Building a community-authored narrative for the world of Jelle's Marble Runs.
Having finally finished with the post-race circus, Blue Moon flopped onto the grass with a yawn. The gloomy skies had given way to alternating clumps of sun and cloud, periodically lightening and darkening the air around them.
Out of the corner of their eye, they saw Summer Sky wading across the meadow in their direction and sat up. Blue Moon waved as the lighter blue marble drew closer.
Finally free from scrutineering, Big Pearl retreated to their tent at the bottom of Doornse Gat. Sitting down to take it all in, they began replaying the events of the race in their head. The good start, the double pass on the berm, the whole second half battle with Marbly McMarbleface. The memories of theContinue reading “MRS7 Memo #3: A Reflection in Silver”
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” This might be the case for a blurry selfie on the podium with Superball and Pollo Loco, after an intense battle during the second race of this year’s Marble Rally. Tired yet euphoric, Reflektor was at the top step for their first time ever in a main leagueContinue reading “MRS7 Memo #2: My Way”
Sit still. Blink sand out of your eyes. Sit still. Blink away sand. More sand. Sit still. And repeat… Across the track, on the other side of the bankings, was Superball. On Ghost Plasma’s behest, Dragon’s Egg had spent the past fifteen minutes watching them together, unnoticed, from behind one of the emptied-out fan stands.Continue reading “MRS7 Memo #1: Black and White and Green With Envy”
In Season 7 of the Marble Rally, 20 racers will compete over tracks both made of sand and built over other terrains. As they look to tear up the sand in 2024, we on Project Marblearth profiled the racers’ stories: the long-time winners, fan favorites, and surprise contenders.
Suddenly, Momomo felt dizzy. Their breathing became shallow as the starting gate at Snowflake Slope lifted and the bobsled entered the track. “Is everything okay?” asked Momo. “I don’t know. It’s really cold up here.” “But you’re all bundled up. It’s just a short sprint down,” assured Mo. “No…everything’s spinning,” said Momomo as snow kickedContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 9: Dazed with Destiny”
“Thank you for waiting!” A waiter said, smiling as they placed a giant platter that resembled a painter’s palette on the table in front of them. “Here’s one Chef’s Palette for the both of you. Please enjoy!” The food arrived in front of Rojo Uno and Frost who were chatting. They welcomed the food withContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 7: Food for Thought”
You see it on every sign and screen at the Kinikolu Resort and Sportsplex: “THE PARTY NEVER ENDS.” Over the past two months, the Marble Survival 100 Tournament host site has lived up to that promise.
Each week, a new obstacle course at the Survival Stadium rises out of a cloud of artificial fog. An athlete from each Marble League team then races day after day to avoid elimination. Those who remain have survived getting battered by rams, smacked four ways by fidget spinners or treated as playthings by the Bell Carousel.
Their reward for this gauntlet will be more than a championship trophy: it will be publicity. Online or on the airwaves, the Elite Eight’s faces are plastered on marketing throughout Marblearth. In the tournament’s first weeks, fans and passersby in Kinikolu could still catch an athlete on the sidewalk or having fun. Now those remaining are hard to access, marbles who seem more like myth on the outside.
As the excitement grows, who is stepping up to the moment while staying true to themselves? The stories over one week, when ten marble survivors turned to eight, tell the tale.
Fragmented rose-pink clouds decorated the orange-yellow sky. A thin morning haze hung over the city streets down below. The moon had disappeared beneath the horizon and the sun, burning the wispy edges of the clouds with its light, had emerged in its place.
The cycle of the heavens was beginning anew, and a new day was breaking over Buzznya.
After a Balancing revenge victory seven years in the making, the Rojo Rollers expected Mellow Yellow to bring it up in the form of showing off the gold medals and constant reminders of revenge from 2016’s very first event; the furthest thing from actuality, which took the form of a party meant to celebrate bothContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #8: Hanging in the Balance”
Project Marblearth