio: "Raiders makes them sound evil." He looked to everyone else. "They were scavengers who needed supplies to survive. It was one of their formal members who destroyed Kobalt's tower." He then gave it some thought. "So, Kobalt is a summoner. I guess that explains how he knew so much about these hyper-advanced mechanical prosthetics."

Noah: "He is one of the many who build this place, so yeah."

Deficio: "No, I mean the summoners are machines. mechanical people."

Anyone around that heard that started to make sounds, all of them in shock at what they just heard, which made Iratus think that Metam must not have divulged that bit of information to her supposed ally. Iratus looked around for Sanguinare to see his reactions, but the hyena man was nowhere to be seen.

---

EPISDOE 80: END

---

Episode 80 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
Weapons: long sword, 3 knifes, short sword, hammer, 1 dagger
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 5 copper coins, 1 small silver bricks, 20 silver coins, 30 gold coins

Wounds: none

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 2 glass jars, 8 bottles, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, metal scrap, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, a large barrel, writing material, 64 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

Armory: 30 short swords, 23 knifes, 17 daggers, 21 metal spears, 4 arming swords, 4 long swords, 2 extra gambeson, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 3 hunting traps, 5 snares, 10 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: 13 copper coins, 2 silver coins 12 iron 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

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), 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 (fishing gear and supplies, trowel, woodcutting axe, woodworking tools, lots of rope, rope ladder, plows, hoes, sickles, rakes, shovels, scythes, chisels, anvils), Wooden Wall, Small Cabin (Resolutio), Large Cabin (Winter Winds), Large Cabin (Dark Sky Family), Small Cabin (Fraus and Arcus) 2x Gravestones, Rabbit Hutches.

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 208
---

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 21 days)
-
Aestus of clan Riversinger
otter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 6'2, age: 16, b day: 99, (preg 213 days)
-
Ignis Yang
red panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eye, 6'4, age: 16, b day: 344, (preg 113 days)
-
Resonantia Diamond Heart Steel
shark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'5, age: 16, b day: 2, (preg 240 days)
---

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
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Gula Lionheart
red panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 1, b day: 340
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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
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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

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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 13, b day: 245, (preg 142 days)

Bellum of House War Knuckles
cheetah, female, blonde fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 6'0, age 15, b day: 91, (preg 178 days)
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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 24, b day: 229, (preg 253 days)

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(farm)
UMBRA OCEAN FAMILY:
Procella Ocean Drinker
weasel , female, blonde fur, black hair, green eyes, 6'5, age 22, b day: 207, (preg 157 days)

Iter of Sanguinem Umbra
goat, male, white fur, blonde hair, brown eyes, 6'7, age 20, b day: 334
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(farm)
THE COBALTS:
Commercium Jade Blue Cobalt
rabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6'8, age: 25, 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
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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 26, 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