.:=†*&@###                                          ###@&*†=:.
..:=†*&@##                                          ##@&*†=:..
...:=†*&@#                                          #@&*†=:...
....:=†*&@                                          @&*†=:....
.....:=†*&                                          &*†=:.....
......:=†*                    #                     *†=:......
.......:=†  .              .====.               .   †=:.......
........:=  . *==   =*@  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)                 =:........
.........:                                          :.........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
.........:                                          :.........