Building a community-authored narrative for the world of Jelle's Marble Runs.
By the time they had trudged up the field, Rapidly was completely covered in sand. At their station was a towel—the team was waiting in the stadium.
Though other athletes were frantically drying off, Rapidly lazily slung the towel around themself. Sure, they were happy to medal, but silver was no longer a cause for celebration.
They’re going to be the first Marble League champions to not win a single event. It’s as if with every revolution around the bell that statement made its own loop back into their minds, a reminder of what they couldn’t reach four times over this season. At least those saying it admitted to their eventualContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #14: Shadow of a Doubt”
As Snowdrift took a long and deliberate breath the contours of their mind began to sharpen. The fuzzy edges of their frenzied flurry towards the finish line became clearer and cleaner. There was no single fatal mistake, but they simply hadn’t kept up in such a field of four that was enough to guarantee elimination.
Hunluen – 1/9/24 Exiting the elevator onto the bustling streets of Hunluen, Ruzzy didn’t realize for a few seconds that the sun had set in the half hour they were underground. The block was a blinding array of shops and food vendors. A department store opposite the vendors beckoned customers with neon arrows flashing inContinue reading “M1S5 Memo #1: The Places Between the Races”
What unites all these 40 racers is a passion that has not faded. They take on the track for a chance to win – to record their name in history. Project Marblearth looks back at where they come from, along with their hopes going forward.
“It’s funny, when you’ve been struggling to meet your expectations, and the harder you try, the worse everything crumbles around you.” Gloomo spoke to no one in particular, sheltered in the corner of a dark room with a bottle of water, listening vaguely to the sounds of laughter and camaraderie of fellow athletes the nextContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 2: Onwards and Upwards”
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”
Buses drove the teams out to the Buzznyan Foothills for the Steeplechase. Reaching the inclines that the teams must race down required slow and cautious driving. If many athletes were getting bored, there was one exception: Team Plasma’s Ghosto, fidgeting with a contraption topped off by a weather vane. “Excuse me, but… what is thatContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #2: Whether You’ll Weather the Storm”
The world’s best left the O’raceway after a hard-fought day on the pavement and sand. The podium finishers rolled off with their teams after bidding their farewells to the masses of fans longing for autographs and pictures. Royal and Red Eye had slowly built a history of electric battles in Marbula One, but Red Eye’sContinue reading “M1S4 Memo #2: The O’raceway Press Conference”
Project Marblearth