Some keep you company. Some keep you up at night.
One is a minecart. We’re being generous with the definition.
The familiar faces that make a patch of blocks feel like a place.
THE MASCOTSecond to arrive. First in charge.
The owl got here first. The sheep would rather you didn’t bring that up. Petramond’s second mob settled straight into the role of mascot: soft edges, steady stare, absolutely no interest in your deadlines.
Local tradition says a house isn’t finished until a sheep has inspected it from the wrong side of the fence.
THE ORIGINAL RESIDENTA temporary hire. A permanent fixture.
The first mob in Petramond was supposed to help test things. A little owl. Nothing fancy. Then everyone got attached, and the temporary test resident acquired permanent residency.
Still not quite finished. Still very much staying. If it looks like it knows something you don’t, that might just be the expression we gave it.
THE CURRENT FAVORITEAn unreasonable amount of cute.
Our newest living arrival has received an entirely reasonable amount of care and attention. That’s the official position. Please ignore the number of times somebody has stopped work to look at its ears.
Field notes describe the rabbit as a tiny keeper of other people’s attention. You meant to do something important. You’ll remember what it was in a minute.
THE JUNIOR INSPECTORSmall wool. Big expectations.
The lamb has watched the sheep build a career out of standing around looking important, and would like to follow in those exact hoofsteps.
For now, its duties include arriving beside things, looking pleased with itself, and reminding everyone that the mascot could, technically, be smaller.
The other side of the field guide. Admire these portraits from somewhere with a door.
THE LATE VISITORNever learned to call ahead.
Some say the zombies were the first explorers to insist they knew a shortcut home. Others say they simply stayed out one night too many. Either way, they still seem convinced you can help with directions.
Their manners have not improved with age. Their commitment to visiting, however, is remarkable.
THE REASON WE HAVE DOORSThe quiet has teeth.
Old diggers tell a story about a silence that settled too deeply underground. It stayed so long that the dark grew a mouth to speak through.
Nobody agrees on the rest of the story. The people telling it tend to lose interest in explaining and become very interested in leaving. The field guide recommends joining them.
The vehicles asked to be in the field guide. We didn’t have the heart—or the brakes—to say no.
HEAD OF DOWNHILL OPERATIONSA very driven individual.
The minecart applied to be a mount. When asked about its experience, it rolled away. We took that as a practical demonstration.
It has since appointed itself head of downhill operations. Strong opinions about slopes. No opinion whatsoever about the return journey. Employee benefits include a nice set of rails.
THE FLOATING DEPARTMENTOutstanding in its field. Wrong field.
The boat briefly tried farming. Very little progress. Much better results once somebody introduced it to water.
It now considers itself a distinguished explorer of anywhere slightly wetter than the shore. Has never understood the minecart’s need for a prescribed route, and brings this up at every meeting.