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TUNIC Narrative Guide - Act 2: The Questagons (2/3)
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 - experience with the game is highly recommended. While this work is primarily an introspection on the world of TUNIC, it can also be used as a game guide to help you with your own discoveries.
I highly recommend playing this game, and if the early portions of this tale can help pull you into the mysterious world, you'll absolutely love experiencing it first-hand. Be warned: Act 2 and beyond have substantial spoilers as the game grows in scope, and discovery is an important part of what makes TUNIC an amazing adventure.
TUNIC: A Narrative Guide
I activate the checkpoint and then return to the middle area of the study. I want to claim the enshrined pages, but I am dismayed to find them still locked away. Tapping my sword against the glass, a crack begins to form. It seems what holds them is surprisingly fragile. I swing my sword and break the first page free from its confines, and take my time in looking it over.
A new map page showing quite the large area. It connects to the "Boss of the Scavengers" page, which mentions the blue hexagonal key. After I claim the green key, this should be my next destination. Within the region, there are some landmarks labeled.
At one end, the Monastery. In front of it, something called the Cavity? In this corner, there's a Gun to be found. At the bottom, the Lower Miasma. The page also mentions the Rooted Ziggurat, which is where the blue hexagon is likely to be found. However, there is nothing being pointed to by this section. I will have to explore and trust my instincts.
New Goal: Reach and explore the Quarry.
The other half of the page is a map for the Swamp, subtitled the Old Burying Ground. Basically, the graveyard. "This zone is extremely dangerous and is best left alone, even if you're feeling brave. Only ghosts are permitted to enter the Inner Grounds." That's foreboding.
Enemies include Fleemer skeletons, Phrends - oh hey, so that's what the floating skulls are called, - and Lost Echoes. I see a Hero's Grave teleporter, a shop... Overall, nothing seems relevant to my current quest.
Next page! I smash the glass and add it to my booklet.
Continuing from the last location, we have a map for the Cathedral. This is likely the big building shown on the last page. It shows many points of interest, none of which can be understood. There's also some sort of item at the bottom. "Legend says, wearing this allows you to do something extraordinary." Neat.
On the back, I see the many teleportation points depicted. This appears to be a map to that ghostly world. I recognize most of them, including the one I just found. However, one is unfamiliar, and two are missing.
The unfamiliar one is the Quarry. I'm sure I'll be reaching that area soon. The two missing ones are the strange mechanical room, and the one that I found in East Forest towards the start of my quest.
Last page! Smash!
I recognize this place by the snow. I found a page in front of it. Picture-me seems just as perplexed as I was. Nothing can be learned from this.
Ah! Right! Page 51! It indeed had a list of all of the cards. Unfortunately, it lacks any descriptions. There's a few notes drawn in the blank space, but it's not nearly as informative as I had hoped it would be. On the bright side, I now know the official names of each of the cards I had previously picked up.
Also, there's a random block in the corner that is telling me to be quiet, something about 60 seconds. I don't think it has anything to do with the cards, though.
I take a moment to look through my inventory and identify what each of my cards actually are.
#1 - "Halo Fox" -> Louder Echo, #2 - "Sword, Ring" -> Orange Peril Ring, #3 - I already learned this one was the Cyan Peril Ring, #4 - Lucky Cup, #5 - "Bracer/Vest" -> Bracer, #6 - Muffling Bell, #7 - "Halo with Wings" -> Anklet, #8 - "Aromatic Glass" -> Tincture, #9 - "Halo Fox #2" -> Magic Echo.
The haloed foxes likely affect my echo-of-self. The Bracer seems to affect my stamina drain when using the shield. The Tincture increases my attack and decreases my defense. The last one, the Anklet, likely affects my movement.
Satisfied, I explore the rest of the study, glancing at the various blackboards. One depicts the strange robots I've been seeing, including the one that was carrying tea. Another shows a diagram of the Autobolt. The last one has me as confused as the author. It shows a square, notched book. I haven't seen anything like it in this world.
With my curiosity thoroughly satiated, I turn my attention to the lone exit to the room. A ladder ascends to the ceiling, taking me further aloft. The passage narrows, and stretches on for what feels like ages. As my arms begin to tire, light strikes the wall above me. The path brings me outside, where clouds stretch as far as my eyes can see...
Current Goals
✔Enter and explore the Frog's Domain.
✔Claim the Magic Orb.
✔Find a way to enter the floating building.
★ Recover the green key, stolen to the top of the sky.
★ Reach and explore the Quarry.
★ Recover the blue key, sealed at the root of the world.
★ Take the three keys to the sealed temple altars.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
★ Explore the dangerous cave on the beach. (Eventually.)
I climb and climb, eventually coming to the small roof of this grand library. There, a tall canid faces away from me, staring off into the distance. My intuition tells me it is the owner of the study. The scholar who has been doing endless research into this land. I call out to him, and he ignores me.
Walking up behind him, I tug on his white cape. If we could only talk, I could learn about where I came from, and what happened to the goddess. His response is a burst of anger. His words and mine, they're unable to connect. He spins around, the black hair on his head swishes in the chilling breeze. The sword in his hand, adorned with the pattern of the three hexagons, and likely a very powerful relic, glows with void energy.
His black fur, shining in the sun, seems to vanish before me as a storm rolls in and blots out the sky. Rain begins to fall in mere moments, and the Librarian channels energy into his cape and takes flight. With a slash of his sword, a dark fire coats the platform, and combat ensues.
He lunges towards me, and I roll to the side. He channels a beam with his blade and attempts to incinerate me. In all this time, he has stayed out of my reach. I take hold of the Magic Orb and attempt to lasso him to my side. As I do so, he raises his blade to the sky and it is struck by thunder. I pull him close, but he vanishes with a flash. Moments later, the air around me crackles and he descends from the sky with a grand stab.
I attempt to strike him from behind, but the electricity emanating from him knocks me back. As it fades, I try again, finally managing to deal a clean strike. I lament the fact that we must fight, as he may be the first person other than the goddess who might understand me, relate to me. His next attack is a trio of void-balls, which I sidestep in turn. I try again to pull him close, but he resists my pull and summons a group of void Rudelings.
When they fall, they leave behind mana, which normal Rudelings do not do. I collect it and replenish my spent spirit. He launches another void attack, this one sending a crescent across the arena. I dodge it and, with the potential to recover my mana in this battle, squeeze the Magic Orb twice. Finally, he is in range of my sword, tiny as it may be.
We trade blows, and he floats away again. Summoning void-balls, their number has increased. Four surround me, and their rhythm deceives me, leaving me wounded. As I drink a potion, the scholar raises his blade and vanishes into the sky. The ground sparks, and I run to the edge.
I work in a few more strikes, and strike his back with a few fire bolts as he retreats. My attempt to pull him back fails, and he divides the platform in two with a trail of void-fire. At the same time, he summons a swarm of Phrends, even more voidlike than the usual variety.
Claiming their mana, I keep an eye on the Librarian. He emits another beam, but I let my guard down as he sweeps it across the roof. Another potion, another two thrashes of my Magic Orb. His orbs surround me and hit me several times, and I barely get a strike in. Frustrated by the uselessness of the tentacle grip, I pull out the Fire Rod and fire to the limit of my spirit.
While it leaves me drained, I finally dealt a solid blow to him in the process. More Phrends, and their strikes manage to deal critical damage. At the edge of death, I quaff another potion. Two remain. I recovered enough mana for another seven bolts, too.
Five void orbs, his attacks are increasing in ferocity. This time, they come all from one side. I avoid them, and narrowly miss a lunge as a glowing streak passes me by. He calls the lightning again, and strikes the platform. With mastered timing, I achieve critical damage as his electrical charge fades.
His crescent strike singes my fur, and I lash out with my Fire Rod. We are both weakened at this point. His void-fire pens me in and his next crescent slash hits me dead on. Once again on the edge of death, I drink my last two potions as I dodge his void-balls. His next attacks prove challenging to avoid, but I hold my own and strike out after a lunge.
A wave of void-balls surround me, and I take some more damage. He spawns a wave of Rudelings, granting me some precious mana, but he connects with a lunge as I work to finish them off. Another lightning strike, and it lands quicker than the others. Barely alive, I strike with a barrage of my Fire Rod.
This proves to be a fatal mistake. With my spirit spent, I realize that had I struck him with my sword first, I would have claimed victory. Instead, as I dodge a wave of six void-balls, he holds his distance and slashes twice with crescent attacks. I succeed in avoiding the first, but the second brushes along my back, cutting deep enough to bring me to the ground. I come close to sliding off the tower as my consciousness fades...
When I return to the roof, I find him standing once more against the edge, looking forlorn. I wonder how it is, from his perspective, to see me return once again. Am I revived through time travel? Is this an alternate dimension? Do they simply forget afterwards? Questions like these are impossible to answer, as I only exist to myself, and they only exist to themselves.
Setting aside philosophy, I know the Librarian to be a sure foe. With that in mind, instead of a simple tug on his cape, I approach him blade at the ready. I launch into a series of combos, cutting into his precious cape, slashing his black robe. By the time he takes flight, I've already claimed a solid advantage.
When he refuses to return to the roof, I begin singing his fur with my Fire Rod. After around ten shots, he summons some void-Rudelings to harass me. I thank him for the free mana, and coax them into a circle for easy slaughter. One eye on the scholar, I roll to dodge his crescent slash. Again, it manages to still strike my back. I refresh myself with a potion, and after sidestepping a wave of void-balls, I hit him with another ten fiery blasts.
My early lead is quickly lost, however, as I find myself tripping over my own tail. After the next wave of Rudelings, I chug a potion to recover. He claims two lightning strikes, and after each I strike his back. The blows land weakly, however, and the fight remains fairly even. Void-balls surround me twice, and as I dodge them, I strike at least ten more times with my rod. His crescent lands solidly, and I roll away with a limp. Third potion.
More fire bolts, a slash after his lunge, another failed dodge of his crescent, and my fourth potion is now used. At last my spirit is exhausted, but I have fallen behind in this race of magical artifacts. Redoubling my focus, I watch the Librarian closely for my next opening. A lightning strike. Two stabs to his back, until he rolls away and strikes me in mine.
He flies off and summons some friendly Phrends with their playful tentacles. I recover my mana, but his lunge hits me head on. For a moment, I think myself defeated, when I remember I still have one potion left. My Lucky Cup also rewards me with a heart from the dissolving energy carcass of the void-Phrend. Without that heart, I would have fallen before I had a chance to use my last potion. It was truly lucky, indeed.
I expend my mana with fire bolts, dodge a side wave of void-balls, chug that last potion, dodge yet another side wave of void-balls, and... am struck clean in the face by another lunge, despite plainly seeing it coming my way.
Both on our last breaths, I squeeze the last bit of my spirit through my Fire Rod to interrupt one of his crescent attacks. The fool summons more minions, not realizing it works to my advantage. The Phrends fall one by one as I focus intently on avoiding the scholar's final attacks. Before I can assail him with fiery doom, he claims one final lightning bolt and strikes at the library roof.
Stepping behind him, I wait for the energy to dissipate. One. Two. Three! My sword combo cuts through, and he falls face-first onto the cold and wet roof. Rifling through his pockets, I find the green key within, as well as a tidy sum of shinybits. It's not like he will need them anymore. Sadly, both his cape and his sword are too large for me to use, so I leave them behind.
With the last of my strength, I stumble down the long set of ladders and return to his study. After communing with the goddess, I kneel upon the teleporter and find myself in the ghostly world. As expected, the panel leading to the Quarry is still dark. I will have to explore by foot to find it. Thankfully, I have a new tool, and I remember seeing a fair share of hooks in the Overworld area.
I return to the Ruined Village and clear the area of foes. Goodness, if they don't come charging in from every direction. I open my map and think about where I have been, and where I might try searching. I've visited two locations to the east, including the Eastern Vault. I have been to the south, found the Southern Vault, and scoured the beach. To the west, a flooded marshy ruin, almost fully explored.
This leaves the north, the mountains sound like the proper place to find a quarry to begin with. I already visited the Mountain Door, and I don't remember any hooks or other pathways to take. It definitely isn't in the Sealed Temple. I explored all of the Dark Tomb. One other area in the north has a label. "Forbidden Pass" it says. It's that, or the answer really is with the Mountain Door.
Only so much can be done with just guessing. I close my map and head west. Along the way, I spot several metal poles. Right, that reminds me... There's a few things in this area that I can lay claim to now, and there was that dangerous cave that I ran from.
I whip a tuning fork, pulling myself to a chest with paltry rewards. I then grip the Autobolt beneath me, hack it to pieces, and drop down the ladder. Along the coast, another set of Autobolts that grant me mobility to another isolated island chest. Inside this one, I obtain a Golden Coin, the first in quite a while. I should take the two I hold to a well when I get the chance.
New Goal: Visit a well to toss my coins in.
Running along the fallen ruins to the east, I quickly come to the dangerous cave that was previously too daunting to consider exploring. Inside, I lasso the nearest Autobolt and make quick work of it, rolling away into the water. I take a few hits from the next, but my tentacled friend pulls me across the water and alongside the turret. Across the room, a third one fires on me, so I repeat my assault once more.
This chamber would have been a painful experience without this extra mobility. On a central platform, I find a chest. Behind it, a mural like a few that I've seen scattered around the land. Throwing open the lid, I discover a strange artifact. On the surface it appears to be an hourglass. Flipping it over, the sands remain locked in place. When nothing immediately happens, I consider how other tools I've found have worked.
Concentrating my spirit into the device, I find my thoughts accelerating. Everything around me seems to slow down, leaving me more time to react. Unfortunately, my own body does not move any faster. When I roll, it feels like it takes ages to return to my feet. When I run, I feel like I am crawling. After a short while, or was it a long while, I stop channeling into the magic apparatus. Into my bags it goes, but I don't expect to find any use for something like this.
Outside, I decide to further experiment with my Magic Orb. After pulling myself up, I see if I can remove the Envoy's shield. Instead, I pull the Envoy to me, and he runs back to guard his precious spot, long since devoid of the key that was once there. I climb to the higher ledge and try again. He runs along the staircase as soon as he is able, and I can't help but laugh at the fervent stupidity the foxfolk is showing.
Once more, I pull him up, standing in his way entirely. This leaves him open to an easy defeat, and I earn a hefty purse for my efforts. While I'm here, I try to lasso the stranded page within the fountain. This, of course, does nothing, leaving it as a continued mystery.
Up the path, a convenient well. Pulling out my two coins, I toss them both in. When the sixth coin splashes to the bottom, I am gifted a new "slot" for my cards. I equip the Anklet, and am happy to find that I am slightly more nimble. It's not much, but it still feels nice.
When I stop by the goddess statue to rest, I check to see if I can afford to offer the strange powder. With 1500 total bits, I send 1000 of them along with the offering, bolstering the healing power of my potions. With all of that out of the way, I'm ready to go check the area labeled Forbidden Pass.
Weaving past the Old Well, I spot a chest I neglected with a bit more shinies in it. At the edge of the path, I spot an Envoy hanging out along a precarious ledge. With a wicked grin, I channel my Magic Orb and the tentacle friend reaches out and yanks the unsuspecting halfwit over the edge and into the water below.
My eyes catch sight of a chest. Stealing from the nearby Rudelings, I then lasso the two-tined pole and plunder the golden container. Inside, a new card. This one is the Inverted Ash card. It seems to depict a potion bottle, but I'm quite happy with my current cards so I shove it in with my collection and look around.
At the back, a ladder leads me behind this locked gate. I never did check the sign, come to think of it. The path seems to continue on in the distance, but the two ladders leading upwards also call to me. With a whip, I pull myself over the wall and read the sign. Danger. Ho, to danger! But first, a little trip up these ladders. Here, I find a flower offering. I give it a sniff, appreciating the mellow fragrance. It calms me some.
I return to the other side of the iron gate and head along the north-facing path. In the shadow of the mountain, I find an obelisk. It resides on an isolated island, one that I could not have reached without the Magic Orb. Had I come here any earlier, I would have been unable to supply power to anything ahead.
The path runs east and continues around, opening into a massive... Well, a massive quarry. The path I am on runs along a vast hollowed out chasm. To the south, a gigantic black pyramid stretches into the sky. For as high up as I am, the top of the pyramid reaches even higher. In the chasm, I see twisted metal towers, hunks of dark crystals, and a layer of heavy fog.
Along my path is another obelisk. It is placed even with the center of the black pyramid, and beckons for my holy touch to set it into place. With a prayer, it sinks into place and the power continues to flow. It forks into two directions, one further ahead, and the other down into the pit.
With a fierce rumble, the entrance to the mysterious building comes to life. Power courses through the panels that seal it, light dancing along the strange squares. With an otherworldly twirl, they disappear into nothingness, and all I can see is the power conduit trailing away into darkness.
I open my map and consult with the little bits of info I can understand. This feature isn't on my map, but it's obviously a very important location. If I had to guess, I would say the blue hexagon is within its walls. That would make it the Rooted Ziggurat. I need to find my way down so I can explore.
Revised Goal: Descend to the Rooted Ziggurat.
I return to the long trek across the bridge, and it appears that much of the structure has long since fallen away. Metal sheeting has been added to help it retain its ability to be used for traversal.
At the next bend, a goddess statue to rest at. While here, I offer up the health upgrade I just got. Beside it, a teleporter, but I already knew I would find that somewhere nearby. The power conduit ahead is... broken. Thankfully, it's not pouring out corrosive fluids, perhaps it is clogged? To my side, an elevator, but it's locked at the bottom with no controls up here. Such poor design.
Ahead, a trio of canid workers in masks. Two are hacking away at an obelisk. I spoke too soon about corrosive fluids, as this thing is absolutely seething with toxicity. What they are doing cannot be good, so I take out the first worker and engage with the next. In the mean time, my stomach churns and my head pounds. I start to lose my focus, and feel a deep depression clinging to my insides.
At the edge of my senses, I notice a beam pointed at me. I blink a few times, and think to dodge roll. An energy bolt blasts past where I just was. I hurry to kill the other sword wielder, but the one wielding the ranged weapon retreats into the corrosive field. It's at this time that I notice that, despite avoiding most of their strikes, I feel weak enough to fall to even a faint breeze. I retreat away from the obelisk, hoping the gun scavenger will move elsewhere. Instead, she takes aim from her spot and with nowhere to turn, the bullet fires and pierces me.
As I falter, I slip from the edge. On the long trip down, as my consciousness fades, I suddenly feel afraid for the first time since facing the Siege Engine. I've barely even set foot into the Quarry and already I've been soundly defeated. And who knows what other dangers await me further in. The map for this place was massive, as big as the Overworld!
As I watch the ground rushing up at me, I feel faint encroaching on my senses. Just before I hit the bottom, everything goes black.
Current Goals
✔Recover the green key, stolen to the top of the sky.
✔Explore the dangerous cave on the beach. (Eventually.)
✔Visit a well to toss my coins in.
★ Descend to the Rooted Ziggurat.
★ Recover the blue key, sealed at the root of the world.
★ Take the three keys to the sealed temple altars.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
When I awake at the statue, I feel renewed. The hopelessness has faded, and in its place is a determination. A drive to push forward. Checking my pockets, I remember about my Magic Orb. It these cowards are to keep running away, I'll have to use my new trinket to remedy that.
With a yank, I pull the first scavenger to me, felling him and kicking his body off the ledge. The gun-wielding scavenger to my left, I grip across and let her fall into the fog below. The last one alerts and races towards me. I step to where the gunfox was camped and attempt to dodge the heavy sword swings.
My legs are shaky, unsteady. His large sword moves slower than I anticipate, and I manage to take a strike, wind knocked out of me. I run further in and as he follows, I cleave him down. Following the conduit on the other side of the ruined obelisk, I spot a chest below and a scavenger above. I lash him to me and he runs off before the final blow lands. A Boom Bomb is thrown, and it whooshes past my ears with a sizzle.
Not standing for his evasion, I lash him again and then kick him off the edge. Another just like him stands in my way, and rather than waste my mana, I sneak up behind and get some early strikes in. The corrosive field of the destroyed obelisk nags at my brain, so I back away. A sword-wielder chases after me, easy prey. A grip to the grenadier and I'm again safe. Inside the broken obelisk is a black crystal. Is this what powers them? It seems to be generating power, but something feels slipshod, like the crystal was just placed in the middle of the empty husk.
Boxes are stacked over in the corner, and smashing them open reveals bleached bones. Whether they are of other scavengers, or if they were found in the rubble and being shipped for burial, I couldn't say. In the chest, some mana fruits. Those may actually come in handy, with as much as I'm needing to use my Magic Orb. Heading down, I have to circle around the large pillar to reach the chest. A few measly Boom Bombs.
I climb back up and attempt to follow the conduit, only to find it goes into a structure with no entrance. The drawbridge seems to be my only path, so I cross it and loot the chest. To my surprise, it's filled with something much better than these other treasures. It holds a pristine tooth, another offering for my goddess.
Just past, another grenadier. I try to sneak up on him, but he spots me and runs off. I try to chase after him, and he lobs a bomb in my direction. Taking a step back, I wait for the explosive to expire, when to my surprise, it blasts open a hole in the nearby wall! I give a halfhearted chase to the explosives maniac and he ducks behind a wall while throwing another bomb. The thing bounces off the corner and falls to the ground behind him. With a loud pop, he falls to the ground, no longer a threat. Hah.
Inside the revealed alcove, I'm gifted with several more mana fruits. Not the biggest haul, but still appreciated. The real question is, how would I have ever found this without such a lucky happenstance? Nearby, among the stone, someone has placed some white flowers. Now that I am looking, they are very out-of-place. They perfectly surround this secret. I hold this oddity in the back of my mind for future experimentation.
Ahead, two sword-scavengers hack away at an old mining machine. I try to take them out with stealth, and a bright beam levels itself on my chest. I try to block it with my shield, but fumble and get hit. I run behind a pillar and look around for my foe. As I'm hiding, a bomb explodes on the other side, knocking me back and leaving me heavily wounded.
With a swig of potion, I clear away the remaining heavyblade and grip the grenadier to my side. He tries to run, but I had him cornered. The lady with the gun comes within range and tries to let loose another round. We both attack at the same time, and she is pulled to me just after her bullet is launched. In the face of my pain, I clear the way and resume my exploration.
Chests abound in the shadows as I continue along the path. I come to another ranged foe and easily dispatch her with my Magic Orb. Along the wall are more dark crystals, exposed and radiating an unpleasant aura. Atop the scaffolding, a chest holds a new card. This one's the Aura's Gem. Some sort of modification for my shield, perhaps?
Down the spiral staircase, I work my way along the large structure crafted into the quarry wall. As I poke my nose into crevices looking for hidden treasure, I am ambushed by a giant sword. I take a heavy strike and retreat to get a better perspective on the sudden danger. Once in the open, I block his next strike with my shield and end his harassment.
Up ahead, a lever. It sets a stone ladder into the wall below. This gives me an easy way back to the checkpoint, and I do have a new offering to return. With a sprint, I return to the start to recharge, as well as improve my strength. On the way back, I notice with great pleasure that I only need two strikes to defeat a scavenger instead of three. No longer can the grenadiers run from my blade.
Behind the narrow staircase, I find a decoy. I haven't had a real need to use one yet, but I can imagine they are powerful with as few of them as I've been able to find. At the top, I sneak up on a gunfox and grip her to her demise. I ignore the sword-scavenger, leaving him to hack away at the dark crystal. The ground almost seems to boil from the energies being unleashed.
I spot a route up the snowy edges of the mountain, and at the top I find two chests. The first contains a Golden Coin, while the second is something I cannot access. I try to lash it with my Magic Orb's void tentacle, but it doesn't grab on. I can barely jump half my height, so that's out. I'll have to remember it exists and return another time.
On that same note, there's a checkpoint in the middle of this pond. No path exists that allows me to reach it. Whatever tool grants me access to the chest must also allow rest at this goddess statue. The Monastery lies before me, perhaps inside I will get a new magical item!
Inside, the state of this place is abhorrent. Pockets of dark void energies spill out all over, huge holes in the floor lead to a pool of roiling black fluid. Black crystals jut out from the dark water as though the fluid is solidifying like salt. No matter which way I try to pass, I am overcome with despair and a severe nausea.
Sprinting across a bridge, I try to avoid the worst of things. My haste alerts several sword-carrying scavengers and I try to take them out as quickly as possible. The poor obelisk they've been hacking at is barely standing. It remains functional, however, and its purple light spills out, casting a similar but different glow against the stone walls.
A gate blocks the way, with a lever on the ledge above. Across from me, I see a gun-wielder. With a friendly little wave, I stretch out the tentacle and snatch her across. One, two. Too easy. I realize that my spirit is drained, so I rifle through my pockets and consume my first mana fruit. Bitter, but very flavorful. I throw the lever and head into the next chamber.
Assembled against the walls are large piles of crates. Breaking them open in the hopes of treasure, I find hundreds of skeletons. With nothing hidden nearby, I continue my look around. There's cut pieces of conduit, and quite a few empty chests. In the back, by the path to the Hero's Grave, one remains closed. Prying it open, I discover a new card. Checking the list, it's apparently the Scavenger's Mask.
I swap out my Anklet and try it on. I'm now dressed like a scavenger. Unimpressed, I take it off and put the Anklet back on. What I have right now is fine. Climbing the ladder in the back, I take a rear exit and find my feet crunching powdery snow.
I drop the rope and wind my way along a river of snowmelt. The path branches, and I take the winding staircase that leads back the way I came. By the time I reach the top, I feel a little dizzy. On the roof of the Monastery, I find a collection of zen stones, or something of that nature. Behind them, a long staircase.
Following it, I find myself once again at the snowy peak, bitter cold air whipping around me. The large mountain door remains closed, and reminds me of what previously barred the way to the Rooted Ziggurat. I don't see any obelisks or power conduits, though, so my theory may not hold. Still, I am more surprised than I should be that such a path was hidden here. It seems that no matter how much I keep my eyes open, these secret paths continue to elude me.
Deciding there's nothing here for me, I return to the warmer climate of the flowing waterfalls below. After two dizzying staircases, I return to what could clearly be defined as the Quarry. As always, I check behind the waterfalls. Here, I obtain more potion fragments. This makes two-thirds.
Descending further, my head begins to throb, so I enter into what looks like a building. Rather than opening into a room, it remains a hall, and I come out into an earlier area. As I was saying, no matter how much I keep my eyes open...
I take the opportunity to return to the rest point. My headache is intense, and I feel quite weak. No surprises await me, and on the way back, I continue to grip and stab the greedy scavengers, a wave of destruction following me as I return to the glowing hallway path.
I end up drawing attention of one of the sword-scavengers, and he follows me through the pathway. On the other side, I block his attack, and underneath the grass he cut away I find a trio of flowers. With an absentminded slaying of my foe, I take note of my earlier suspicion. I don't see any grenadiers around to help me, so I rifle through my pockets and pull out a Boom Bomb of my own.
Lighting the fuse, I toss it on the ground by the seemingly-indestructible flowers. Expecting little, a flash of delight follows the flash of explosive. The wall crumbles away, and a chest is laid bare before me. Within, a pair of decoys.
Discovery: Flower arrangements can hold secrets, such as indicating destructible walls.
In the pit below, my headache returns with an inescapable ferocity. Pushing aside the discomfort, I continue to lash out at the scavengers, slaying them one by one. Weakness fills my body, hopelessness fills my soul. My spirit runs dry as I weave my way through crystals and mining equipment. My vision blurs, and I can hear a scavenger shouting from a distance, chasing after me.
I stumble, tripping on a metal plate in the ground. I turn around and see, through watery eyes, a beam aligning itself to my frail figure. I stare back blankly and with a bright flash, my vision fades.
When I awake by the goddess statue, I take a few deep breaths in an attempt to clear my head. Surely something is wrong. Nothing in my quest has felt that depressing and unreasonable. I flip through the pages of the booklet and think.
A simple question poses itself to me. Why do the scavengers all wear masks? Looking around, the answer becomes crystal clear. Though these crystals are anything but clear. They wear the masks in order to protect themselves from whatever this void stuff is emitting.
I dig through my growing collection of stuff and equip the Scavenger's Mask card. It may not be fashionable, but if I'm right... I walk down the path, lassoing the helpless scavengers to their doom. As the gun-wielder is pulled off the edge, I wave goodbye to her with an unseen smile. The mask doesn't make me into their ally, but as I approach the broken obelisk, I am relieved to discover my headache not returning.
Discovery: The Scavenger's Mask protects from the health drain effects of void energies.
Once again I attempt my trek into the lower quarry. Not only am I free of the headache and weakness, my vision remains unclouded aside from the lenses of the mask. I strategically work my way through the hoard of scavengers until I find myself in a clearing where three targets are placed at length. A shooting range for the gun nuts. Walking to the far end, I find a storage chest. Inside, a spare gun, unbound to any other spirit.
I give it a test fire with the last of my mana, and instead of hitting the distant target, I blast an arc around me. There's clearly something wrong with this one, no wonder it was stuffed in the chest. Still, it could come in handy.
Discovery: The Gun shoots wide, midrange blasts at the cost of mana.
Behind the stack of crates bundled past the targets, a hidden chest lies in wait. Within, I claim more potion fragments, allowing me to assemble another full potion bottle. This brings me to six total potions.
On the central path again, pass by several drilling machines and come to some railway tracks. They may have been in service at one time, but with several pieces flat out gone, it's unlikely they have seen use in years. I drop the drawbridge and claim the chest on the other side. Another wooden fox idol.
Pressed with a decision on which path will lead me further down, I spot a set of ladders as the likely avenue, as the second one ends abruptly marking a point of no return. With that in mind, I turn around and begin to explore the side paths. One one path, an effigy. On the other, bits and fruits. The last holds no treasure, but affords me a vantage point that allows me to wreak havoc on the hapless scavengers digging down below. Yank, slash slash.
Having exhausted my mana, I consume the bitter flesh of another mana fruit, stuffing it beneath my mask as I otherwise hold my breath. Leaping from the end of the ladder, I fall into a pile of gravel and get it stuck all throughout my bushy tail. When this is all over, a long and hot shower would be a blessing.
A few chests of shinies and an assortment of scavengers. I take back what I said about this place being so scary. I think that was this void stuff messing with my brain. It's actually been quite easy, aside from a few missteps on my part. I spot a path near the back that takes me into the final layer of the quarry.
Barriers are erected around the worksite, possibly to designate what area actually needs cleared. Down here, the tracks seem intact, functional. If I knew how to work the machinery, I'd take a ride around the place. Walking along the railway, noting a few places this direction that are in need of repair, I beam is suddenly cast upon my chest. I roll to the side and rush ahead to find the culprit.
What I find makes me laugh, with only a tiny bit of sadness. It's a wounded scavenger, her leg broken. Broken because of me. This is the one that I pulled across the abyss and left to fall to her death. I put her down, and the light fades from her eyes. I spot a side path with a chest of shiny bits hidden in the fog nearby a cart of black crystals.
As I prepare to go under the archway to the bridge above, I spot the bottom of the elevator that was previously inaccessible. Throwing a switch and riding it up, I rest with the goddess and offer her the small idol. With a deep breath, I return to the depths of the abyss, walk along the last stretch of railway, and steady myself to enter the intimidating black pyramid.
What I find is a technological marvel. Everything is perfectly geometrical, smooth and shiny. As I enter into a large chamber, I come across a scene of carnage. Several scavenger corpses line the path, and just beyond is the entrance to the Northern Vault, home of the blue hexagonal key. Its door is not just open, it's blown apart. A drilling machine protrudes from a side wall, evidence that they broke in well before I unlocked the front door.
On the other side, I expect to find another hexagon ring, another mechanism to hold the great key. Instead, I find a pedestal, a giant square, beneath a mural not unlike the rings of the goddess's prison. Stepping upon the platform, it churns and thuds before setting to motion.
With a lurch, the elevator descends, slowly at first, but gaining in speed. Down, down it goes, taking me through a corridor of darkness. When light again reaches my eyes, what I see leaves me breathless...
Current Goals
✔Descend to the Rooted Ziggurat.
★ Recover the blue key, sealed at the root of the world.
★ Take the three keys to the sealed temple altars.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
I am so stunned by the sights before me, that I feel words cannot do them justice. I see pillars as tall as mountains, corridors of light trailing through the air with unknown purpose, swarms of Fairies float about with fanciful purpose. The entire place radiates with a faint musical tune. It truly is beyond my comprehension.
The root of the world...
In order to get a better look, I remove my Scavenger's Mask. This place is massive and I am grateful to have the slight movement boost of the Anklet. My way forward is lined with guiding lights, but I have to be very careful not to fall off the edge. Some walkways are broken, but there's still a path forward.
On one of the paths, I spot a blue flame glowing at an altar. Walking over to it, I give it a cautionary sniff. It smells just like everything else in this place, with a vague tinge of void energies. Warmth emanates from it, soothing my soul. Actually, I'm reminded of the goddess statues.
Is that what this is? I stretch my arms and rest beside it, feeling refreshed afterwards. Part of me considers throwing myself from the ledge to test my theory, but I'm not feeling nearly that self destructive. Besides, I feel confident that this strange altar is channeling my connection to the goddess. The question is, why?
Discovery: The checkpoint statues in the Rooted Ziggurat look different, but function the same.
Did this area predate the surface I am familiar with? Or was this place made afterwards. I don't think I'm smart enough to figure that out. I can't even read most of what I'm finding! Setting aside the mystery, I press on. The paths on each side lead nowhere, and after confirming this I am ambushed by a migrating pack of Fairies. I blast each with a shot from my Fire Rod and restore my spirit with their remains.
Descending a ramp, the path forks. I check north and I see another of those strange switches up on a ledge. I try to hit it with a fire bolt, but it doesn't work. Nearby, I see a chest, and with a bit of fumbling I find my way up to it. Down the other path is a minefield. In each junction lurks an Autobolt, popping up to ambush me as I walk past.
I recklessly clear the way, with a rush of excitement in seeing how much stronger I've grown since my journey began. From the beachy shore of a tiny little island to a mechanical wonderland, reflecting on the difference is such an incredible rush. As I work my way around, I return to the switch, bash it with my sword, and then ignore the useless shortcut it created.
The main path comes to the top of a thick tower, coated in blue guiding lights. A ladder in front of me glows, calling for me to climb it. At the top, my progress is halted. No other path is available to me. An obelisk sits in the middle of the platform. Well, almost. It's a bit different looking.
Still, if the goddess statues are different down here, maybe the obelisks are, too. I approach it and begin to pray, when it suddenly changes shape. Legs sprout from its lower corners, and it begins to walk around the platform. With a loud buzz, a pattern begins to appear on the ground beneath it. The pattern grows brighter and radiates across the metal roof. As it alights under my feet, a jolt radiates through my fur and into my muscles. Ouch! The floor glows again and with a stomp, it radiates outwards a second time. I roll across the brightest spot, and manage to avoid the worst of the electrical zap.
Discovery: Glowing floor is painful! Roll across it to avoid damage.
It begins to crawl towards me, wedge appendages pulling it across the ground. When it nears, it lowers a set of wheels in its undercarriage and begins to spin around. The wedges drag against the surface, throwing sparks and threatening to slice anything that comes close. Backing away carefully, mindful of the ledge behind me, I continue to watch its movements. It stomps across, heading towards me, and then slams itself down on its side.
Its movements bring to mind the tea table in the grand library, and I realize that this is one of the many fallen robots that I saw within the Ruined Atoll and Frog's Domain. Except, this time, it isn't broken. It even feels newer somehow. Still, it will fall to my blade like everything else has before me. If the Siege Engine couldn't stop me, a tiny machine like this stands no chance.
I test my Magic Orb against this foe, and its weight proves too much for my tentacled tool. I am pulled to it, but this works out fine. Hacking away at its cubic frame, slashing at the tri-colored hexagonal eyes, I deal enough damage that it begins to overload. Expecting a large explosion, I back away to safety.
To my shock and annoyance, instead of exploding into a pile of scrap, the machine ejects its panels and reveals its inner core. A single thin pillar stands atop its base, with a glowing red lens tracking my movement. It has two limbs, both wielding glowing pink beams of pure energy. Snapping out of my stupor, I race in and employ a similar philosophy as I did when fighting the Siege Engine. Its blades seem designed to hit distant targets, not those that are underfoot.
After easily dodging several failed slashes, the machine responds by retreating to the edge. From there, it moves to swipe the entire rooftop, but I lash it with my Magic Orb. With half of its weight now scattered across the floor, it lifts into the air and is brought to my side. Here, I score some easy hits before it leaps away from my assault.
Before it can strike again, I pull out my Fire Rod and aim for its core. My blows strike true, breaking its limbs and crushing the red lens in the middle. As it overloads, I watch from a distance and await any explosions it decides to inflict in its death throes. Instead, the machine falls silent, and something within causes the joints to simply break apart into a pile of metal bars. I collect an assortment of blue bits from its remains, replenishing my spirit. To the south, the second ladder comes alive, and I begin a long and winding descent.
Whoever designed this building should be pushed off of it. After several ups and downs, I reach a doorway leading to an interior. The chest inside holds a decoy, and there's a clear vat with some bubbles gently rising from bottom to top, disappearing behind more machinery. With as much as the technology of this land reacts to my prayer, I kneel and see if it does anything. Nope.
On the walls, more ladders, but I seem unable to reach them. My Magic Orb doesn't pull me up to them, either. In the corner flooring, the light of another ladder calls my attention. It seems to be a maintenance hatch. The cramped corridors hold access to pipes, performing entirely unknown functions. In the interest of self-preservation, I refrain from hacking into them with my sword.
As I drop down into the next room, the hackles of my spine raise up with a shiver. Restrained inside a beam of energy is something familiar, but horrific. A void fox, not too unlike me, is held in place. Its limbs are skeletal, as though it lacks the concept of muscle and fat. Spines protrude from its joints, and its overly long neck cranes its head forward. It's so...
...Cool! What even is it? It's like it's made of concentrated energy, with the way it glows! Where's its tail? I try to say hello, and it ignores me. I channel a prayer, and it exits the trance it's in and begins to stare at me. It drifts in an uncontrolled circle, but its gaze tracks me as it turns.
I pull out my Fire Rod and shoot at the machine above it. When that fails, I try shooting the beast itself. Simply because I can. It does nothing, and with nothing else to do here, I continue on my quest. Another maintenance hatch in the corner leads to a small panel lined with purple light.
When I step upon it, a clunk come from below. The platform then begins a slow, slow descent through a place of wonder. When the edges of the elevator open from metal to glass, I am greeted with an endless blackness that my lantern fails in the face of. Within the darkness, a sea of clear fluid, and floating in that fluid are countless copies of the glowing skeletal foxes. Through the glass I hear a chorus of moans, tinged with an echo that transcends sound itself.
Soon, the elevator passes through this plane and into another metal chamber underneath. I can hear the rhythmic actions of machinery thudding at the end of the hall. The lights are dim, and as my platform settles into the floor, I trek slowly down the corridor.
Set into the wall is an opening for an assembly line. A void fox slides in from the left and stops in the center. From below, a metal base slides into place around the creature. More pieces drop down from above, until finally a capstone is placed to seal the container. With a radiating glow, the box is sealed, and before me stands a freshly created obelisk.
I stare in fascination as the next fox comes from up the conveyor belt. The gears turn in my head. Inside every obelisk is a creature of pure energy. These foxlike monstrosities are being harnessed for power. ... The mana bits. They come from my fallen foes. So when I pray at one and send it into the ground it... juices the contents.
Discovery: Obelisks contain void foxes which are destroyed and turned into energy fluid when activated.
If this had been the start of my journey, I'd probably be horrified by this revelation. Instead, I feel a sense of deep satisfaction. One of the great mysteries that had been churning between my fluffy ears has finally been laid to rest. Another fox comes down the conveyor belt.
As I look up at it, panic suddenly fills its eyes. The others had been docile to this point, but this one suddenly screams out, an eerie tenor permeating my very fibers. As the obelisk top is clamped into place, its scream is cut short. I realize that I've stopped breathing, and I respond with a sharp inhale. Suddenly having my fill of watching, I quickly turn towards the exit. Behind me, another piercing scream echoes out.
My path at last takes me outside. Who knows how far down I've traveled. My vision is temporarily blinded by the new scenery. When they adjust, I try to process the strange sight. On the other side of a mechanical altar is a rolling sea of pure energy. It's free of toxic emanations, and thus unlike the spilled pools in the Quarry or the Ruined Atoll. Whatever it is, it's truly pure.
After a short rest, I begin to look around. I see obelisks behind me, sliding along the conveyor belt, off to some unknown destination. By a chest of Boom Bombs lay a pair of deceased scavengers. On their bodies I see claw marks, but no beast in sight. Instead, I see the bays of several Autobolts on a small island. I lash myself to them, but strangely they do not stir. Even further, another pair alongside a chest.
Upon lashing to this second island, the whole grouping rises from the ground and opens fire. Their blasts barely tickle me. I claim the potion bottle from the chest, shocked to find another whole one after so long. For the longest time, it's only been broken fragments. That makes seven.
Leaving via a side path, I double back and spot a chest at the end of a broken bridge. Inside the chest is a single bit. I frown, and hear a clatter coming from behind me. It was a trap!
Out from the roiling sea come a pair of ... something! It's like a crab, or a spider, but also very alike the void foxes. However, these are inverted, and they definitely aren't foxlike. I take several blows and they seem to strike at my very soul. The brightness of their appendages blinds my vision and I strike out wildly in retaliation. With each attempted strike, they scuttle away, only to return moments later with vicious lunges.
I back away and manage to hack one enough that it falls apart. Imagine my surprise when the remnants coagulate into two smaller copies of the creature I just felled! With another pair of swipes, I manage to cleave one of these smaller ones, only to have it split in two as well. At this point I'm beginning to become surrounded! I flee, hoping that some are faster than others.
As I run back towards the entrance, yet another large brightling crawls from within this artificial sea. I run as quickly as my little legs will go, and as I run, I think. What can I do against such great numbers? I stumble onto the long bridge before the altar and dig through my giant bag of junk. All the while, the brightlings crawl closer. The bridge keeps them from swarming all at once, but there's be upon me any moment.
The Gun! Pulling it out and taking aim, I channel my spirit into the powerful apparatus. Its wide blast does an excellent job in shattering the ephemeral glue of my glowing pursuers. With only one potion used, I claim a sound victory. They even condensed into a large collection of mana bits. The Gun is absolutely the best tool for defending against them, despite its hefty drain on my soul.
Still, I recover at the altar, missing the visual connection with my goddess and only being able to call on a weak spiritual one. I feel so far from her. Having rested, the Autobolts have returned, and while fighting them another brightling crawls towards me from across the area. With a clumsy effort, I break it apart along with the turrets.
A bay of heavy machinery is ahead, its task likely to do with processing this giant vat of energy. Maybe this is what births the void foxes? I realize that for every mystery I solve, several more take its place. Soon I'll be attempting to solve the very meaning of life, at this rate. Two brightlings crawl up and I take out my frustrations on them, reeling from the knockback of my shotgun.
A potion restores my life, but I do notice that these guys leave me perpetually weakened. An obelisk passes me by, but my attention is quickly drawn away by a swarm of three brightlings. With a well-placed roll, I group them up and clear them away with a series of successive blasts. My sword finishes off any stragglers, and while I was close to death myself, I haven't felt worried once down here. Another potion restores me.
With some supplies claimed from the corners of the area, I say goodbye to the pumping equipment and reach another altar. Feeling renewed, I expend some of my pent-up energy by slashing wildly at the air. Taking a deep breath, I cross the double bridge in front of me.
Before me is a pair of box-bots and a half-sunken obelisk. Three conduits protrude from the center, leading out into the pseudo-sea. Thinking myself clever, I quietly sneak up to the obelisk and begin to pray. Both machines spring to life, and my way back folds itself away. Combat it is!
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Search Tags: Zelda Link mystery mysteries explore exploring exploration guide gameguide walkthrough help steam psychology psychological island ruin ruins ruination "the heir" vixen foxy foxes offering offerings secret secrets quest adventure magic magical
This story is intended as a companion piece to the video game TUNIC - experience with the game is highly recommended. While this work is primarily an introspection on the world of TUNIC, it can also be used as a game guide to help you with your own discoveries.
I highly recommend playing this game, and if the early portions of this tale can help pull you into the mysterious world, you'll absolutely love experiencing it first-hand. Be warned: Act 2 and beyond have substantial spoilers as the game grows in scope, and discovery is an important part of what makes TUNIC an amazing adventure.
TUNIC: A Narrative Guide
Act 1: The Awakening (1/2) | (2/2)
Act 2: The Questagons (1/3) | (2/3) | (3/3)
Act 3: The Heir (1/2) | (2/2)
Act 4: The Golden Path
Continued from Act 2: Part 3...I activate the checkpoint and then return to the middle area of the study. I want to claim the enshrined pages, but I am dismayed to find them still locked away. Tapping my sword against the glass, a crack begins to form. It seems what holds them is surprisingly fragile. I swing my sword and break the first page free from its confines, and take my time in looking it over.
New Item: Page 38/39Page Analysis: #38 - "The Quarry"
A new map page showing quite the large area. It connects to the "Boss of the Scavengers" page, which mentions the blue hexagonal key. After I claim the green key, this should be my next destination. Within the region, there are some landmarks labeled.
At one end, the Monastery. In front of it, something called the Cavity? In this corner, there's a Gun to be found. At the bottom, the Lower Miasma. The page also mentions the Rooted Ziggurat, which is where the blue hexagon is likely to be found. However, there is nothing being pointed to by this section. I will have to explore and trust my instincts.
New Goal: Reach and explore the Quarry.
Page Analysis: #39 - "The Swamp"
The other half of the page is a map for the Swamp, subtitled the Old Burying Ground. Basically, the graveyard. "This zone is extremely dangerous and is best left alone, even if you're feeling brave. Only ghosts are permitted to enter the Inner Grounds." That's foreboding.
Enemies include Fleemer skeletons, Phrends - oh hey, so that's what the floating skulls are called, - and Lost Echoes. I see a Hero's Grave teleporter, a shop... Overall, nothing seems relevant to my current quest.
Next page! I smash the glass and add it to my booklet.
New Item: Page 40/41Page Analysis: #40 - "The Cathedral"
Continuing from the last location, we have a map for the Cathedral. This is likely the big building shown on the last page. It shows many points of interest, none of which can be understood. There's also some sort of item at the bottom. "Legend says, wearing this allows you to do something extraordinary." Neat.
Page Analysis: #41 - "??? / The Other World"
On the back, I see the many teleportation points depicted. This appears to be a map to that ghostly world. I recognize most of them, including the one I just found. However, one is unfamiliar, and two are missing.
The unfamiliar one is the Quarry. I'm sure I'll be reaching that area soon. The two missing ones are the strange mechanical room, and the one that I found in East Forest towards the start of my quest.
Last page! Smash!
New Item: Page 50/51Page Analysis: #50 - "The Door in the Mountains"
I recognize this place by the snow. I found a page in front of it. Picture-me seems just as perplexed as I was. Nothing can be learned from this.
Page Analysis: #51 - "Cards"
Ah! Right! Page 51! It indeed had a list of all of the cards. Unfortunately, it lacks any descriptions. There's a few notes drawn in the blank space, but it's not nearly as informative as I had hoped it would be. On the bright side, I now know the official names of each of the cards I had previously picked up.
Also, there's a random block in the corner that is telling me to be quiet, something about 60 seconds. I don't think it has anything to do with the cards, though.
I take a moment to look through my inventory and identify what each of my cards actually are.
#1 - "Halo Fox" -> Louder Echo, #2 - "Sword, Ring" -> Orange Peril Ring, #3 - I already learned this one was the Cyan Peril Ring, #4 - Lucky Cup, #5 - "Bracer/Vest" -> Bracer, #6 - Muffling Bell, #7 - "Halo with Wings" -> Anklet, #8 - "Aromatic Glass" -> Tincture, #9 - "Halo Fox #2" -> Magic Echo.
The haloed foxes likely affect my echo-of-self. The Bracer seems to affect my stamina drain when using the shield. The Tincture increases my attack and decreases my defense. The last one, the Anklet, likely affects my movement.
Satisfied, I explore the rest of the study, glancing at the various blackboards. One depicts the strange robots I've been seeing, including the one that was carrying tea. Another shows a diagram of the Autobolt. The last one has me as confused as the author. It shows a square, notched book. I haven't seen anything like it in this world.
With my curiosity thoroughly satiated, I turn my attention to the lone exit to the room. A ladder ascends to the ceiling, taking me further aloft. The passage narrows, and stretches on for what feels like ages. As my arms begin to tire, light strikes the wall above me. The path brings me outside, where clouds stretch as far as my eyes can see...
Current Goals
✔
✔
✔
★ Recover the green key, stolen to the top of the sky.
★ Reach and explore the Quarry.
★ Recover the blue key, sealed at the root of the world.
★ Take the three keys to the sealed temple altars.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
★ Explore the dangerous cave on the beach. (Eventually.)
Act 2: Part 4 - The Pilfered Prize
I climb and climb, eventually coming to the small roof of this grand library. There, a tall canid faces away from me, staring off into the distance. My intuition tells me it is the owner of the study. The scholar who has been doing endless research into this land. I call out to him, and he ignores me.
Walking up behind him, I tug on his white cape. If we could only talk, I could learn about where I came from, and what happened to the goddess. His response is a burst of anger. His words and mine, they're unable to connect. He spins around, the black hair on his head swishes in the chilling breeze. The sword in his hand, adorned with the pattern of the three hexagons, and likely a very powerful relic, glows with void energy.
His black fur, shining in the sun, seems to vanish before me as a storm rolls in and blots out the sky. Rain begins to fall in mere moments, and the Librarian channels energy into his cape and takes flight. With a slash of his sword, a dark fire coats the platform, and combat ensues.
He lunges towards me, and I roll to the side. He channels a beam with his blade and attempts to incinerate me. In all this time, he has stayed out of my reach. I take hold of the Magic Orb and attempt to lasso him to my side. As I do so, he raises his blade to the sky and it is struck by thunder. I pull him close, but he vanishes with a flash. Moments later, the air around me crackles and he descends from the sky with a grand stab.
I attempt to strike him from behind, but the electricity emanating from him knocks me back. As it fades, I try again, finally managing to deal a clean strike. I lament the fact that we must fight, as he may be the first person other than the goddess who might understand me, relate to me. His next attack is a trio of void-balls, which I sidestep in turn. I try again to pull him close, but he resists my pull and summons a group of void Rudelings.
When they fall, they leave behind mana, which normal Rudelings do not do. I collect it and replenish my spent spirit. He launches another void attack, this one sending a crescent across the arena. I dodge it and, with the potential to recover my mana in this battle, squeeze the Magic Orb twice. Finally, he is in range of my sword, tiny as it may be.
We trade blows, and he floats away again. Summoning void-balls, their number has increased. Four surround me, and their rhythm deceives me, leaving me wounded. As I drink a potion, the scholar raises his blade and vanishes into the sky. The ground sparks, and I run to the edge.
I work in a few more strikes, and strike his back with a few fire bolts as he retreats. My attempt to pull him back fails, and he divides the platform in two with a trail of void-fire. At the same time, he summons a swarm of Phrends, even more voidlike than the usual variety.
Claiming their mana, I keep an eye on the Librarian. He emits another beam, but I let my guard down as he sweeps it across the roof. Another potion, another two thrashes of my Magic Orb. His orbs surround me and hit me several times, and I barely get a strike in. Frustrated by the uselessness of the tentacle grip, I pull out the Fire Rod and fire to the limit of my spirit.
While it leaves me drained, I finally dealt a solid blow to him in the process. More Phrends, and their strikes manage to deal critical damage. At the edge of death, I quaff another potion. Two remain. I recovered enough mana for another seven bolts, too.
Five void orbs, his attacks are increasing in ferocity. This time, they come all from one side. I avoid them, and narrowly miss a lunge as a glowing streak passes me by. He calls the lightning again, and strikes the platform. With mastered timing, I achieve critical damage as his electrical charge fades.
His crescent strike singes my fur, and I lash out with my Fire Rod. We are both weakened at this point. His void-fire pens me in and his next crescent slash hits me dead on. Once again on the edge of death, I drink my last two potions as I dodge his void-balls. His next attacks prove challenging to avoid, but I hold my own and strike out after a lunge.
A wave of void-balls surround me, and I take some more damage. He spawns a wave of Rudelings, granting me some precious mana, but he connects with a lunge as I work to finish them off. Another lightning strike, and it lands quicker than the others. Barely alive, I strike with a barrage of my Fire Rod.
This proves to be a fatal mistake. With my spirit spent, I realize that had I struck him with my sword first, I would have claimed victory. Instead, as I dodge a wave of six void-balls, he holds his distance and slashes twice with crescent attacks. I succeed in avoiding the first, but the second brushes along my back, cutting deep enough to bring me to the ground. I come close to sliding off the tower as my consciousness fades...
When I return to the roof, I find him standing once more against the edge, looking forlorn. I wonder how it is, from his perspective, to see me return once again. Am I revived through time travel? Is this an alternate dimension? Do they simply forget afterwards? Questions like these are impossible to answer, as I only exist to myself, and they only exist to themselves.
Setting aside philosophy, I know the Librarian to be a sure foe. With that in mind, instead of a simple tug on his cape, I approach him blade at the ready. I launch into a series of combos, cutting into his precious cape, slashing his black robe. By the time he takes flight, I've already claimed a solid advantage.
When he refuses to return to the roof, I begin singing his fur with my Fire Rod. After around ten shots, he summons some void-Rudelings to harass me. I thank him for the free mana, and coax them into a circle for easy slaughter. One eye on the scholar, I roll to dodge his crescent slash. Again, it manages to still strike my back. I refresh myself with a potion, and after sidestepping a wave of void-balls, I hit him with another ten fiery blasts.
My early lead is quickly lost, however, as I find myself tripping over my own tail. After the next wave of Rudelings, I chug a potion to recover. He claims two lightning strikes, and after each I strike his back. The blows land weakly, however, and the fight remains fairly even. Void-balls surround me twice, and as I dodge them, I strike at least ten more times with my rod. His crescent lands solidly, and I roll away with a limp. Third potion.
More fire bolts, a slash after his lunge, another failed dodge of his crescent, and my fourth potion is now used. At last my spirit is exhausted, but I have fallen behind in this race of magical artifacts. Redoubling my focus, I watch the Librarian closely for my next opening. A lightning strike. Two stabs to his back, until he rolls away and strikes me in mine.
He flies off and summons some friendly Phrends with their playful tentacles. I recover my mana, but his lunge hits me head on. For a moment, I think myself defeated, when I remember I still have one potion left. My Lucky Cup also rewards me with a heart from the dissolving energy carcass of the void-Phrend. Without that heart, I would have fallen before I had a chance to use my last potion. It was truly lucky, indeed.
I expend my mana with fire bolts, dodge a side wave of void-balls, chug that last potion, dodge yet another side wave of void-balls, and... am struck clean in the face by another lunge, despite plainly seeing it coming my way.
Both on our last breaths, I squeeze the last bit of my spirit through my Fire Rod to interrupt one of his crescent attacks. The fool summons more minions, not realizing it works to my advantage. The Phrends fall one by one as I focus intently on avoiding the scholar's final attacks. Before I can assail him with fiery doom, he claims one final lightning bolt and strikes at the library roof.
Stepping behind him, I wait for the energy to dissipate. One. Two. Three! My sword combo cuts through, and he falls face-first onto the cold and wet roof. Rifling through his pockets, I find the green key within, as well as a tidy sum of shinybits. It's not like he will need them anymore. Sadly, both his cape and his sword are too large for me to use, so I leave them behind.
Major Goal Complete: Recover the green key, stolen to the top of the sky.With the last of my strength, I stumble down the long set of ladders and return to his study. After communing with the goddess, I kneel upon the teleporter and find myself in the ghostly world. As expected, the panel leading to the Quarry is still dark. I will have to explore by foot to find it. Thankfully, I have a new tool, and I remember seeing a fair share of hooks in the Overworld area.
I return to the Ruined Village and clear the area of foes. Goodness, if they don't come charging in from every direction. I open my map and think about where I have been, and where I might try searching. I've visited two locations to the east, including the Eastern Vault. I have been to the south, found the Southern Vault, and scoured the beach. To the west, a flooded marshy ruin, almost fully explored.
This leaves the north, the mountains sound like the proper place to find a quarry to begin with. I already visited the Mountain Door, and I don't remember any hooks or other pathways to take. It definitely isn't in the Sealed Temple. I explored all of the Dark Tomb. One other area in the north has a label. "Forbidden Pass" it says. It's that, or the answer really is with the Mountain Door.
Only so much can be done with just guessing. I close my map and head west. Along the way, I spot several metal poles. Right, that reminds me... There's a few things in this area that I can lay claim to now, and there was that dangerous cave that I ran from.
I whip a tuning fork, pulling myself to a chest with paltry rewards. I then grip the Autobolt beneath me, hack it to pieces, and drop down the ladder. Along the coast, another set of Autobolts that grant me mobility to another isolated island chest. Inside this one, I obtain a Golden Coin, the first in quite a while. I should take the two I hold to a well when I get the chance.
New Item: Golden Coin #6New Goal: Visit a well to toss my coins in.
Running along the fallen ruins to the east, I quickly come to the dangerous cave that was previously too daunting to consider exploring. Inside, I lasso the nearest Autobolt and make quick work of it, rolling away into the water. I take a few hits from the next, but my tentacled friend pulls me across the water and alongside the turret. Across the room, a third one fires on me, so I repeat my assault once more.
This chamber would have been a painful experience without this extra mobility. On a central platform, I find a chest. Behind it, a mural like a few that I've seen scattered around the land. Throwing open the lid, I discover a strange artifact. On the surface it appears to be an hourglass. Flipping it over, the sands remain locked in place. When nothing immediately happens, I consider how other tools I've found have worked.
Concentrating my spirit into the device, I find my thoughts accelerating. Everything around me seems to slow down, leaving me more time to react. Unfortunately, my own body does not move any faster. When I roll, it feels like it takes ages to return to my feet. When I run, I feel like I am crawling. After a short while, or was it a long while, I stop channeling into the magic apparatus. Into my bags it goes, but I don't expect to find any use for something like this.
New Item: Magic HourglassOutside, I decide to further experiment with my Magic Orb. After pulling myself up, I see if I can remove the Envoy's shield. Instead, I pull the Envoy to me, and he runs back to guard his precious spot, long since devoid of the key that was once there. I climb to the higher ledge and try again. He runs along the staircase as soon as he is able, and I can't help but laugh at the fervent stupidity the foxfolk is showing.
Once more, I pull him up, standing in his way entirely. This leaves him open to an easy defeat, and I earn a hefty purse for my efforts. While I'm here, I try to lasso the stranded page within the fountain. This, of course, does nothing, leaving it as a continued mystery.
Up the path, a convenient well. Pulling out my two coins, I toss them both in. When the sixth coin splashes to the bottom, I am gifted a new "slot" for my cards. I equip the Anklet, and am happy to find that I am slightly more nimble. It's not much, but it still feels nice.
When I stop by the goddess statue to rest, I check to see if I can afford to offer the strange powder. With 1500 total bits, I send 1000 of them along with the offering, bolstering the healing power of my potions. With all of that out of the way, I'm ready to go check the area labeled Forbidden Pass.
Weaving past the Old Well, I spot a chest I neglected with a bit more shinies in it. At the edge of the path, I spot an Envoy hanging out along a precarious ledge. With a wicked grin, I channel my Magic Orb and the tentacle friend reaches out and yanks the unsuspecting halfwit over the edge and into the water below.
My eyes catch sight of a chest. Stealing from the nearby Rudelings, I then lasso the two-tined pole and plunder the golden container. Inside, a new card. This one is the Inverted Ash card. It seems to depict a potion bottle, but I'm quite happy with my current cards so I shove it in with my collection and look around.
New Item: Card #10 - Inverted AshAt the back, a ladder leads me behind this locked gate. I never did check the sign, come to think of it. The path seems to continue on in the distance, but the two ladders leading upwards also call to me. With a whip, I pull myself over the wall and read the sign. Danger. Ho, to danger! But first, a little trip up these ladders. Here, I find a flower offering. I give it a sniff, appreciating the mellow fragrance. It calms me some.
New Item: Health Upgrade #4I return to the other side of the iron gate and head along the north-facing path. In the shadow of the mountain, I find an obelisk. It resides on an isolated island, one that I could not have reached without the Magic Orb. Had I come here any earlier, I would have been unable to supply power to anything ahead.
The path runs east and continues around, opening into a massive... Well, a massive quarry. The path I am on runs along a vast hollowed out chasm. To the south, a gigantic black pyramid stretches into the sky. For as high up as I am, the top of the pyramid reaches even higher. In the chasm, I see twisted metal towers, hunks of dark crystals, and a layer of heavy fog.
Along my path is another obelisk. It is placed even with the center of the black pyramid, and beckons for my holy touch to set it into place. With a prayer, it sinks into place and the power continues to flow. It forks into two directions, one further ahead, and the other down into the pit.
With a fierce rumble, the entrance to the mysterious building comes to life. Power courses through the panels that seal it, light dancing along the strange squares. With an otherworldly twirl, they disappear into nothingness, and all I can see is the power conduit trailing away into darkness.
I open my map and consult with the little bits of info I can understand. This feature isn't on my map, but it's obviously a very important location. If I had to guess, I would say the blue hexagon is within its walls. That would make it the Rooted Ziggurat. I need to find my way down so I can explore.
Revised Goal: Descend to the Rooted Ziggurat.
I return to the long trek across the bridge, and it appears that much of the structure has long since fallen away. Metal sheeting has been added to help it retain its ability to be used for traversal.
At the next bend, a goddess statue to rest at. While here, I offer up the health upgrade I just got. Beside it, a teleporter, but I already knew I would find that somewhere nearby. The power conduit ahead is... broken. Thankfully, it's not pouring out corrosive fluids, perhaps it is clogged? To my side, an elevator, but it's locked at the bottom with no controls up here. Such poor design.
Ahead, a trio of canid workers in masks. Two are hacking away at an obelisk. I spoke too soon about corrosive fluids, as this thing is absolutely seething with toxicity. What they are doing cannot be good, so I take out the first worker and engage with the next. In the mean time, my stomach churns and my head pounds. I start to lose my focus, and feel a deep depression clinging to my insides.
At the edge of my senses, I notice a beam pointed at me. I blink a few times, and think to dodge roll. An energy bolt blasts past where I just was. I hurry to kill the other sword wielder, but the one wielding the ranged weapon retreats into the corrosive field. It's at this time that I notice that, despite avoiding most of their strikes, I feel weak enough to fall to even a faint breeze. I retreat away from the obelisk, hoping the gun scavenger will move elsewhere. Instead, she takes aim from her spot and with nowhere to turn, the bullet fires and pierces me.
As I falter, I slip from the edge. On the long trip down, as my consciousness fades, I suddenly feel afraid for the first time since facing the Siege Engine. I've barely even set foot into the Quarry and already I've been soundly defeated. And who knows what other dangers await me further in. The map for this place was massive, as big as the Overworld!
As I watch the ground rushing up at me, I feel faint encroaching on my senses. Just before I hit the bottom, everything goes black.
Current Goals
✔
✔
✔
★ Descend to the Rooted Ziggurat.
★ Recover the blue key, sealed at the root of the world.
★ Take the three keys to the sealed temple altars.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
Act 2: Part 5 - A Disquiet Feeling
When I awake at the statue, I feel renewed. The hopelessness has faded, and in its place is a determination. A drive to push forward. Checking my pockets, I remember about my Magic Orb. It these cowards are to keep running away, I'll have to use my new trinket to remedy that.
With a yank, I pull the first scavenger to me, felling him and kicking his body off the ledge. The gun-wielding scavenger to my left, I grip across and let her fall into the fog below. The last one alerts and races towards me. I step to where the gunfox was camped and attempt to dodge the heavy sword swings.
My legs are shaky, unsteady. His large sword moves slower than I anticipate, and I manage to take a strike, wind knocked out of me. I run further in and as he follows, I cleave him down. Following the conduit on the other side of the ruined obelisk, I spot a chest below and a scavenger above. I lash him to me and he runs off before the final blow lands. A Boom Bomb is thrown, and it whooshes past my ears with a sizzle.
Not standing for his evasion, I lash him again and then kick him off the edge. Another just like him stands in my way, and rather than waste my mana, I sneak up behind and get some early strikes in. The corrosive field of the destroyed obelisk nags at my brain, so I back away. A sword-wielder chases after me, easy prey. A grip to the grenadier and I'm again safe. Inside the broken obelisk is a black crystal. Is this what powers them? It seems to be generating power, but something feels slipshod, like the crystal was just placed in the middle of the empty husk.
Boxes are stacked over in the corner, and smashing them open reveals bleached bones. Whether they are of other scavengers, or if they were found in the rubble and being shipped for burial, I couldn't say. In the chest, some mana fruits. Those may actually come in handy, with as much as I'm needing to use my Magic Orb. Heading down, I have to circle around the large pillar to reach the chest. A few measly Boom Bombs.
I climb back up and attempt to follow the conduit, only to find it goes into a structure with no entrance. The drawbridge seems to be my only path, so I cross it and loot the chest. To my surprise, it's filled with something much better than these other treasures. It holds a pristine tooth, another offering for my goddess.
New Item: Attack Upgrade #4Just past, another grenadier. I try to sneak up on him, but he spots me and runs off. I try to chase after him, and he lobs a bomb in my direction. Taking a step back, I wait for the explosive to expire, when to my surprise, it blasts open a hole in the nearby wall! I give a halfhearted chase to the explosives maniac and he ducks behind a wall while throwing another bomb. The thing bounces off the corner and falls to the ground behind him. With a loud pop, he falls to the ground, no longer a threat. Hah.
Inside the revealed alcove, I'm gifted with several more mana fruits. Not the biggest haul, but still appreciated. The real question is, how would I have ever found this without such a lucky happenstance? Nearby, among the stone, someone has placed some white flowers. Now that I am looking, they are very out-of-place. They perfectly surround this secret. I hold this oddity in the back of my mind for future experimentation.
Ahead, two sword-scavengers hack away at an old mining machine. I try to take them out with stealth, and a bright beam levels itself on my chest. I try to block it with my shield, but fumble and get hit. I run behind a pillar and look around for my foe. As I'm hiding, a bomb explodes on the other side, knocking me back and leaving me heavily wounded.
With a swig of potion, I clear away the remaining heavyblade and grip the grenadier to my side. He tries to run, but I had him cornered. The lady with the gun comes within range and tries to let loose another round. We both attack at the same time, and she is pulled to me just after her bullet is launched. In the face of my pain, I clear the way and resume my exploration.
Chests abound in the shadows as I continue along the path. I come to another ranged foe and easily dispatch her with my Magic Orb. Along the wall are more dark crystals, exposed and radiating an unpleasant aura. Atop the scaffolding, a chest holds a new card. This one's the Aura's Gem. Some sort of modification for my shield, perhaps?
New Item: Card #11 - Aura's GemDown the spiral staircase, I work my way along the large structure crafted into the quarry wall. As I poke my nose into crevices looking for hidden treasure, I am ambushed by a giant sword. I take a heavy strike and retreat to get a better perspective on the sudden danger. Once in the open, I block his next strike with my shield and end his harassment.
Up ahead, a lever. It sets a stone ladder into the wall below. This gives me an easy way back to the checkpoint, and I do have a new offering to return. With a sprint, I return to the start to recharge, as well as improve my strength. On the way back, I notice with great pleasure that I only need two strikes to defeat a scavenger instead of three. No longer can the grenadiers run from my blade.
Behind the narrow staircase, I find a decoy. I haven't had a real need to use one yet, but I can imagine they are powerful with as few of them as I've been able to find. At the top, I sneak up on a gunfox and grip her to her demise. I ignore the sword-scavenger, leaving him to hack away at the dark crystal. The ground almost seems to boil from the energies being unleashed.
I spot a route up the snowy edges of the mountain, and at the top I find two chests. The first contains a Golden Coin, while the second is something I cannot access. I try to lash it with my Magic Orb's void tentacle, but it doesn't grab on. I can barely jump half my height, so that's out. I'll have to remember it exists and return another time.
New Item: Golden Coin #7On that same note, there's a checkpoint in the middle of this pond. No path exists that allows me to reach it. Whatever tool grants me access to the chest must also allow rest at this goddess statue. The Monastery lies before me, perhaps inside I will get a new magical item!
Inside, the state of this place is abhorrent. Pockets of dark void energies spill out all over, huge holes in the floor lead to a pool of roiling black fluid. Black crystals jut out from the dark water as though the fluid is solidifying like salt. No matter which way I try to pass, I am overcome with despair and a severe nausea.
Sprinting across a bridge, I try to avoid the worst of things. My haste alerts several sword-carrying scavengers and I try to take them out as quickly as possible. The poor obelisk they've been hacking at is barely standing. It remains functional, however, and its purple light spills out, casting a similar but different glow against the stone walls.
A gate blocks the way, with a lever on the ledge above. Across from me, I see a gun-wielder. With a friendly little wave, I stretch out the tentacle and snatch her across. One, two. Too easy. I realize that my spirit is drained, so I rifle through my pockets and consume my first mana fruit. Bitter, but very flavorful. I throw the lever and head into the next chamber.
Assembled against the walls are large piles of crates. Breaking them open in the hopes of treasure, I find hundreds of skeletons. With nothing hidden nearby, I continue my look around. There's cut pieces of conduit, and quite a few empty chests. In the back, by the path to the Hero's Grave, one remains closed. Prying it open, I discover a new card. Checking the list, it's apparently the Scavenger's Mask.
New Item: Card #12 - Scavenger's Mask.I swap out my Anklet and try it on. I'm now dressed like a scavenger. Unimpressed, I take it off and put the Anklet back on. What I have right now is fine. Climbing the ladder in the back, I take a rear exit and find my feet crunching powdery snow.
I drop the rope and wind my way along a river of snowmelt. The path branches, and I take the winding staircase that leads back the way I came. By the time I reach the top, I feel a little dizzy. On the roof of the Monastery, I find a collection of zen stones, or something of that nature. Behind them, a long staircase.
Following it, I find myself once again at the snowy peak, bitter cold air whipping around me. The large mountain door remains closed, and reminds me of what previously barred the way to the Rooted Ziggurat. I don't see any obelisks or power conduits, though, so my theory may not hold. Still, I am more surprised than I should be that such a path was hidden here. It seems that no matter how much I keep my eyes open, these secret paths continue to elude me.
Deciding there's nothing here for me, I return to the warmer climate of the flowing waterfalls below. After two dizzying staircases, I return to what could clearly be defined as the Quarry. As always, I check behind the waterfalls. Here, I obtain more potion fragments. This makes two-thirds.
New Item: Potion Fragment #8Descending further, my head begins to throb, so I enter into what looks like a building. Rather than opening into a room, it remains a hall, and I come out into an earlier area. As I was saying, no matter how much I keep my eyes open...
I take the opportunity to return to the rest point. My headache is intense, and I feel quite weak. No surprises await me, and on the way back, I continue to grip and stab the greedy scavengers, a wave of destruction following me as I return to the glowing hallway path.
I end up drawing attention of one of the sword-scavengers, and he follows me through the pathway. On the other side, I block his attack, and underneath the grass he cut away I find a trio of flowers. With an absentminded slaying of my foe, I take note of my earlier suspicion. I don't see any grenadiers around to help me, so I rifle through my pockets and pull out a Boom Bomb of my own.
Lighting the fuse, I toss it on the ground by the seemingly-indestructible flowers. Expecting little, a flash of delight follows the flash of explosive. The wall crumbles away, and a chest is laid bare before me. Within, a pair of decoys.
Discovery: Flower arrangements can hold secrets, such as indicating destructible walls.
In the pit below, my headache returns with an inescapable ferocity. Pushing aside the discomfort, I continue to lash out at the scavengers, slaying them one by one. Weakness fills my body, hopelessness fills my soul. My spirit runs dry as I weave my way through crystals and mining equipment. My vision blurs, and I can hear a scavenger shouting from a distance, chasing after me.
I stumble, tripping on a metal plate in the ground. I turn around and see, through watery eyes, a beam aligning itself to my frail figure. I stare back blankly and with a bright flash, my vision fades.
When I awake by the goddess statue, I take a few deep breaths in an attempt to clear my head. Surely something is wrong. Nothing in my quest has felt that depressing and unreasonable. I flip through the pages of the booklet and think.
A simple question poses itself to me. Why do the scavengers all wear masks? Looking around, the answer becomes crystal clear. Though these crystals are anything but clear. They wear the masks in order to protect themselves from whatever this void stuff is emitting.
I dig through my growing collection of stuff and equip the Scavenger's Mask card. It may not be fashionable, but if I'm right... I walk down the path, lassoing the helpless scavengers to their doom. As the gun-wielder is pulled off the edge, I wave goodbye to her with an unseen smile. The mask doesn't make me into their ally, but as I approach the broken obelisk, I am relieved to discover my headache not returning.
Discovery: The Scavenger's Mask protects from the health drain effects of void energies.
Once again I attempt my trek into the lower quarry. Not only am I free of the headache and weakness, my vision remains unclouded aside from the lenses of the mask. I strategically work my way through the hoard of scavengers until I find myself in a clearing where three targets are placed at length. A shooting range for the gun nuts. Walking to the far end, I find a storage chest. Inside, a spare gun, unbound to any other spirit.
New Item: GunI give it a test fire with the last of my mana, and instead of hitting the distant target, I blast an arc around me. There's clearly something wrong with this one, no wonder it was stuffed in the chest. Still, it could come in handy.
Discovery: The Gun shoots wide, midrange blasts at the cost of mana.
Behind the stack of crates bundled past the targets, a hidden chest lies in wait. Within, I claim more potion fragments, allowing me to assemble another full potion bottle. This brings me to six total potions.
New Item: Potion Fragment #9On the central path again, pass by several drilling machines and come to some railway tracks. They may have been in service at one time, but with several pieces flat out gone, it's unlikely they have seen use in years. I drop the drawbridge and claim the chest on the other side. Another wooden fox idol.
New Item: Defense Upgrade #4Pressed with a decision on which path will lead me further down, I spot a set of ladders as the likely avenue, as the second one ends abruptly marking a point of no return. With that in mind, I turn around and begin to explore the side paths. One one path, an effigy. On the other, bits and fruits. The last holds no treasure, but affords me a vantage point that allows me to wreak havoc on the hapless scavengers digging down below. Yank, slash slash.
Having exhausted my mana, I consume the bitter flesh of another mana fruit, stuffing it beneath my mask as I otherwise hold my breath. Leaping from the end of the ladder, I fall into a pile of gravel and get it stuck all throughout my bushy tail. When this is all over, a long and hot shower would be a blessing.
A few chests of shinies and an assortment of scavengers. I take back what I said about this place being so scary. I think that was this void stuff messing with my brain. It's actually been quite easy, aside from a few missteps on my part. I spot a path near the back that takes me into the final layer of the quarry.
Barriers are erected around the worksite, possibly to designate what area actually needs cleared. Down here, the tracks seem intact, functional. If I knew how to work the machinery, I'd take a ride around the place. Walking along the railway, noting a few places this direction that are in need of repair, I beam is suddenly cast upon my chest. I roll to the side and rush ahead to find the culprit.
What I find makes me laugh, with only a tiny bit of sadness. It's a wounded scavenger, her leg broken. Broken because of me. This is the one that I pulled across the abyss and left to fall to her death. I put her down, and the light fades from her eyes. I spot a side path with a chest of shiny bits hidden in the fog nearby a cart of black crystals.
As I prepare to go under the archway to the bridge above, I spot the bottom of the elevator that was previously inaccessible. Throwing a switch and riding it up, I rest with the goddess and offer her the small idol. With a deep breath, I return to the depths of the abyss, walk along the last stretch of railway, and steady myself to enter the intimidating black pyramid.
What I find is a technological marvel. Everything is perfectly geometrical, smooth and shiny. As I enter into a large chamber, I come across a scene of carnage. Several scavenger corpses line the path, and just beyond is the entrance to the Northern Vault, home of the blue hexagonal key. Its door is not just open, it's blown apart. A drilling machine protrudes from a side wall, evidence that they broke in well before I unlocked the front door.
On the other side, I expect to find another hexagon ring, another mechanism to hold the great key. Instead, I find a pedestal, a giant square, beneath a mural not unlike the rings of the goddess's prison. Stepping upon the platform, it churns and thuds before setting to motion.
With a lurch, the elevator descends, slowly at first, but gaining in speed. Down, down it goes, taking me through a corridor of darkness. When light again reaches my eyes, what I see leaves me breathless...
Current Goals
✔
★ Recover the blue key, sealed at the root of the world.
★ Take the three keys to the sealed temple altars.
★ Break the seal that imprisons the goddess and/or obtain the great treasure.
Act 2: Part 6 - The Root of the World
I am so stunned by the sights before me, that I feel words cannot do them justice. I see pillars as tall as mountains, corridors of light trailing through the air with unknown purpose, swarms of Fairies float about with fanciful purpose. The entire place radiates with a faint musical tune. It truly is beyond my comprehension.
The root of the world...
In order to get a better look, I remove my Scavenger's Mask. This place is massive and I am grateful to have the slight movement boost of the Anklet. My way forward is lined with guiding lights, but I have to be very careful not to fall off the edge. Some walkways are broken, but there's still a path forward.
On one of the paths, I spot a blue flame glowing at an altar. Walking over to it, I give it a cautionary sniff. It smells just like everything else in this place, with a vague tinge of void energies. Warmth emanates from it, soothing my soul. Actually, I'm reminded of the goddess statues.
Is that what this is? I stretch my arms and rest beside it, feeling refreshed afterwards. Part of me considers throwing myself from the ledge to test my theory, but I'm not feeling nearly that self destructive. Besides, I feel confident that this strange altar is channeling my connection to the goddess. The question is, why?
Discovery: The checkpoint statues in the Rooted Ziggurat look different, but function the same.
Did this area predate the surface I am familiar with? Or was this place made afterwards. I don't think I'm smart enough to figure that out. I can't even read most of what I'm finding! Setting aside the mystery, I press on. The paths on each side lead nowhere, and after confirming this I am ambushed by a migrating pack of Fairies. I blast each with a shot from my Fire Rod and restore my spirit with their remains.
Descending a ramp, the path forks. I check north and I see another of those strange switches up on a ledge. I try to hit it with a fire bolt, but it doesn't work. Nearby, I see a chest, and with a bit of fumbling I find my way up to it. Down the other path is a minefield. In each junction lurks an Autobolt, popping up to ambush me as I walk past.
I recklessly clear the way, with a rush of excitement in seeing how much stronger I've grown since my journey began. From the beachy shore of a tiny little island to a mechanical wonderland, reflecting on the difference is such an incredible rush. As I work my way around, I return to the switch, bash it with my sword, and then ignore the useless shortcut it created.
The main path comes to the top of a thick tower, coated in blue guiding lights. A ladder in front of me glows, calling for me to climb it. At the top, my progress is halted. No other path is available to me. An obelisk sits in the middle of the platform. Well, almost. It's a bit different looking.
Still, if the goddess statues are different down here, maybe the obelisks are, too. I approach it and begin to pray, when it suddenly changes shape. Legs sprout from its lower corners, and it begins to walk around the platform. With a loud buzz, a pattern begins to appear on the ground beneath it. The pattern grows brighter and radiates across the metal roof. As it alights under my feet, a jolt radiates through my fur and into my muscles. Ouch! The floor glows again and with a stomp, it radiates outwards a second time. I roll across the brightest spot, and manage to avoid the worst of the electrical zap.
Discovery: Glowing floor is painful! Roll across it to avoid damage.
It begins to crawl towards me, wedge appendages pulling it across the ground. When it nears, it lowers a set of wheels in its undercarriage and begins to spin around. The wedges drag against the surface, throwing sparks and threatening to slice anything that comes close. Backing away carefully, mindful of the ledge behind me, I continue to watch its movements. It stomps across, heading towards me, and then slams itself down on its side.
Its movements bring to mind the tea table in the grand library, and I realize that this is one of the many fallen robots that I saw within the Ruined Atoll and Frog's Domain. Except, this time, it isn't broken. It even feels newer somehow. Still, it will fall to my blade like everything else has before me. If the Siege Engine couldn't stop me, a tiny machine like this stands no chance.
I test my Magic Orb against this foe, and its weight proves too much for my tentacled tool. I am pulled to it, but this works out fine. Hacking away at its cubic frame, slashing at the tri-colored hexagonal eyes, I deal enough damage that it begins to overload. Expecting a large explosion, I back away to safety.
To my shock and annoyance, instead of exploding into a pile of scrap, the machine ejects its panels and reveals its inner core. A single thin pillar stands atop its base, with a glowing red lens tracking my movement. It has two limbs, both wielding glowing pink beams of pure energy. Snapping out of my stupor, I race in and employ a similar philosophy as I did when fighting the Siege Engine. Its blades seem designed to hit distant targets, not those that are underfoot.
After easily dodging several failed slashes, the machine responds by retreating to the edge. From there, it moves to swipe the entire rooftop, but I lash it with my Magic Orb. With half of its weight now scattered across the floor, it lifts into the air and is brought to my side. Here, I score some easy hits before it leaps away from my assault.
Before it can strike again, I pull out my Fire Rod and aim for its core. My blows strike true, breaking its limbs and crushing the red lens in the middle. As it overloads, I watch from a distance and await any explosions it decides to inflict in its death throes. Instead, the machine falls silent, and something within causes the joints to simply break apart into a pile of metal bars. I collect an assortment of blue bits from its remains, replenishing my spirit. To the south, the second ladder comes alive, and I begin a long and winding descent.
Whoever designed this building should be pushed off of it. After several ups and downs, I reach a doorway leading to an interior. The chest inside holds a decoy, and there's a clear vat with some bubbles gently rising from bottom to top, disappearing behind more machinery. With as much as the technology of this land reacts to my prayer, I kneel and see if it does anything. Nope.
On the walls, more ladders, but I seem unable to reach them. My Magic Orb doesn't pull me up to them, either. In the corner flooring, the light of another ladder calls my attention. It seems to be a maintenance hatch. The cramped corridors hold access to pipes, performing entirely unknown functions. In the interest of self-preservation, I refrain from hacking into them with my sword.
As I drop down into the next room, the hackles of my spine raise up with a shiver. Restrained inside a beam of energy is something familiar, but horrific. A void fox, not too unlike me, is held in place. Its limbs are skeletal, as though it lacks the concept of muscle and fat. Spines protrude from its joints, and its overly long neck cranes its head forward. It's so...
...Cool! What even is it? It's like it's made of concentrated energy, with the way it glows! Where's its tail? I try to say hello, and it ignores me. I channel a prayer, and it exits the trance it's in and begins to stare at me. It drifts in an uncontrolled circle, but its gaze tracks me as it turns.
I pull out my Fire Rod and shoot at the machine above it. When that fails, I try shooting the beast itself. Simply because I can. It does nothing, and with nothing else to do here, I continue on my quest. Another maintenance hatch in the corner leads to a small panel lined with purple light.
When I step upon it, a clunk come from below. The platform then begins a slow, slow descent through a place of wonder. When the edges of the elevator open from metal to glass, I am greeted with an endless blackness that my lantern fails in the face of. Within the darkness, a sea of clear fluid, and floating in that fluid are countless copies of the glowing skeletal foxes. Through the glass I hear a chorus of moans, tinged with an echo that transcends sound itself.
Soon, the elevator passes through this plane and into another metal chamber underneath. I can hear the rhythmic actions of machinery thudding at the end of the hall. The lights are dim, and as my platform settles into the floor, I trek slowly down the corridor.
Set into the wall is an opening for an assembly line. A void fox slides in from the left and stops in the center. From below, a metal base slides into place around the creature. More pieces drop down from above, until finally a capstone is placed to seal the container. With a radiating glow, the box is sealed, and before me stands a freshly created obelisk.
I stare in fascination as the next fox comes from up the conveyor belt. The gears turn in my head. Inside every obelisk is a creature of pure energy. These foxlike monstrosities are being harnessed for power. ... The mana bits. They come from my fallen foes. So when I pray at one and send it into the ground it... juices the contents.
Discovery: Obelisks contain void foxes which are destroyed and turned into energy fluid when activated.
If this had been the start of my journey, I'd probably be horrified by this revelation. Instead, I feel a sense of deep satisfaction. One of the great mysteries that had been churning between my fluffy ears has finally been laid to rest. Another fox comes down the conveyor belt.
As I look up at it, panic suddenly fills its eyes. The others had been docile to this point, but this one suddenly screams out, an eerie tenor permeating my very fibers. As the obelisk top is clamped into place, its scream is cut short. I realize that I've stopped breathing, and I respond with a sharp inhale. Suddenly having my fill of watching, I quickly turn towards the exit. Behind me, another piercing scream echoes out.
My path at last takes me outside. Who knows how far down I've traveled. My vision is temporarily blinded by the new scenery. When they adjust, I try to process the strange sight. On the other side of a mechanical altar is a rolling sea of pure energy. It's free of toxic emanations, and thus unlike the spilled pools in the Quarry or the Ruined Atoll. Whatever it is, it's truly pure.
After a short rest, I begin to look around. I see obelisks behind me, sliding along the conveyor belt, off to some unknown destination. By a chest of Boom Bombs lay a pair of deceased scavengers. On their bodies I see claw marks, but no beast in sight. Instead, I see the bays of several Autobolts on a small island. I lash myself to them, but strangely they do not stir. Even further, another pair alongside a chest.
Upon lashing to this second island, the whole grouping rises from the ground and opens fire. Their blasts barely tickle me. I claim the potion bottle from the chest, shocked to find another whole one after so long. For the longest time, it's only been broken fragments. That makes seven.
New Item: Potion #4Leaving via a side path, I double back and spot a chest at the end of a broken bridge. Inside the chest is a single bit. I frown, and hear a clatter coming from behind me. It was a trap!
Out from the roiling sea come a pair of ... something! It's like a crab, or a spider, but also very alike the void foxes. However, these are inverted, and they definitely aren't foxlike. I take several blows and they seem to strike at my very soul. The brightness of their appendages blinds my vision and I strike out wildly in retaliation. With each attempted strike, they scuttle away, only to return moments later with vicious lunges.
I back away and manage to hack one enough that it falls apart. Imagine my surprise when the remnants coagulate into two smaller copies of the creature I just felled! With another pair of swipes, I manage to cleave one of these smaller ones, only to have it split in two as well. At this point I'm beginning to become surrounded! I flee, hoping that some are faster than others.
As I run back towards the entrance, yet another large brightling crawls from within this artificial sea. I run as quickly as my little legs will go, and as I run, I think. What can I do against such great numbers? I stumble onto the long bridge before the altar and dig through my giant bag of junk. All the while, the brightlings crawl closer. The bridge keeps them from swarming all at once, but there's be upon me any moment.
The Gun! Pulling it out and taking aim, I channel my spirit into the powerful apparatus. Its wide blast does an excellent job in shattering the ephemeral glue of my glowing pursuers. With only one potion used, I claim a sound victory. They even condensed into a large collection of mana bits. The Gun is absolutely the best tool for defending against them, despite its hefty drain on my soul.
Still, I recover at the altar, missing the visual connection with my goddess and only being able to call on a weak spiritual one. I feel so far from her. Having rested, the Autobolts have returned, and while fighting them another brightling crawls towards me from across the area. With a clumsy effort, I break it apart along with the turrets.
A bay of heavy machinery is ahead, its task likely to do with processing this giant vat of energy. Maybe this is what births the void foxes? I realize that for every mystery I solve, several more take its place. Soon I'll be attempting to solve the very meaning of life, at this rate. Two brightlings crawl up and I take out my frustrations on them, reeling from the knockback of my shotgun.
A potion restores my life, but I do notice that these guys leave me perpetually weakened. An obelisk passes me by, but my attention is quickly drawn away by a swarm of three brightlings. With a well-placed roll, I group them up and clear them away with a series of successive blasts. My sword finishes off any stragglers, and while I was close to death myself, I haven't felt worried once down here. Another potion restores me.
With some supplies claimed from the corners of the area, I say goodbye to the pumping equipment and reach another altar. Feeling renewed, I expend some of my pent-up energy by slashing wildly at the air. Taking a deep breath, I cross the double bridge in front of me.
Before me is a pair of box-bots and a half-sunken obelisk. Three conduits protrude from the center, leading out into the pseudo-sea. Thinking myself clever, I quietly sneak up to the obelisk and begin to pray. Both machines spring to life, and my way back folds itself away. Combat it is!
Continued on the next page...
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Category Story / Tutorials
Species Red Fox
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File Size 5.96 MB
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