Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 50

Chapter 491

Iratus backed away from the pair, with Ignis, Resonantia, and Aestus following him.

Snake woman, "Then we shall leave as well."

Wolf man, "Hold on. We have been traveling alone for quite a while now, and we have found another group of people. This is an opportunity to interact with others."

Snake woman, "I am not risking my life here. You want to die; have at it. I will be going."

Wolf man, "Have at it." He then turned to Iratus's group. "Sorry about that. Sometimes you see some random person walking down the road, and they pull out their rifle to kill you. Repeat the same scenario five times, and suddenly it is time to never talk to anyone and spend the rest of your life alone for the next eighty years."

The snake woman still didn't leave, as everyone was talking.

Ignis, "Suspision is healthy in a world of starvation and disease."

Aestus, "Well, I think giving a seed of trust is the best way to go."

Wolf man, "Both true."

Iratus, "I have had some bad rolls myself, but most people seem to be good."

Wolf man, "Exactly, right?"

The group found a spot to sit down to continue chatting while the snake lady stayed nearby, curled up with her tails, using them as a seat.

Wolf man, "My name is Salvos, and that snake lady is Leitmotif."

Iratus, "Yeah. I've heard snake people from the others, but it is still quite a sight."

Aestus, "You're telling me."

Salvos, "So, tell me about the numb walkers."

Iratus, "Ah, these monsters also have a name. Any sin lord controlling them?"

Both the wolf and the snake had a reaction to that.

Salvos, "Oh wow, you guys are way ahead of the game. I was under the assumption that no one knew about this stuff."

Aestus, "We've seen a lot."

Salvos, "Yeah well, the being behind these particular monsters is the sin lord of wastefulness."

---

Chapter 492

The two groups spent a few minutes talking to each other before the topic changed back to the monsters.

Salvos, "What has been your group's involvement with these things?"

Iratus, "They have been helping Eretz, the sin lord of change, take our mound."

Salvos, "They can work together?"

Leitmotif, "That is way too out of the norm."

Resonantia, "A few of those blazeborn are back there."

Aestus, "Not completely in flame, but they got big lava things in them."

Salvos, "They can work together? How? We have only ever seen these monster groups fight."

The snake lady repositioned herself as everyone else got out more rations to continue the conversation.

Iratus, "Even our resident expert on this place can't get their head around it."

Leitmotif slightly confused, "Expert?"

Ignis, "Long story."

Salvos, "Buddy, I think there is something bigger at play. The two of us have had some serious run-ins with numb walkers. In fact, the ones that got away are probably returning to their fortress."

Aestus, "No way; now monsters have fortresses."

Leitmotif, "As far as I know, only the numb walkers, as they still have something of people left within their minds."

Iratus, "What are they?"

Leitmotif, "As far as I know, they are people who are willingly working for Perudot, the sin lord of wastefulness."

Ignis, "Disturbing."

Salvos, "Yeah, I have an idea. How about we figure out what these guys plan is, huh?"

Iratus, "If we are capable, today was almost too much."

---

Chapter 493

Iratus and Salvos continued their planned discussion, and the others collectively sighed. Once a plan was set, everyone stood back up.

Iratus, "If you don't mind, how about we meet back up tomorrow?" I need to try to gather more manpower for this operation."

Salvos, "Sure. I will meet back here tomorrow; no promises for Leitmotif."

The two groups would leave the area, and Iratus headed back to the tower, checking back sometimes to make sure he wasn't being followed. Back at the tower, once everyone heard the plan, Iratus tried to see who would come.

Resonantia, "Love, sorry, but even the combat today was seriously exhausting. Even with the man days since giving birth, I was barely able to keep up my strength back there."

The other girls gave a mummer of agreement.

Iratus, "Then I need to find more soldiers." He turned to Venatio. "You alive?"

Venaito, "It was just a flesh wound. I am willing to fight, but we need just us to join this assault."

Victoria, "Assuming the numb whatevers have not fled."

Given enough time, Iratus would track down Last Mistake, the town from his world that was destroyed, but the priest down there was fixing it back up, surprising fast. Inside the church, Iratus found the gray-furred lion man, though his features more matched those of a feline than a lion, with only a well-groomed and trimmed mane and a tuffed tail to say otherwise. He finished his prayer and turned to Iratus.

Deficio, "Ah, for what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Iratus, "Deficio, uh, how much do you want to slay some monsters?"

Deficio, "If you require an extra blade, then I will assist."

Iratus, "Wow, really? I wish that I came by sooner."

Deficio, "You have no idea how boring it has been being here. Visiting your home is the only way to find companionship."

Iratus, "You would have a better time if you joined us in gaming."

The mouse boy gave his plans to the lionfolk, who nodded and headed to gather his arms, which included an arming sword, two knives, and a shotgun with a bag full of shells.

Iratus, "Is that another firearm?"

---

Chapter 494

Commercium, the rabbit man, opened his door to Iratus.

Commercium, "I'm not looking to fight more monsters at this moment."

Iratus, "I found another group of people, two, and we want to smash a monster fortress."

Commercium, "Well, I can't help."

His hyena wife came around the door.

Abrasione, "Commercium, they have a treasure trove. Go work and get treasure for us." She finished winking at him. "

Commercium, "But the cattle."

Abrasione, "I can work with them for a day; maybe send one of the girls my way for assistance."

When the next day arrived, the girls revealed new armor made from their excess armor pieces. It was shobby work, but these armors would work as functional breastplates for the group. Commercium also wore something like a sweater and jeans and was  uncomfortable because of how warm the day was, but it was still something like protection. Deficio wore several layers of clothing for protection himself, and while the heat and warm temperature were getting to him too, he seemed to embrace the discomfort. Iratus finished placing his own breastplate pieces on them and placed his tactical vest over them. Finally, Venatio still had her military-looking outfit and was only taking the melee weapons, leaving her empty rifle behind.

Iratus, "Now you just need to stitch some up for everyone else, and we will be good."

Eventually, the three would take their cart and head back to the burned-down city, where they met up with Salvos and Leitmotif, who were already waiting for the group.

Iratus, "Ah, you're here early."

Salvos, "Our camp is nearby, and we don't have anything better to do."

Iratus, "Then let us hunt down these abominations and free them from their mortal shell."

---

Chapter 495

The group split up at first, but once they met back up near the train tracks westward, they agreed on where the monsters went.

Salvos, "Like I said, they went back to their fortress."

Venatio, "I wanted to follow the paths. I don't see it as much of a distraction."

Salvos after shrugging, "Sure."

The railroad headed off south and towards the hospital, while the group continued westward and into the forest. Pulling the cart through the heavy forest was a challenge, making the trip take longer than it needed, but once they moved into a lighter woodland, they finally got to a large open savanah field.

Iratus, "Ah, it feels like home."

Venatio, "And then there is that."

The old fox woman pointed at a wreckage of some kind. It still had some silvery glint to it, despite the overgrowth of vines and weeds growing over it. Iratus could put it together; this was one of those spaceship things with a metal spike jutting from the overgrowth and a large hole on its side. The size was somewhat grand, though it only had the height of his tower.

Venatio, "I don't recall this being here. I suspect this was the blackest day since it has so much stuff and dirt growing all over it."

Leitmotif, "In fact, I would wager it was buried in a tunnel of some sort before being plopped on top of a hill."

Iratus, "Is this the fortress we are looking for?"

Salvos, "I thought it would look different up close, but yeah. This is where I have seen the monsters go."

The group silently moved up some more until they saw several pale guards holding spears and wearing padded clothes on their torsos for armor. The guards were slightly inside the massive door entrance at the back end of the ship. The group got into position and started firing arrows and bolts at the guards.

---

Chapter 496

At first it was a few guards, then a wave of twenty miners came rushing out, though this time they fought with some tactics, such as taking cover and taking advantage of the ranged units reload time. Iratus shot with the bow, while Venatio used the crossbow.

Once the mob reached a certain point, they charged down the hill at the group, though only fifteen were alive by this point. Salvos, Leitmotif, Commercium, and Deficio played defense by holding back the pale miners with the rabbit, lion, and wolf using spears, Leitmotif using her halberd, and Iratus throwing the bow and drawing his trusty long sword. Iratus was being struck by several picks, and while none had pierced him, they were definitely painful and distracting enough that Iratus had to use a lot of energy to avoid getting struck.

Only after a few seconds, only seven remained, trying to tackle the party, of which Iratus was the only one to be knocked down. Iratus could only protect himself as a few more attacks came in, but he only had to endure for a second before the others rescued him.

Once the battle was over, the group took a five-minute rest.

Iratus, "Thanks guys."

Deficio, "Comradery, my dear fellow soldier."

Venatio, "I really wish you could have fired some shots, though."

Deficio, "Everything worked out, though."

Leitmotif, "You know, it does feel good to fight with a group."

Salvos, "See, doing things with a group always makes activities better."

After the break, the group took a look around the ship, finding it had indeed been stuck inside a dirt mound, with the party finding the excess dirt against the ship.

Venatio, "Hm, what if the ship didn't move? What if the last blackest day merely uncovered it?"

Leitmotif, "Sounds like another theory."

Iratus, "Does it matter which way this thing came about?"

Venatio, "I guess not. It just means that I passed this thing without seeing it, and that is a shame."

---

Chapter 497

Salvos, "There was nothing in that hole. We would have to crawl through to get inside."

Iratus, "Then the main entrance we go."

The group stepped inside, with Venatio taking in everything. To Iratus, it was just a metal-made building. The entrance was a large empty room, and deeper inside were a bunch of metal hallways with broken lights and other electronics littering the floor. Most paths were caved in, and most rooms were no longer recognizable, with only a large side room being one of two rooms still intact. The side room was full of scattered crates and shipping containers, though any goods were long since gone, with only irrelevant items like papers, pens, and some clothes left.

Venatio looked over the containers and gave a negative expression.

Venatio, "These are not used by my people."

Salvos, "Your people?"

Iratus, "Where we woke up here, she came here from the outside."

Salvos and Leitmotif had a confused look on their faces.

Leitmotif, "When this is over, I demand all the knowledge you have as payment."

Venatio, "Easy enough. A waste of a paycheck if you ask me."

Iratus, "Any reason these containers would be here, Venatio?"

Venatio, "Yes. If I had to make a guess, the crew found some interesting things inside of these containers and grabbed them. Seeing that any machinery, vehicles, or items are gone, I could envision a number of scenarios. None really matters to us at this moment, though, considering how much time must have passed."

After a minute of looking around, the group went to the only other room they could fit in, as this last room was well protected and seemed to be made to endure situations the ship found itself in. Before the party opened the door, they stretched out their senses and could hear an old gas generator roaring. They all put on their ear protection as Deficio got out his shotgun.

---

Chapter 498

They slammed open the door, and before Iratus could pull out his flashlight, his face was greeted by several flood lights that were lit by the generator roaring somewhere in the room. It was a cylinder room with a small pedestal in the middle and a pure black shard of broken reality in the case on top of it. On one side of the room were five prisoners: a young cheetahfolk girl, a wesealfolk woman, a hyenafolk man, and a young goatfolk man.
 
These five were tied up with tattered cloths and sheets covering their forms, and each of the five looked quite beaten and sickly-looking, though not entirely underfed. Over them were three pale walkers; two were outfitted with similar armor compared to samurai armor, while the third was a miner who used to be a mousefolk woman, completely hairless and furless with nasty flabs of skin flowing out of her feminen form.

On the other side was the pale-walker samurai Iratus saw with the birth of the first bronzeborn he'd seen. It wielded a spear and had two blades sheaved on his belt: a katana and a wakizashi. However, these blades looked different from the ones it was carrying the first time around, as the scabbards looked far more decorative than before.

In addition, six ashborn and a single scaleborn were behind it, standing still like soldiers waiting to receive orders. When Deficio raised his shotgun, the pale samurai held up a hand and used the other to motion towards the prisoners, who were at the other numb walkers mercy. Then the samurai made a motion, and the numb walkers released the prisoners, though they were still bound, and his men returned to the samurai's side. The samurai gave a slight bow and then motioned to the door behind the party, as if to say, Please leave now.

Iratus and Deficio started to warm up and slowly became less hostile, taking a look at the monsters and prisoners. Venatio had a neutral expression the whole time, with her true emotions unknown. Salvos and Leitmotif still had an angry expression and kept looking back at the others as if waiting for them to start the fight.

---

Chapter 499

Suddenly the ashborn and scaleborn attacked the numb walkers, with only the scaleborn lizard creature having a face to read, which unfortunately was the normal, permeant cartoonish smile, which is why the party were shocked and unable to react for a second. The priest pulled up his shotgun and took a single shot, which tore through some of the monsters, with the scaleborn nearly losing an arm. The room wasn't that large, allowing Iratus and the others to dive into the fray with absolute chaos and flailing weapons, attacking every which way. The numb walkers were quickly burned enough to be slain, with the pale samurai losing his head to the scaleborn. The scaleborn ripped its tooth dagger out of his victim just to be instantly blown to bits, with Deficio coming close to it and firing his shotgun.

Iratus looked around as all the motion started to stop. The remaining numb walkers had been slain by the ashborn who were in turn slain by the group.

Iratus, "That was freaky."

Venatio, "You're telling me."

Iratus, "Maybe their alliance fell through?"

Venatio, "That, and now I feel kind of bad for killing the pale guys. Maybe there was more to them than the other monsters."

Salvos, "A monster is a monster, nothing more."

The party started to untie the former prisoners and then took the non-destroyed items back to the cart. While searching through the bodies, Iratus discovered another keycard, like the one he already had in his inventory.

Iratus, "We got a winner!"

Venatio, "Oh. That looks familiar."

Iratus, "What do you think it opens?"

Venatio, "It could be a near-infinite amount of possibilities. Granted, we only know of one lock left for us to open."

Iratus, "Another trip to the cold underground, then."

Once everything was gathered, the party looked over the reality shard.

Salvos, "What is that?"

Iratus, "I don't think we have the time to explain."

Venatio, "I think this thing is a type of reality machine. I can't tell what for, though, and I don't want to test out what it does."

Iratus watched as Venatio examined the device, only to see her pull out that tungsten key.

Venatio, "I wonder."

She shoved the key into a strange-looking keyhole, which brought the machine to life. The old fox woman used a small device already connected to the pedestal machine and gave it a look.

Venatio, "Yeah, I have no idea what this thing is."

---

Chapter 500

Iratus, "Normally, I'd like to vote on what to do with resources such as these, but since all these machines can dispel shards, how about we just try to eliminate the blackest days from happening?"

Venatio, "Two shards sent back to reality? I can only hope that it will be a significant enough patch-up. I'm not opposed to the idea."

Iratus, "And I bet the others wouldn't be against the idea either."

Deficio, "I should get a say as well."

The other two looked at him with no expression.

Deficio, "To which I agree that reality must be mended, and I am against using these shards."

Off to the side.

Salvos, "Do you know what they are talking about?"

Leitmotif, "Nope."

With a few button presses, the machine dispelled the shard as the black rectangle disintegrated into fading dust. After that, the party took the generator and flood lights as well and headed back to the tower. After leaving the prisoners at the tower to be looked after by the girls, the party continued their work by delving into the first summoner tower and into its basement. Instead of their armor, they wore more clothes to endure the absolute cold of the underground area.

At the bottom, with the several rooms, Iratus used the first keycard to open the door, and at the large pod, he used the second keycard, and it actually worked. Venatio examined the controls but shrugged and pressed the biggest one, which caused the pod to open. Everyone was watching in awe, with Deficio and Venatio being the most expressive in their curiosity.

The group's flashlights aimed at the now-open pod, and inside was a person wearing a suit. It was a suit of all metal with another suit on top of it, one of yellow armor. Its head was also incased in this metal with something like a helmet and a faceplate that covered its face completely with a more yellow color, emphasizing the detail.

Iratus, "Woh, what a suit."

Deficio and Venatio gave a serious look, with the fox woman speaking first.

Venatio, "It's not a suit. It is a robot."

---

EPISDOE 50: END

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Episode 50 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 15
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, rough metal pieces breastplate
Weapons: Long Sword, 3x Knifes, Short Sword, Hammer
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, 2 metal keycards

Wounds: slightly burnt legs, several bruises

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, gas gnerator, four flood lights

Armory: 10 wooden spears, 45 short swords, 47 knifes, 23 daggers, 31 metal spears, 21 rusted weapons, some armor pieces, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 3 hunting traps, 3 snares, 4 backpacks, 3 katanas, 3 short katanas
Aestus: leather vest, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, bronze long 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, 2 gold lion coins, 57 wolfen metal coins, bronze lantern, bronze idol, some jewled trinkets, iron lantern, several large blocks of various metals.

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 1, Day 97

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TOWER FOLK:
Iratus of House Lionheart
mouse, male, blonde fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'4 (193cm), age: 15
-
Victoria
raccoon, female, gray fur, black hair, brown eyes, 6'2 (188cm), age: 15
-
Aestus of clan Riversinger
otter, female, red fur, red hair, blue eyes, 5'11 (180cm), age: 14
-
Ignis Yang
red panda, female, reddish-brown/white fur, black hair, golden eye, 6'3 (190cm), age: 15
-
Resonantia Diamond Heart Steel
shark, female, blue-gray hue skin, white hair, blue eyes, 6'3 (191cm), age: 15
---

CHILDREN:
Negligere
shark, male, steel gray skin, white hair, gold eyes, age: 0
-
Ruina
otter, female, orange fur, vibrant orange hair, blue eyes, age: 0
-
Gula
red panda, male, brown fur, dark brown hair, gold eyes, age: 0
-
Tenacitas
raccoon, female, silver fur, dark blonde hair, amber eyes, age: 0
---

NEIGHBORS:
Venatio of Wise Storms, Mother of House Black Jewel
fox, female, red fur, red hair, brown eyes, 6'6 (198cm), age: 71

Studium of Winter Winds
fox, male, gray fur, black hair, blue eyes, 5'6, age 12

Fuligo
otter, female, black fur, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5'4, age 12

Salvos
wolf, male, black fur, white hair, copper eyes, 6'8, age 26

Leitmotif
snake, female, yellow and red scales, naga bodied, gold  eyes, age 23
---

THE COBALTS:
Commercium Jade Blue Cobalt
rabbit, male, white fur, black hair, gray eyes, 6'8(203cm), age: 24
-
Abrasione
hyena, female, tan fur, blonde hair, gold eyes, 6'5(196cm), age: 20
-
Kuxatura
hyena, male, tan fur, black hair, gold eyes, age: 0

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LAST MISTAKE
Deficio
lion, male, gray fur, rich gray hair, green eyes, 6'6, age: 45