#***^^.... ....^^***#
###**^^=^. .^=^^**###
####**^=^. .^=^**####
###*=..... .....=*###
###**^^^.. ..^^^**###
####**^=^. # .^=^**####
####**^=^. . .====. . .^=^**####
#####**^=^ . *== =*# the basement #*= ==** . ^=^**#####
#***=^^... . =#= .==========. =#= . ...^^=***#
####**^=^. # .^=^**####
##*^^^^... ...^^^^*##
####**^=^. the basement is a man-made subterranean .^=^**####
####**^=^. environment where you could find such .^=^**####
##*^^..... things as the furnace, the labyrinth, .....^^*##
#*****^=^. reptiles or graves. .^=^*****#
####**^=^. .^=^**####
###***^=^. a small or rural basement is a cellar. .^=^***###
##**^=.... ....=^**##
####**^=^. =#= . =#= .^=^**####
##**===... ...===**##
#*^^^^.... often created in good faith, a basement ....^^^^*#
####**^=^. is nevertheless a way to bring a cave .^=^**####
##*^===^^. into your building, and cave things .^^===^*##
####**^=^. with it. i've found that it's easier to .^=^**####
####**^=^. think of all caves as the same large .^=^**####
###***^=^. structure, it's just that all parts .^=^***###
####**^=^. might not be physically connected. .^=^**####
#*^=^^.... that's what you're inviting in. ....^^=^*#
####**^=^. .^=^**####
##**==.... . . ....==**##
####**^=^. =#= . usages . =#= .^=^**####
#**==^.... . . ....^==**#
####**^=^. .^=^**####
####**^=^. the purpose of a basement is often to .^=^**####
####**^=^. hide unsightly appliances, engines, .^=^**####
#**^^^.... infrastructure (pipes and wells)... or ....^^^**#
####**^=^. to hide the true weight (purpose?) of a .^=^**####
####**^=^. building. .^=^**####
####**^=^. .^=^**####
####**^=^. to draw from the earth around it, push .^=^**####
####**^=^. above ground, laundered. .^=^**####
####**^=^. .^=^**####
####**^=^. a cellar is a more senseful affair, .^=^**####
#*^=...... less intense... made to store things ......=^*#
####**^=^. (food or brews, tools) in a colder .^=^**####
##**^^=... environment. perhaps to grow mushrooms. ...=^^**##
####**^=^. perhaps to bury corrupt creatures (not .^=^**####
###***^=^. advised) .^=^***###
####**^=^. .^=^**####
#*=....... .......=*#
####**^=^. .^=^**####
##**=..... .....=**##
####**^=^. .^=^**####