The Time Draws Near
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The King Tide rises. I hope you all are ready for what is to come.
See you soon, roaders.
A Telegram Arrived
Time spins outward. Old doors close. New gates open. What worked in the past turns to dust in the future. Those who seek must learn to adapt.
An urgent telegram has arrived for you, its source seems familiar and I think you’ll find its message fascinating.
There are portents hidden in plain sight, revealing much to those brave fools willing to study the signs. The repository is the simplest way to track those elements which have come before, but there are other sources as well. Take heart, my friend, in time much will be revealed.
See you soon, roader.
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Old Haunts: Lucky Star
📍 Denny Lake Warren
🏙 Level Four
🕙 Midmorning
“The long-dead engineers who designed Lovat’s superstructure made its massive floors and ceilings hollow. A lot of these hollows are crammed with the things that make a city livable: sewer pipes, air ducts, electrical lines, generators. Others are empty intermediate spaces. Some are occupied with shanty towns packed cheek by jowl, some are filled with trash, some harbor narrow mushroom gardens, and a small number have become storefronts. Cedric’s operates in the latter. An in-between place for in-between folks.”
—Waldo Bell, Red Litten World
This vignette (and those that will follow) were initially created for my Instagram account (they loop a bit more seamlessly over there.) But, I’ve had too much fun creating these to hide them away on social media so expect to see them here as well.
If you like this and are hungry for more of the Bell Forging Cycle, there’s plenty more out there for those of keen mind and stalwart heart.
Credits:
“You Are My Lucky Star” by Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra
Other audio from Freesounds—special thanks to jrsandoval, kangaroovindaloo, ludwigmueller, nahlin83, splicesound, be-a-hero-not-a-patriot, kiloton, theshuggie, microsoftsam, kodack, craigsmith, and jackbhandersen.
Broll provided by Videezy
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The Game Continues
Longtime readers know I’ve been running an alternate reality game for a while. It begins with this post from 2016. Since then, I’ve shared more clues, both here and on Instagram, and in other undiscovered corners. I even collected some into a handy repository, which I update whenever new ephemera appear.
The game continues. A new narrative from the Bell Forging Cycle is playing out in yet undiscovered corners. If you’re a fan and you’ve wanted more, I’d say it’s worth your time. It leads to some unusual places and opens up yet more of the world.
If you’re looking for quick answers, this post won’t have them. But I’ve gotten enough questions and emails lately that I felt it necessary to take a moment, address a few things, and offer some tips:
- The cipher I chose is somewhat tricky. I figured readers would band together to figure stuff out, but (so far) that hasn’t happened. So if it feels extra difficult, that’d be why.
- The number sequence will lead to clues that will help you figure out the cipher. But it’s not a key to the cipher itself. It’s also much easier to figure out.
- Search Engines are your friends.
- Along with search engines, don’t forget that this blog has a search bar. It’ll be handy, eventually.
- Sometimes it’s helpful to think beyond the internet.
- In the end, ARG organization is up to the players. Consider engaging with each other, launch a subreddit or a discord channel, start a wiki, or even consider email threads. I’m happy to write books and make content. But I don’t have time to moderate another community.
As before, I don’t want to offer too much. It takes away from the thrill of discovery. Part of the fun is unlocking this as you go—want to help others out? Why not share what you know in the comments?
Good luck, roaders! Stay wary and as always, Look West.
“Enough prattle. Look west, Guardian.”
—Chapter 30, Red Litten World
Did you think it was over?
What if I told you that everything that had come before was only the prelude? Grin at the sun all you want, it’s only a false dawn. Shadow dwells within the cracks and crevices of the worlds, and it can only be temporarily banished.
A letter has arrived for you, and you might find its contents familiar.
There are portents hidden in plain sight, revealing much to those brave fools willing to study the signs. The repository is the simplest way to track those elements which have come before, but there are other sources as well. Take heart, my friend, in time much will be revealed.
See you soon, roader.
Want to stay in touch with me? Sign up for Dead Drop, my rare and elusive newsletter. Subscribers get news, previews, and notices on my books before anyone else delivered directly to their inbox. I work hard to make sure it’s not spammy and full of interesting and relevant information. SIGN UP TODAY →
Echoes & Updates
Part of the fun with events like this is discovering the trail yourself. That said, things have been somewhat quiet (at least on here.) So a small post to energize the stalwart few still dedicated to discovery wouldn’t be remiss. If you’re one of the marked who’s taken it upon themselves to follow the clues, a big one dropped today over on Instagram.
As always the repository has been updated. Diligence.
K. M. Alexander 
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