
Summary: Join the Ruin Seeker (that's our protagonist fox!) on his journey through a strange and vaguely familiar land. His inner thoughts are laid bare as we explore the unknown. Each step brings new mysteries to solve, new challenges to face. - This story is intended as a companion piece to the video game TUNIC, but can also function as a guide if you are stuck or a teaser to get you interested.
This seems to be the East Belltower. The place is overgrown and ancient. Immediately I spot another page, beneath a tall statue. Quickly dispatching my foes, I grab it and explore its contents.
What's described before me seem to be the... controls..? My mind feels some sort of distant connection to this. I see lock on, I see the button I use for inventory, for movement... Apparently, there's also a shield and some potions to be found. There's buttons for the sword and I guess for other actions. And then there's the A button. It seems to do multiple things. See more on page 13? That should be the back of this very page.
Images of a sign, of rolling, of running. I suppose if I had not been so eager to experiment when I awoke, this would be more useful. There's also something else of value, with a reference to page 24, but I can't learn anything further for now. Alright, back to exploring.
Up the stairs, I see one of my goals. A bell, large and gold. But the rope to access it is unreachable. I will have to go around. Such an easy task, thwarted by my small stature. If only I was as big as the fox of my vision.
New Goal: Find a way to reach the golden bell.
Around the corner, I find a hole, but the ladder leading down seems to be broken. If I go down here, I won't be able to return for a while. It can't be helped. I press on. Another statue calls to me. Another strangely empty chest, too.
The East Forest, at last. The foliage is dense and verdant. Now to find the Hero's Grave. I follow the signs laid out before me, eager to claim a sharp weapon, to be able to better dispatch the foes that seek to harm me. Exploring the rest can wait! Along the way, a new type of foe, seemingly made of crystal. It shoots parts of itself at me, forcing me to weave and dodge.
Another statue, best to stay healthy. Ah, excellent, a new page, resting upon another golden square. These truly seem to be places of significance, though not all have held a prize atop them.
This page seems to be explaining the lock-on system. Dodge, shield... was there a shield I was supposed to have found by now? I could definitely use one... But not much else here.
Stamina-points, stamina-points... Attack without stamina... Oh hey, a moment of protection during the dodge roll. "Check for Dust"? So, I'm invulnerable while there's dust? Okay. This stability part seems a little more confusing, though. It's talking about HP, too. I'll do my best to stay healthy, count on it!
Another sign pointing me forward, another path twisting with danger. I dispatch some vicious, large slime balls. They nearly get the better of me. With the main path blocked, I have to work my way around. More of the crystal enemies attack me from across the tangled trail. How I long for a shield. Before me stands one of the large creatures I saw in the village, preventing my way through the gate. My objective must be on the other side.
I slowly and carefully whittle him down, avoiding the swings of his sword. Once I take him down, I consider taking his sword for myself, but it's too large for my hands. Hidden behind the bushes is a narrow path leading to a lever. I put my weight into the mechanism, throwing the lever and dropping the gate.
Discovery: Mechanical levers like this will operate nearby contraptions such as doors. Make them a priority, but activating them seems to take some time. Be careful.
Weaving my way through the shrubs, I come to my prize. A sword, in fantastic condition, and perfectly suited for me! I mentally thank the statue, noting that it bears an even closer resemblance to me than the previous ones I've seen. Picking up the sword, I take it into my grasp and give it some test swings. As expected, it clears the bushes away with ease.
Revised Goal: Explore the forest and find a path to the golden bell.
With fewer barriers in my way, I return to the goddess statue to heal and decide to take the time to explore this forest with greater curiosity. Climbing onto the roof of a nearby building, I attempt to fight off a pair of basic guards. Behind them stands a greater threat, taller, with a giant shield. While attempting to dispatch the smaller foes, I wander too close to the foe in the green mantle. He skewers me, and I fall to the ground... My last thoughts are... It was a good run.
I awaken, finding myself once again in a ghostly form. I seem to be in the same place as last time, where I first saw the goddess. Confused, and fighting a feeling of hopelessness, I take the long path before me, though it is admittedly shorter than last time. At the end, a familiar void, a deceptive dead end. Beyond it, the goddess waits again. She seems to be in prayer. Approaching her, she reaches out to me and imbues me with colored light. My vision again fades, and I awake at the nearby statue. I note that her likeness is also praying.
Looking around, and checking over myself, I seem to once again be healthy. Opening my booklet, I turn to the golden door on page 10 again. "Some say it is the power to defy death." This line jumps out at me. Does the goddess hold this power? Did she bring me back to life?
Discovery: I cannot die. When I die, I return to life at a nearby statue.
Shaking off the daze of having been literally killed and returned to life, I push aside my curiosity towards this great treasure. Before me is the path I must travel. The page says my next task has something to do with a Guard Captain. I hope that isn't the guy in green, I don't think I can win. However, I do think I could circle around him.
Returning to where I fell, in an attempt to bypass the threat, I notice a faded version of myself at his feet. Something urges me to touch the mysterious presence, where it then erupts with a burst of light, dazing my foe, causing him to drop his shield, and even showering the ground with a bit of shiny treasure! Feeling brazen with the loss of his shield, I attempt to fight off this foe a second time. A single blow from him brings me to the edge of death yet again.
...Perhaps not.
Discovery: My "corpse" can apparently be used as a weapon, though perhaps not a very strong one.
I escape around the corner and check what lies beyond. At least he does not follow me. A treasure lies in wait with some strange object, perhaps meant to ignited. Hard to say, but with so few, I think I will save them for now. Below me, I catch a glint of another chest. Is there a way to it? There's no ladder, so maybe there was something else I missed.
I return to the area's lower section, avoiding the powerful green guard along, and of course resting along the way. Locking onto my slimy foe, I notice the way the view shifts. This gives me a better view of the chest. Surely...
I check even closer. It seems there was a hidden path in the shadows, leading to the chest. I must be vigilant about my surroundings!
Discovery: Some paths are hard to see. Hold the lock-on button to get a different view.
I enter the nearby building continuing my exploration. Guardhouse Rwo, my memory tells me. Descending to the bottom, I consider what I just learned. A suspicious path leads behind the pillars. Perhaps something is to be found behind there. Sure enough, my suspicions were confirmed, and I found some blue liquid inside a jar. A mana potion perhaps? Or something else... A mystery for another time, as there's no need to be wasteful.
Outside, a large golden monument appears to be broken. I wonder what it was supposed to be for. It must have been an amazing sight when it was whole. There's also a mounted hook, clearly something I lack the tools for. But here, a few chests. Inside the first one is -- ahh! An ambush! The item I looted looks explosive, and there are six of them! Surely this would be a good time to use one or two. I attempt to access my pockets to make use of them but I'm left completely vulnerable. It doesn't look like it's a good idea to change around my items while there are enemies.
Discovery: Time doesn't stop when accessing the inventory.
Still, these spiders kept their distance long enough for me to prep these firecrackers. I light one and try throwing it at the enemies, expecting it to immediately explode. It rolls right past them and manages to only kill one with its explosion. Gathering them together and anticipating the results, this time I throw one into the thick of them, and clear away all but one. A useful item against a large number of foes, but will likely be less useful against quicker enemies.
Discovery: Firecrackers are thrown a distance and will explode after a delay.
Now to reach that other chest. I look around for a secret path and find it by where I entered the field. Looping around, I open the chest and am given a large coin with a very familiar face on it. Mysterious.
Following the path further, I find myself back in the East Forest. It looks as though I could have reached this area all along, had I known it was there. Fascinating.
Discovery: There are paths that exist which are extremely well-hidden. Keep track of them when you find them.
Another chest, this one with a piece of red food inside. It's almost certainly a healing item, but I don't need to eat it right at this moment. However, I do take the time to make them easy to access. To my side, I see another telescope. I seek out a path to the tool, hoping it will help me spot more secrets.
Putting my hand to the wall, a staple of maze traversal, I wrap my way around and enter a less obvious path into the trees. Looking through the spyglass, I see a gated door, likely a place of importance. I make it my next destination.
New Goal: Open the gated doorway.
Turning to the last place to explore on the lower level, I enter into Guardhouse One, and find a ladder against the wall. Climbing it, I head outside and find an important looking treasure chest. Inside, a bottle, filled with red. I know immediately how to use it.
Discovery: Potions can be used with RB, restoring my health.
After using the potion, I begin my ascent towards the closed gate. On the way there, I take moderate damage, but not enough that I worry. Throwing the lever at the top, the gate drops and I head inside. I find another lever. This time, instead of opening a gate, a sort of ladder appears in the wall below me, granting a new form of passage.
Discovery: There are shortcuts you can unlock to make backtracking easier, keep an eye open!
Searching the room for treasure, I find some broken shards. Still, they feel important, so I pocket them.
I then take the time to head back to the statue before pushing deeper, benefiting from the new shortcut. After resting, I notice that my path is once again barred by the foes I just slew. Is this magic or are there just dozens of these creatures hiding deeper in the woods, waiting to re-emerge and continue their endless patrols?
Discovery: Using a statue will respawn enemies.
Running past them and returning to Guardhouse One, I climb the ladder and enter the door where I am met with a bulky looking horned fellow. He quite clearly matches the illustration in the booklet. Behind him, another barred gateway. To get through, and reach the bell tower, I will have to best this foe.
Two mis-timed dodges, two powerful hits to my tiny frame. I fall before him. Perhaps there's something I missed? Should I be elsewhere? No, there's no way to return, I can only press forward. Awakening at the statue, I run quickly back to fight the Captain once more.
Stunning him with my 'ghost', I throw a firecracker to his feet, instantly slaying the smaller foe and critically wounding the Captain. A few simple swings of my sword later, he easily falls. Strategy is going to be vital moving forward. Throwing the lever, I proceed through the hall and am granted another potion bottle. I then begin a long ascent.
Out I exit to the balcony, where the golden bell awaits. Examining it, it implies I should strike it to ring it. I lift my sword into the air and smack the side of it into the tuning-fork shaped monument. With resounding fanfare, the room alights in a dance of magic, and I find myself one large step closer to unlocking the golden door.
Making sure not to miss the treasure hiding behind the bell, I drop the rope and climb down. Just before the exit, I notice some shrubs against the wall. Light pours through the opening behind them. Curious, I poke my head out and find a treasure with a small packet of crystals or powder.
Next to me is a ladder. Climbing it, I find myself unable to progress any further. Before I turn around, my eyes are drawn to an obelisk. Its design strongly resembles the one found on the golden door. It is adorned with the tri-colored motif that was present during my first vision with the goddess. How curious... I cannot reach it, however, so after making a simple note of this strange contraption, I return to the Belltower and then to the open area I first awoke in.
Current Goals
✔Enter and explore East Forest.
✔Seek the sword found at the Hero's Grave.
✔Explore the forest and find a path to the golden bell.
✔Open the gated doorway.
✔Ring the East Belltower.
★ Head west after obtaining a sword and investigate the town.
★ Reach the glowing object on the gold panel in town.
★ Ring the two bells to open the golden door and obtain the treasure and/or rescue the goddess.
Author's Notes: This has been a fun writing exercise so far. Uploads will probably be sporadic, as it's ended up being a lot more work than I expected. Next up, we visit the village and make our way to the West Belltower.
Thumbnail created using the press kit's wallpaper and logo. The custom text contains a secret.
Search Tags: Zelda Link mystery mysteries explore exploring exploration gameguide walkthrough help steam psychology psychological island ruin ruins "the heir" vixen foxy foxes offering offerings secret secrets quest adventure
|| >> Start Here << || <<< Previous Part | Next Part >>> ||
TUNIC: A Narrative Guide
Part 2 - Seeking a Sword
This seems to be the East Belltower. The place is overgrown and ancient. Immediately I spot another page, beneath a tall statue. Quickly dispatching my foes, I grab it and explore its contents.
New Item: Page 12/13
Page Analysis: #12 - "???"
What's described before me seem to be the... controls..? My mind feels some sort of distant connection to this. I see lock on, I see the button I use for inventory, for movement... Apparently, there's also a shield and some potions to be found. There's buttons for the sword and I guess for other actions. And then there's the A button. It seems to do multiple things. See more on page 13? That should be the back of this very page.
Page Analysis: #13 - "A Button(?)"
Images of a sign, of rolling, of running. I suppose if I had not been so eager to experiment when I awoke, this would be more useful. There's also something else of value, with a reference to page 24, but I can't learn anything further for now. Alright, back to exploring.
Up the stairs, I see one of my goals. A bell, large and gold. But the rope to access it is unreachable. I will have to go around. Such an easy task, thwarted by my small stature. If only I was as big as the fox of my vision.
New Goal: Find a way to reach the golden bell.
Around the corner, I find a hole, but the ladder leading down seems to be broken. If I go down here, I won't be able to return for a while. It can't be helped. I press on. Another statue calls to me. Another strangely empty chest, too.
The East Forest, at last. The foliage is dense and verdant. Now to find the Hero's Grave. I follow the signs laid out before me, eager to claim a sharp weapon, to be able to better dispatch the foes that seek to harm me. Exploring the rest can wait! Along the way, a new type of foe, seemingly made of crystal. It shoots parts of itself at me, forcing me to weave and dodge.
Another statue, best to stay healthy. Ah, excellent, a new page, resting upon another golden square. These truly seem to be places of significance, though not all have held a prize atop them.
New Item: Page 14/15
Page Analysis: #14 - "Left Trigger Button(?)"
This page seems to be explaining the lock-on system. Dodge, shield... was there a shield I was supposed to have found by now? I could definitely use one... But not much else here.
Page Analysis: #15 - "Understanding Stamina Points"
Stamina-points, stamina-points... Attack without stamina... Oh hey, a moment of protection during the dodge roll. "Check for Dust"? So, I'm invulnerable while there's dust? Okay. This stability part seems a little more confusing, though. It's talking about HP, too. I'll do my best to stay healthy, count on it!
Another sign pointing me forward, another path twisting with danger. I dispatch some vicious, large slime balls. They nearly get the better of me. With the main path blocked, I have to work my way around. More of the crystal enemies attack me from across the tangled trail. How I long for a shield. Before me stands one of the large creatures I saw in the village, preventing my way through the gate. My objective must be on the other side.
I slowly and carefully whittle him down, avoiding the swings of his sword. Once I take him down, I consider taking his sword for myself, but it's too large for my hands. Hidden behind the bushes is a narrow path leading to a lever. I put my weight into the mechanism, throwing the lever and dropping the gate.
Discovery: Mechanical levers like this will operate nearby contraptions such as doors. Make them a priority, but activating them seems to take some time. Be careful.
Weaving my way through the shrubs, I come to my prize. A sword, in fantastic condition, and perfectly suited for me! I mentally thank the statue, noting that it bears an even closer resemblance to me than the previous ones I've seen. Picking up the sword, I take it into my grasp and give it some test swings. As expected, it clears the bushes away with ease.
New Item: Sword
Revised Goal: Explore the forest and find a path to the golden bell.
With fewer barriers in my way, I return to the goddess statue to heal and decide to take the time to explore this forest with greater curiosity. Climbing onto the roof of a nearby building, I attempt to fight off a pair of basic guards. Behind them stands a greater threat, taller, with a giant shield. While attempting to dispatch the smaller foes, I wander too close to the foe in the green mantle. He skewers me, and I fall to the ground... My last thoughts are... It was a good run.
I awaken, finding myself once again in a ghostly form. I seem to be in the same place as last time, where I first saw the goddess. Confused, and fighting a feeling of hopelessness, I take the long path before me, though it is admittedly shorter than last time. At the end, a familiar void, a deceptive dead end. Beyond it, the goddess waits again. She seems to be in prayer. Approaching her, she reaches out to me and imbues me with colored light. My vision again fades, and I awake at the nearby statue. I note that her likeness is also praying.
Looking around, and checking over myself, I seem to once again be healthy. Opening my booklet, I turn to the golden door on page 10 again. "Some say it is the power to defy death." This line jumps out at me. Does the goddess hold this power? Did she bring me back to life?
Discovery: I cannot die. When I die, I return to life at a nearby statue.
Shaking off the daze of having been literally killed and returned to life, I push aside my curiosity towards this great treasure. Before me is the path I must travel. The page says my next task has something to do with a Guard Captain. I hope that isn't the guy in green, I don't think I can win. However, I do think I could circle around him.
Returning to where I fell, in an attempt to bypass the threat, I notice a faded version of myself at his feet. Something urges me to touch the mysterious presence, where it then erupts with a burst of light, dazing my foe, causing him to drop his shield, and even showering the ground with a bit of shiny treasure! Feeling brazen with the loss of his shield, I attempt to fight off this foe a second time. A single blow from him brings me to the edge of death yet again.
...Perhaps not.
Discovery: My "corpse" can apparently be used as a weapon, though perhaps not a very strong one.
I escape around the corner and check what lies beyond. At least he does not follow me. A treasure lies in wait with some strange object, perhaps meant to ignited. Hard to say, but with so few, I think I will save them for now. Below me, I catch a glint of another chest. Is there a way to it? There's no ladder, so maybe there was something else I missed.
I return to the area's lower section, avoiding the powerful green guard along, and of course resting along the way. Locking onto my slimy foe, I notice the way the view shifts. This gives me a better view of the chest. Surely...
I check even closer. It seems there was a hidden path in the shadows, leading to the chest. I must be vigilant about my surroundings!
Discovery: Some paths are hard to see. Hold the lock-on button to get a different view.
I enter the nearby building continuing my exploration. Guardhouse Rwo, my memory tells me. Descending to the bottom, I consider what I just learned. A suspicious path leads behind the pillars. Perhaps something is to be found behind there. Sure enough, my suspicions were confirmed, and I found some blue liquid inside a jar. A mana potion perhaps? Or something else... A mystery for another time, as there's no need to be wasteful.
Outside, a large golden monument appears to be broken. I wonder what it was supposed to be for. It must have been an amazing sight when it was whole. There's also a mounted hook, clearly something I lack the tools for. But here, a few chests. Inside the first one is -- ahh! An ambush! The item I looted looks explosive, and there are six of them! Surely this would be a good time to use one or two. I attempt to access my pockets to make use of them but I'm left completely vulnerable. It doesn't look like it's a good idea to change around my items while there are enemies.
Discovery: Time doesn't stop when accessing the inventory.
Still, these spiders kept their distance long enough for me to prep these firecrackers. I light one and try throwing it at the enemies, expecting it to immediately explode. It rolls right past them and manages to only kill one with its explosion. Gathering them together and anticipating the results, this time I throw one into the thick of them, and clear away all but one. A useful item against a large number of foes, but will likely be less useful against quicker enemies.
Discovery: Firecrackers are thrown a distance and will explode after a delay.
Now to reach that other chest. I look around for a secret path and find it by where I entered the field. Looping around, I open the chest and am given a large coin with a very familiar face on it. Mysterious.
New Item: "Coin" #1
Following the path further, I find myself back in the East Forest. It looks as though I could have reached this area all along, had I known it was there. Fascinating.
Discovery: There are paths that exist which are extremely well-hidden. Keep track of them when you find them.
Another chest, this one with a piece of red food inside. It's almost certainly a healing item, but I don't need to eat it right at this moment. However, I do take the time to make them easy to access. To my side, I see another telescope. I seek out a path to the tool, hoping it will help me spot more secrets.
Putting my hand to the wall, a staple of maze traversal, I wrap my way around and enter a less obvious path into the trees. Looking through the spyglass, I see a gated door, likely a place of importance. I make it my next destination.
New Goal: Open the gated doorway.
Turning to the last place to explore on the lower level, I enter into Guardhouse One, and find a ladder against the wall. Climbing it, I head outside and find an important looking treasure chest. Inside, a bottle, filled with red. I know immediately how to use it.
New Item: Potion #1
Discovery: Potions can be used with RB, restoring my health.
After using the potion, I begin my ascent towards the closed gate. On the way there, I take moderate damage, but not enough that I worry. Throwing the lever at the top, the gate drops and I head inside. I find another lever. This time, instead of opening a gate, a sort of ladder appears in the wall below me, granting a new form of passage.
Discovery: There are shortcuts you can unlock to make backtracking easier, keep an eye open!
Searching the room for treasure, I find some broken shards. Still, they feel important, so I pocket them.
New Item: "Shards" #1
I then take the time to head back to the statue before pushing deeper, benefiting from the new shortcut. After resting, I notice that my path is once again barred by the foes I just slew. Is this magic or are there just dozens of these creatures hiding deeper in the woods, waiting to re-emerge and continue their endless patrols?
Discovery: Using a statue will respawn enemies.
Running past them and returning to Guardhouse One, I climb the ladder and enter the door where I am met with a bulky looking horned fellow. He quite clearly matches the illustration in the booklet. Behind him, another barred gateway. To get through, and reach the bell tower, I will have to best this foe.
Two mis-timed dodges, two powerful hits to my tiny frame. I fall before him. Perhaps there's something I missed? Should I be elsewhere? No, there's no way to return, I can only press forward. Awakening at the statue, I run quickly back to fight the Captain once more.
Stunning him with my 'ghost', I throw a firecracker to his feet, instantly slaying the smaller foe and critically wounding the Captain. A few simple swings of my sword later, he easily falls. Strategy is going to be vital moving forward. Throwing the lever, I proceed through the hall and am granted another potion bottle. I then begin a long ascent.
New Item: Potion #2
Out I exit to the balcony, where the golden bell awaits. Examining it, it implies I should strike it to ring it. I lift my sword into the air and smack the side of it into the tuning-fork shaped monument. With resounding fanfare, the room alights in a dance of magic, and I find myself one large step closer to unlocking the golden door.
Major Goal Complete: Ring the East Belltower
Making sure not to miss the treasure hiding behind the bell, I drop the rope and climb down. Just before the exit, I notice some shrubs against the wall. Light pours through the opening behind them. Curious, I poke my head out and find a treasure with a small packet of crystals or powder.
New Item: "Powder" #1
Next to me is a ladder. Climbing it, I find myself unable to progress any further. Before I turn around, my eyes are drawn to an obelisk. Its design strongly resembles the one found on the golden door. It is adorned with the tri-colored motif that was present during my first vision with the goddess. How curious... I cannot reach it, however, so after making a simple note of this strange contraption, I return to the Belltower and then to the open area I first awoke in.
Current Goals
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
★ Head west after obtaining a sword and investigate the town.
★ Reach the glowing object on the gold panel in town.
★ Ring the two bells to open the golden door and obtain the treasure and/or rescue the goddess.
|| >> Start Here << || <<< Previous Part | Next Part >>> ||
Author's Notes: This has been a fun writing exercise so far. Uploads will probably be sporadic, as it's ended up being a lot more work than I expected. Next up, we visit the village and make our way to the West Belltower.
Thumbnail created using the press kit's wallpaper and logo. The custom text contains a secret.
Search Tags: Zelda Link mystery mysteries explore exploring exploration gameguide walkthrough help steam psychology psychological island ruin ruins "the heir" vixen foxy foxes offering offerings secret secrets quest adventure
Category Story / Tutorials
Species Red Fox
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File Size 229.6 kB
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