Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 41

Chapter 401

The party went back to the workshop to set up a tent for the night.

Iratus, "So everyone just packed themselves into the vehicle and left for real?"

The mouse boy handed over his tent to the couple.

Abrasione, "Maybe they'll be back tomorrow?"

Commercium, the rabbit man, nodded his head.

Iratus, "I thought you guys said driving at night was a bad idea."

Commercium, "For as long as I have been apart of the crew, anytime we have driven at night, we end up crashing into something. I guess a fatigueless monster would force them to run."

Venatio, "At least it proved my work to be flawless."

Commercium, "Truly. We reduced our estimated repair time from a few days to less than one. I just hope they come back."

The group would spend the night at the shop and spend half the next day waiting to see if the RV group would ever come back, which they never did. Iratus also got time to actually look at Studium, the fox boy. The twelve-year-old had gray fur, black hair, and blue eyes. He also had quite the physique at his age, most likely from the struggles of living in a hellish world. A cloud of annoyance hung over the group, as they believed the RV group was not coming back.

The party started their trip home, resting at the hunting lodge for the night. Iratus lit up a fire in the fireplace, and everyone got comfortable. Studium spent a lot of time with Venatio, clearly because he did not speak the same language as everyone else.

Iratus, "Has he really been that starved to talk to people?"

Venatio, "Oh yeah."

Abrasione, "And here I was, hoping that he'd left the group to stay with the two of us."

Commercium, "The two of us spent the most time with the two young ones, but the boy here never even tried to learn our language."

Venatio, "He said as much. However, your mistake was yielding to his stubbornness instead of being a proper parent."

Commercium, "You'll forgive us, for we aren't actually his parents, so forcing him to obey us feels kind of weird. He was an independent kid when we picked him up, and he has survived quite well without anyone so far."

Venatio, "Don't worry about it. I will shape him up, and he will learn the common tongue."

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Chapter 402

Once the group finally made it back home, Iratus introduced the new people, with the rabbit and hyena telling their stories. They faced hardship living alone for half a year before they found each other, and then not long after, they found the RV group. They mostly dealt with treeskins and the edax, and with the RV came many new monsters into their lives. The group would learn that they have lived in the Nexus Prime for about the same amount of time as Iratus, Victoria, and Aestus. Studium had been living here for a little over a year, mostly alone. He had interacted with some people, but they all rejected him; one was even hostile. While he was part of a group, some mistreatment forced his hand, and he fled from them to the RV group. He hadn't been with them for long, but he did feel some sadness that he actually left them for a bunch of strangers.

Abrasione, "Pfft, we are here; don't worry."

Venatio translated back and forth.

Venatio, "He says that's true."

Next came the living conditions, to which Studium immediately clung to Venatio.

Resonantia, "So he just met you?"

Ignis, "And yet he seeks to hide behind a stranger."

Venatio, "None of you may want to hear this, but most people seek comfort with their own kind. Even more so when they are the only ones who can communicate with you. Also, being really old and being a great grandma helps with seeming kind and inviting." She finished with a giggle.

Commercium and Abrasione shocked everyone when they wanted to live some ways away from the tower, choosing the campsite when a rough map of the local area was given to them.

Victoria, "How many kids have the two of you had?"

Abrasione, "Oh, this is the first."

Off to the side, another conversation started.

Resonantia, "Any reason you would live way over there instead of building a house near here?"

Commercium, "We just want some privacy. It's not like we had much in that RV."

Ignis, "Tell us the tales of the common routine with you and the RV people... Also, what is an RV?"

Iratus tried to slowly drift away from the girl's talk and focus on Commercium's conversation.

Commercium, "Then there was Sermo, a shark person like you."

Resonantia, "Yes, we met him."

Commercium, "Oh, uh, yeah. So, it's not like we knew most of those people. The goat sisters just kind of took on the role of leadership, and no one really cared. It's shocking how often people die in here."

Ignis, "You are aware of the nature of this world?"

Commercium, "From what Iratus said, its worlds, or rather a big place with many worlds."

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Chapter 403

Venatio still got some items from her trade and stashed them inside her house. Iratus had to explain that he got nothing for his work as the ebony and treeskins forced the RV group to flee. When the next day came, Commercium and Abrasione would find out about the tabletop games the tower folk played and would become regulars in joining them.

Commercium, "Ok, so what are we doing in this game?"

Venatio handed out cards to everyone and a few game tokens.

Venatio, "We are people who were summoned to the dark wilderness, and now we are trading with each other to survive."

Iratus, "Capitalism, the game."

At the table, Iratus, Venatio, Commercium, Abrasione, and Victoria were playing this strange game.

Venatio, "I found this thing a while back. It is a game from my world."

Everyone placed their starting location, and then the first danger card was pulled.

Venatio, "Increase in the wolf population. Not bad so far."

Abrasione, "Are we trying to fight each other or something? I got a few warriors in my household."

Venatio, "You can, but you could sell your services and use your warriors as caravan guards. Everyone here needs serious protection to move anything anywhere."

A few turns later, Iratus was expanding his family and territory rapidly; Venatio was amassing wealth and building tall instead of wide; the rabbit man was trying to do everything and make at least one of every resource; Abrasione was basically building a monopoly for road use, and accidently, it seems; and finally, Victoria was building herself up and the pseudo-police of the region.

Commercium couldn't gather every resource and needed everyone else's help, desperately trying to negotiate unity and cooperation. Abrasione mostly kept to herself.

Commercium, "Look at this; I have had market stalls for days. instead of spending money on the trade action, spend only one, ONE coin. Also, to make sure I don't build up too much wealth from this, I'll build the communal utilities."

Venatio, "God bless; that's too good of a deal to pass up."

Abrasione, "Don't forget to pay my fees if you're doing that."

Commercium, "Love, you're breaking my legs." He finished laughing.

The next turn came around, with Venatio pulling a terrible danger card.

Venatio, "Big oof. Nomadic raiders. Looks like we all have send our sons to die in a bloody war."

Abrasione, "Not too dissimilar from my time."

Commercium, "Most wars were dying off by my time."

Venatio, "What were your times, if I may ask?"

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Chapter 404

Commercium, "Stainsmoor, 1912."

Abrasione, "Broken Walks, 2044 A.S. You already know all the planets, it seems."

The old fox woman smirked at the comment and then thought for a few seconds.

Venatio, "So, who wants to know about their respective times?"

Victoria, "Resonantia and Ignis traveled with two hyenafolk. I think you come from the same nation and almost the same year."

Abrasione, "Aw, I would have loved to see more of my people around. But anyway, tell me about my world."

Venatio, "So by your time, your nation was involved in three wars at once. Two years later, it is four, and then days later, it is the Hardwood Alliance versus the world. The absolute world was at war."

Abrasione, "By the One, that's...oh shoot, I died before the world broke apart. Lucky me! Anything else?"

Venatio, "I only know the big things from other species planets."

Commercium, "Other species, pfft."

The rabbit man rubbed his lover's pregnant belly.

Venatio, "Are you up next?"

Commercium, "Hit me."

Venatio, "I'll admit your time period is definitely not my expertise. I know Stainsmoor underwent a peaceful revolution that led to the dismemberment of their monarchy near that year. I know that it gets involved with a massive war that is called The Blue Man Wars."

Commercium, "So the treaty wasn't enough. Which side did Stainsmoor
take?"

Venatio, "Heart Fire, of course."

Iratus, "Resonantia's nation. What's going on?"

Commercium, "Heart Fire and another nation called Black Mountain had a major land dispute. The territory of Blue River used to be the birthplace of the nation of Heart Fire. However, it was taken in a war long ago, and only recently did they conquer it back. The problem was that in the almost two thousand years since, the original people—the entire ethnicity of the original Heart Fire people—had long since gone. Not only that, but the world at large was greatly against the conquest in the first place, even worse in my time when Heart Fire began to recolonize their ancient homeland. The lost nation that was conquered was called Caeruleum; they still technically existed, and clearly they wanted their homeland back."

Victoria, "Who was the better ruler?"

Commercium, "Uh...." He looked at Venatio.

Venatio, "The politically correct thing to say is that it's a complicated matter. However, I'm just going to say Heart Fire, and by a lot. Heart Fire is one of the most free and just nations in the world—the whole world, mind you. Unfortunately, it was a monarchy surrounded by democratic nations with very zealous populations. Their cultures were also quite brutal and unforgiving compared to the free-speaking and free-worshiping Heart Fire."

Iratus, "Hold on! Whos turn is it?"

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Chapter 405

The game was entering the late stages, and Iratus was somehow in the lead because his massive family gave him so many actions, with Venatio in second place.

Venatio, "Isn't this your first game? Come on, your smoking everyone here!"

Commercium, "Why is it so hard to grow a family?"

Victoria, "It's not like the game takes place in a civilized area. Too many problems keep populations down, with a lack of food being the main one."

Abrasione, "Don't worry, my love; we will prove this game wrong and have all the children!"

Iratus, "Not if I have all the children with my lovers first."

Commercium, "You're on."

The old fox woman flipped the last danger card.

Venatio, "Oh, there's the blank. Of course it came out on the last round."

Commercium, "It's not over; I go first, and I'm building all the things!"

Abrasione, "There is nothing I can do. I'll lose too many victory points if I put any more of my family members at risk."

Commercium, "Unless I draw out the Haven again, then you could use it to prevent the action penalties."

Abrasione, "I don't think I'm going to win otherwise, so have at it." Turning to the rest of the table, "Roads closed."

Victoria, "Kingmaker! That's not right."

The rabbit man used all his actions to construct any building that came out with each purchase. In the end, his gambit failed, with Abrasione in last place, Commercium in fourth, Victoria in third, Venatio in second, and Iratus so far ahead that it was painful watching his last turn as he sent forth an army of family members to work and take whatever actions were still open to him. The old fox woman playfully whined each time he took an action space she needed.

Venatio, "You didn't even need that stone." She said it almost in tears, if she took it seriously.

As the game was being put up, Iratus turned to the couple.

Iratus, "So, how was the game?"

Commercium, "Besides the freaky similarity to it and our current situation, it was great!

Abrasione, "Oh yeah. Although I still don't know why you called it capitalism the game."

Iratus, "Because everyone has access to one resource, and you have to trade to gain the other resources."

Abrasione, "Huh, I guess so."

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Chapter 406

Many days passed, with day 261 arriving quickly. Iratus and Commercium came upon another abandoned township up the eastern road.

Iratus, "And this is why I needed help."

The rabbit man set down the cart and spoke up.

Commercium, "I, for one, was hoping for just a normal job. Hunting with you is well worth the pay, but do you really need me to loot with you?"

Iratus, "This isn't even a service; I offered an even split. I thought it was a gold mine for you to truly grab a lot of stuff."

Commercium, "What am I saying? Yeah, yeah, sorry. Truly, I should recognize that scouring these empty locations is far better than trudging the wilderness for a deer."

The town was a humble little thing of Radiance origin, the hyenafolk homeworld, and was a more ancient kind of town with bronze tools and simple technology. Mud-brick buildings lined the roads, with narrow streets mazing through them. In the center was a communal gathering area, as well as some markets surrounding it. The walls were sufficient for acting in defense, as they were all pretty smooth boards.

The pair didn't grab too much at first, but the cart would see items placed on it. First was some sort of bronze idol, a few clay pots, and a few jeweled trinkets.

Commercium kicked over a barrel of weapons that was also filled with rainwater.

Commercium, "Oh, come on, where are the goods?"

Iratus, "What? Buddy, we got a hundred sharp objects at my tower. If you want a few swords, I got'em."

Iratus grabbed some still-functional arrows, while the rabbitfolk grabbed some bronze tools.

Commercium, "Sure, I guess I'll take a few weapons."

Iratus nodded his head, and the pair continued to scavenge. More metal coins and currency were discovered, but Iratus allowed Commercium to take them all. The rabbitfolk also grabbed a number of clothes for his lover, just as Iratus grabbed some for his group too.

A few treeskins were already wandering in the town, and using smart tactics, the pair were able to deal with them one by one.

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Chapter 407

The next day the pair returned with a third member with them this time. Venatio wasn't too happy being dragged along as the town was quite far from the tower.

Venatio, "Ok, where is it?"

Iratus, "Not on the road. There is one more place we need to check out and I think it is a more digital age type building."

Commercium, "Hence why we need you here."

Venatio, "Whatever."

Not too far away from the town was another building and from the town it looked like a farm. The group walked closer to it and sat their cart down next to the building. The building was of similar origin, but it was clear it was from a civilization with electricity.

Iratus, "I've been dying to find electrical era places because they got all the canned food and stuff and I'd love not to hunt for a while."

Commercium, "You guys already have a lot of canned food."

Venatio, "Two towns worth in fact."

Iratus, "I know. I'm just saying."

Inside the farmhouse was more proof of its advance nature compared to the ancient town nearby. Commercium reflexively tried flipping the light switch but of course there was no power. Outside, Venatio grabbed some old style tools like pitchforks, scythes, and a hand plow. Iratus grabbed a diary on the coffee stand while Commercium grabbed a lot of kitchen tools. The old fox woman went inside the farmhouse and made a squeak as she grabbed a box of vinyl records. A faded photograph of a hyenafolk family was discovered along with some newspapers.

Iratus, "And I can't read any of this. Sure, we share the same language, for the most part, but not the same writing? I hate everything."

Venatio, "I guess there are a few nice things in here, but you didn't need me to look over this place."

Iratus, "I was hoping for more stuff that you could identify as like, you know, the complicated stuff."

Commercium, "Yo, found some keys."

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Chapter 408

Iratus placed his ear against the basement door and listened.

Iratus, "Something is down there."

Venatio, "Great. At least we might find something far more useful than what we've found so far."

Commercium, "Speak for yourself, and didn't you find something of value earlier?"

Venatio, "Debatable."

Iratus unlocked the door, and the group headed down with flashlights on. In the basement were four giant cockroaches the size of small dogs. Iratus and Commercium were confused, while Venatio had no care on her face. The group tried to give the insect enough room as they explored the basement. Venatio searched in cardboard boxes that were partially eaten while the other two checked out other rooms.

For the most part, it was just more clothes. There was a couch and a television set in the main room, as well as some knick-nacks, but nothing anyone in the group took.

Venatio, "Oh, hey, power tools. Then again, we can't use them. Another bust. Ack!"

The other two swiftly headed for Venatio and saw that the four roaches were harassing her and were even trying to bite her.

Commercium, "I should have kept the spear on me."

Iratus, "You got the weapons I gave you."

Venatio, "Help me out already!" She was swinging her baton uselessly.

The rabbit pulled out a short sword, and Iratus used his long sword to stab at the critters. It wasn't much of a fight, as a simple insect stood no chance against the three people. Afterwards, the group left the basement, taking nothing with them.

Iratus, "Sorry about all that. Maybe the barn will hold something more useful."

Venatio just shrugged.

The group left the farm house and headed for the barn, but Iratus saw something in the distance.

Iratus, "Hold on, I see something out there."

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Chapter 409

Several cows were grazing in their small field, with the barn being their home, complete with stars and salt licks, and in another building was a milking machine.

Venatio, "We have hit the jackpot. People, we got cattle."

Iratus, "Sure, but how would we care for them? I don't even think we are equipped to handle them."

Commercium, "Uh, we got more than just cows."

Once the group was near the cows, they finally saw insect panthers wandering around the field and forest further ahead. These were, of course, the little ones who had not reached full maturity.

Commercium, "Woh...those things are cute."

Iratus, "I know, right."

Venatio, "Still an invasive pest, though."

The group put their focus back on the several cows around.

Commercium, "Someone has to stay here for the cows."

Iratus, "I don't think we are equipped to handle all this."

Commercium, "My love knows some things about raising cattle. We got this."

Iratus, "You'd want to live so far away from the tower? What about our gaming afternoons?"

Commercium, "Ok, I will admit that it will be a lot of travel just to play, but cows and cow milk."

The old fox woman gave a sigh.

Venatio, "Ugh, forced to consume the milk of animals once again. Truly the mark of barbarism."

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Chapter 410

Commercium, "Look, we need to reintroduce some animal husbandry. Hunting and scavenging locations can only get us so far, and we have a growing population."

Venatio, "Technically, raising cattle took more resources than one would receive. The reason people truly needed cattle was for animal power, such as pulling plows, transportation, like pulling our cart over there, and of course, people have to have meat. Also, their poop is a great fertilizer."

Commercium, "Don't forget the milk."

Venatio, "If your body could handle foreign animal milk, but yes, when people have so little food, milk is a great substitute."

Commercium, "Look, my love and I will be fine out here, and once we get everything settled, we will have cows working for us."

Venatio, "Also, I think I just saw a bull near the house too. If we can get an industry goin', this will be huge."

Iratus, "Yeah, I guess putting some of our work on animals will actually be one heck of a boon."

Before Iratus could continue, he saw one of the insect panthers get close to a cow and actually lunge at it, biting into its legs.

Everyone else turned, and soon the group was in various states. of, "Woh, woh!"

Iratus was drawing his blade and heading off into battle, while the other two laminated as their spears were still in the cart. Once the first insect panther was slain, several more came closer, as they had already been up close to the cows, and with one of their kind slain, the others turned hostile quickly. Iratus focused on cutting down into the neck as the other two tried their best to bash or stab at the critters. Since these insects were small and more compact, they lacked the proper killing power to threaten the group. One of these feline insects jumped and tackled Iratus to the ground, but he managed to interpose his blade with the jaws of the creature. He managed to cut into the beast and throw it off.

Despite the creatures not posing much of a threat, the three did find themselves with multiple bleeding wounds on them.

Iratus, "Well, we are going to have to do something about all of these things."

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EPISDOE 41: END

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Episode 41 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
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
Weapons: Long Sword, 3x Knifes, Short Sword
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 29 oval copper coins, 6 small silver bricks, 20 fine silver coins,15 fine gold coins, metal keycard

Wounds: multiple small cuts across limbs (fresh)

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 2 glass jar, 12 empty 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, 73 cloaks and other clothing materials, some fabrics, 5 carts, 8 tattered tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenery, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing, ancient era hyenafolk clothes

Armory: 10 wooden spears, 47 short swords, 48 knifes, 23 daggers, 33 metal spears, 21 rusted weapons, many armor pieces, ruined metal armor, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 3 hunting traps, 3 snares, 4 backpacks
Aestus: leather vest, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword
Victoria: scrap metal breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, flashlight
Resonanita: breastplate, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, compound bow, flashlight
Ignis: leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar

Treasure: 52 oval copper coins, 19 oval silver coins 44 ancient metal coins, 8 fine silver coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a handful of sparkling glass beads, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, 46 copper lion coins, 5 silver lion coins, 4 gold lion coins, 57 wolfen metal coins, bronze lantern, bronze idol, some jewled trinkets

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), Guest Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding, sensual antfolk sculpture), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding)

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), Partially Built Wall, Small Cabin

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

Year 0, Day 262

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Iratus of House Lionheart
mouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'2 (188cm), age: 14
-
Victoria
raccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'0 (183cm), age: 14
-
Aestus of clan Riversinger
otter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 5'10 (179cm), age: 14
-
Ignis Yang
red panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eye, 6'1 (185cm), age: 14
-
Resonantia Diamond Heart Steel
shark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'1 (185cm), age: 14
-
Venatio
fox, female, red fur, red hair, brown eyes, age: 71

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Commercium
rabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, age: 24
-
Abrasione		(wife)
hyena, female, tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, age: 19

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