The Elements Kaed 2012/08/20(Mon)09:37 No. 445606 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134548064984.png - (210.53KB , 458x403 , Element Select.png )

The world and all things are made of many elements, the more complex composed of more primal ones in interesting, unique ways, and often those closest to the primal elements are most spectacular.

At one point, long ago, someone touched a gemstone, and that gemstone was tuned with one of the elements, or their resulting offspring.

Alas, not all the elements are still available for selection - the vessel holding spirit of the Air cracked apart long ago, the most fragile of the group. The Earth gem was stolen by an enterprising thief, who had little time to pry the others free before needing to flee. And the gem of Magma, well... that one always needed maintenance, and without it, it simply blew apart and melted.

However, Fire and Water remain, as do the hybrid elements of Wood, Ice, and Lightning.

Which do you choose?

I've always liked Wood as an element... lets got with that.

Thunderbolts and lightning!

(Very very frightening!)

>>445608
Wood mage does sound interesting. I'll second that.

The hybrid elements are derivative from the other four? Right? Going by the image,

wood = water + earth
magma = earth + fire
lightning = fire + air
ice = air + water

Lightning. Electromancy will come in handy on any adventure.

Wood seems like the unusual choice to go with, so I say we pick that.

Wood is good, y'know

Kade 2012/08/20(Mon)10:53 No. 445632 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134548522198.png - (99.61KB , 399x413 , waking1.png )

itical failure imm

I...

chnicians for repai

I am... what

Kade 2012/08/20(Mon)10:55 No. 445634 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134548535404.png - (81.22KB , 383x415 , Waking2.png )

ought suppr... fail... uurr... click

What am I? Where am I?

I must find out.

Ufff...

So weak... so cold...

Hello!

We're not sure exactly what you are, so we can't help there. You do appear somewhat canine, though. And you're associated with the element of wood, in some way.

Let's start by checking out your surroundings. What can you see about where you are? Looks like some kind of cave.

Kade 2012/08/20(Mon)11:21 No. 445643 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134548689102.png - (199.52KB , 500x500 , Look.png )

Look... around?

Ah yes... I can see. It's dark in here, but something is providing... a green light? Very faint green light. I can't see what.

Let's see what's in here...

As important as finding out where you are is, are you okay? You seem to be covered in plants.

Pretty sure that green light is your eyes. Do you think you can control your element at all yet? Or shall we have to find an exit the old fashioned way.

>>445643
Grab that Pip-Boy 3000! You'll need it!

See if there's anything interesting in the immediate vicinity. If there's not, lets go check out the light.

Can you manipulate or control the wooden tendrils sticking out of you? That could come in handy, later.

Kade 2012/08/20(Mon)11:41 No. 445650 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134548808997.png - (82.06KB , 500x500 , Cave.png )

Plants...? What's wrong with plants?

And... this is a big cave. There is some sort of open stone box to the left of it, with some scattered... debris of various sorts. The far wall has some things attached to the wall, but they look like burned out torches, I think.

There is also a cavern that opens to near the torches, and on the west wall, some drawings? I can't really make them out from this angle very well.

I see what looks to be a backpack, or knapsack. You should get that, could come in handy.

The pot could be used to carry water as you explore the caves, though it might be inconvenient to lug pottery around. If there's water in there now, you might need a drink.

Check out the debris, take the pack, the jar and a torch. Also look in the box. Finally check the drawing... that might help us out.

Kaed 2012/08/20(Mon)12:13 No. 445661 ID: 9dc0f4
File 134549000470.png - (160.82KB , 500x500 , Small.png )

One thing at a time,
please...

.... And I think we are having a crucial issue of proportions here. The best I could do is perhaps wear that thing around my neck?

The jar has something dark in the bottom... but it smells sour... unpleasant.

And these things on my back... I feel them with my hands, but when I touch then, there is no feeling. I think whatever they are, they are dead, or at least don't work right now... I think it's related to how weak and tired I feel.

Okay, not a backpack. You've got a purse or a wallet, instead. Still good for carrying stuff in.

Check out the pictures next.

Pity there isn't any rope, you could use it as a belt and that pack is a perfect size to make a pouch for you. Pick it up and put it on your wrist.

Check in the box next.

After we check everything out, perhaps you should get some rest if you feel so badly?

If you can find it, drink some water.

Rest would just be wasted in here. What you need is sunlight.

Kaed 2012/08/20(Mon)12:33 No. 445667 ID: 813c01
File 134549120043.png - (178.44KB , 500x500 , Eww.png )

It's less in the way around my neck, so I'm putting it there.

As for getting a drink, maybe that jar could be worth...

... Eugh.

No, there is no way I'm drinking that. I'll go check the box.

Pour out that disgusting brew and roll in it like a dog.

Might be oil of some sort. Keep it for now.

Kaed 2012/08/20(Mon)13:00 No. 445674 ID: 83c12a
File 134549282289.png - (133.75KB , 458x403 , Grave Matter.png )

The box is... well. There's certainly something in the box.

But I don't want to touch it. I don't even feel comfortable being near that...

I... I think I want to go look at something else. I feel so very sad for some reason.

This should not be this way... so ransacked... defiled...

I need to sit down for a bit... feel free to make suggestions, I'll get to them later...

I;m sorry you had to see that. Once your ready lets look at those drawings... perhaps they will help explain something.

Bones mean someone died. That's reason enough for anyone to be sad. Perhaps you recognize them? What can you remember before you woke up?

>>445674
Try to set the room in a bit more order out of respect for the dead. There's a few off-color round objects lying about. If those are just rocks I suppose we can move on through the passage.

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)14:23 No. 446014 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134558421667.png - (131.75KB , 500x500 , Sad.png )

I think they've been touched enough. My hands are so big, they would probably just make things worse.

But I feel... not better. But I think I can continue now.

I've been staring at this jar for a while now. I think... I think it's some kind of fruit juice. Very old, rotten fruit juice. I can't tell anymore, it's gone so bad.

I guess I'll go look at that thing on the wall now...

When fruit juice goes bad you get vinegar eventually. So probably a mildly acidic mixture of vinegar and accumulated dust that fell from the cave ceiling. Could be useful?

Look at that thing on the wall. Also look for exits and/or roots (which indicate surface nearness).

Was that skull as differently scaled from you as the item are?

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)16:19 No. 446037 ID: 8c24d3
File 134559115628.png - (75.94KB , 458x443 , Caveart1.png )

>>446020

Yes. Even the drawing on the wall is about at my waistline...

>>445652
>>445662
>>445675
>>446017

... There are five parts. Each has a word above them...

"Creation"

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)16:19 No. 446038 ID: 8c24d3
File 134559119116.png - (72.71KB , 458x403 , Caveart2.png )

...And to the right of it, "Rise"...

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)16:20 No. 446039 ID: 8c24d3
File 134559123602.png - (261.57KB , 732x707 , Caveart3.png )

... then in the middle, "The Golden Age"...

... there is something else written here, in the center, but I can't read what it says...

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)16:21 No. 446041 ID: 8c24d3
File 134559125925.png - (119.40KB , 458x443 , Caveart4.png )

... Then past that, "Searing"...

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)16:21 No. 446042 ID: 8c24d3
File 134559129102.png - (111.32KB , 458x443 , Caveart5.png )

... And finally, "Reckoning"

This cave drawing means something important, though. Maybe something involving what I am.

But nothing in this room is familiar. I don't know why the bones make me sad.

I don't even know what I am.

And there are no roots on the celing, unless the grey things hanging down are roots made of rock.

It looks likes its detailing creation of beings like yourself. First you were created, then spread across the lands for gold. You aided in the creation of wonders... and were used to kill and destroy. Instead of blaming the wizards that made you or the tyrants who bought you they killed you.

Prettymuch.

>>446042
Looks like beings such as yourself were created then sold, used for labor and then war, and eventually destroyed because of the war.

The bones are those of the same race as your owners and creators, I think. That is why they make you sad. You probably have some inbuilt emotional ties to them.

Is there any exit we can take out of this room? We've examined everything so far I think, so it's time to go.

>>446039
The script you cannot read says "they were so beautiful".

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)17:05 No. 446058 ID: f6276d
File 134559391046.png - (63.37KB , 458x403 , Altar.png )

That does tell me where I came from, yes.

But not what I am. Why I'm here and alive. What I can do... what I did.

Did I help in those wars? Am I a monster?

And how long have I been in here?

I think... These is all things I can't find out in here. I'm going to go out though that cave. There is nothing else in here for me.

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)17:21 No. 446068 ID: 31a627
File 134559489193.png - (104.39KB , 458x403 , Tight.png )

Bit of a tight fit, though... I hope I'm not going to be down here for long.

You got in here somehow. There's got to be a way out. Unless you fell, in which case you're screwed. But at your size that's not likely.

Beware having looked at those drawings. You may have some sort of onus to obey those on the surface, and the order to "Kill people no wait don't kill people" is rather difficult to follow. That may be why they destroyed your kind, is they couldn't figure out how to give orders that made sense. Unfortunately that attitude still may exist. You can't tell how long you've been here, but any more than a few years and the juice/vinegar would have long since dried up. I would resist being destroyed however because if history is any indication the order to "Die" is actually the first half of the order to "Die wait no don't die we love you," and it simply takes them a while to formulate it.

Or unless you were not a giant magic person when you came in. Still, there is probably a way out.

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)17:40 No. 446082 ID: 8c2d28
File 134559605289.png - (78.11KB , 458x403 , Cavern.png )

Ugh... Oof.

I can hear my branches scraping the top of the tunnel. I bet this would hurt if I could feel them.

Don't like this...

See something ahead though. Light.

... And I think I like this room much better, actually. Just seeing this makes me feel happier.

But what now?

>>446082

Bark is tough. Just be careful not to crack them and you should be fine.

Roll in the puddle like a doggy!

Head for the water. You're wood. A drink has to do you good.

Kaed 2012/08/21(Tue)18:19 No. 446099 ID: e1062d
File 134559835726.png - (93.34KB , 458x403 , Drink.png )

That sounds like a great idea. I think this is a good time to rest. It's still so hard to move around...

Maybe after some water and rest I'll feel better.

Feel free to keep suggesting things. I'm not going anywhere.

It might be worthwhile to drink some water the normal way as well.

>>446099
Eat a mushroom! Err, if you can tell they're safe to eat.

Yeah, test if you can drink like a plant, or an animal, or both.

Can you tell what's glowing there? Is there something under the water, or is that the mushrooms?

Hopefully the mushrooms haven't laden this water full of glowing hallucinogens.

Kaed 2012/08/22(Wed)14:34 No. 446385 ID: b0cbd4
File 134567126197.png - (163.05KB , 458x403 , Drinking.png )

>>446100

Is there some other, extra normal way to drink water that I wasn't aware of?

This is good. I feel a bit better after drinking. Something is still missing, though...

>>446102

Uhm, I don't have roots. I'm pretty sure roots are what do that kind of thing. Maybe later?

And yes, those are mushrooms glowing into the water. They are bioluminescent.

Sorry, I think we assumed you were drinking by just sticking your arm in the water. Please excuse the silliness and expecting you to have magic root-limbs.

If you can dig up one of the shrooms, you have a portable light source. Try not to just pick it, it might just die and go out then.

Oh right, I confused your branches with roots.

>>446385
maybe you need something to eat... earth? Are the mushrooms growing on earth? do you like earth?^^
Excuse me for being a bit uncertain with a wood-based being...
Maybe as a canine you would need meat or as a magical being some magic force...
Sunlight could be also useful later... when you get green parts... if you get green parts to absorb the sunlight...

... just rest and explore more after that.

Kaed 2012/08/22(Wed)15:05 No. 446396 ID: b0cbd4
File 134567314738.gif - (272.66KB , 458x403 , Twigdog Rave.gif )

>>446101
>>446134

THESE ARE DELICIOUS!

I suspect you're missing the sun. Let's get moving again and go out that other passage.

>>446396
I would highly recommend some rest now...

Kaed 2012/08/22(Wed)15:27 No. 446401 ID: b0cbd4
File 134567445596.png - (97.28KB , 458x403 , Sorry.png )

>>446400
>>446393

Erm, sorry about that. Heh...

But I'm not actually that tired anymore. I don't think I'm recovered fully, there is still something missing, but I don't need to rest anymore. The water and mushrooms have helped.

>>446386

I can see just fine, but I think I'll keep a few anyway. They are pretty tasty, I'll just put them in the bag.

Hm... I think I can perhaps fit three more handfuls of stuff in this bag. FOUR palms worth of goods, if you will. I should conserve space.

>>446397
>>445666

You might be right...

>>446397

... But which passage? There are two of them, opposite the tunnel I entered from. One of them has... something in the entryway.

It kind of looks like those bones from before...

>>446402

Never mind, I spoke too late.

Can you feel anything different about the two passages? If you can feel air moving into or out of one of them, or hear anything, that passage might be more likely to lead you somewhere.

Otherwise, inspect the bones. See if there's anything interesting about them. If someone died trying to go down that passage, it might lead to an escape or shelter of some kind.

Kaed 2012/08/22(Wed)16:14 No. 446407 ID: 31a627
File 134567725612.png - (65.32KB , 458x403 , Nothing To Worry About.png )

>> examine the bones

Hmm... they are the same kind of bones as before. But something seems off about them.

Nothing to find on them though. Shall I check this tunnel?

What are those marks there? Was something dragged through here? Was the skeleton crushed or pushed aside? Because there's a definite trail of some sort of the floor.

Sure, why not? It looks like Stuff Has Happened here. You might as well check it out.

Don't go where bones are, that way lies danger. Go the other route.

Check for air flowing through both paths, then head through the one with a greater flow.

Kaed 2012/08/23(Thu)14:57 No. 446616 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134575905517.png - (133.63KB , 458x403 , Wat door.png )

>>446409
>>446431
>>446415
>>446453

Uhm... woah, slow down!

Okay, the one you think is dangerous does have more air coming out of it. So maybe it's the exit, even if it's dangerous?

Or should I go the safer route anyway?

I'm kind of confused now!

Sorry for confusing you... but I think the Bone route is probably the best.

Well, we don't know it's dangerous, but that path is more likely to have an exit with airflow. Bones it is.

Kaed 2012/08/23(Thu)15:13 No. 446620 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134576001532.png - (159.84KB , 458x403 , Click.png )

>>446617
>>446618

Alright then, here goes.

... stupid tiny tunne- hey, did you hear something click?

Probably just your imaginaOH SHIT

MECHANICAL TRAP!

getoutgetoutgetoutgetout...

Get out of the way, watch where it comes from tehn bash that spot... your big enough to seriously damage any sort of mechanism. Things just aren't built to deal with you.

Kaed 2012/08/23(Thu)15:29 No. 446626 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134576098145.png - (147.09KB , 458x403 , Quaint Decor.png )

>>446625

WHIIIIRRRRRRR

What, that noisy thing?

>>446623
>>446624

I don't think I care much for this cave decor!

Make sure you're out of it's way, and it can't hit you. Then see if you can break it.

OK our comfort levels just went way, way down. PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION

Break it, and proceed, watch out for additional traps... theres rarely just one.

Yeah, try to break it, but BE CAREFUL!

Kaed 2012/08/23(Thu)15:49 No. 446636 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134576218151.png - (130.18KB , 458x403 , Close Shave.png )

>>446629

YES CAUTION SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GOOD IDEAAAAAUGH

Are you OK!?

Well you broke it. The question is, did it break you?

Kaed 2012/08/23(Thu)16:01 No. 446650 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134576288205.png - (125.36KB , 458x403 , Sappy.png )

CLACKCLACKCLACKCLACK CRUUUUUNCH WHHIIIIiiirrrtinktinktink... tink

>>446628
>>446630
>>446634

Okay... that wasn't so bad. I'm still all in one piece... I think? Mostly?

... Yes.

And yeah, it's broken. It bounced off my back and onto the ceiling, then ground off all its uhm... cutty bits. I guess I was too big after all.

... Though I was pretty sure the stains weren't so brown before... or that drippy.

... Hmm. It smells like pine in here now.

Dang you must be a softwood then.

You must have gotten cut. You might want to check.

>>446650
Seems like you're made of pine. Also I'm betting you have metal shards in your back now. Pull them out so that you don't further injure yourself while scraping your back against these tunnels.

Your element is between earth and water. This might be a bit crude, but you could pack your wounds with earth and then water them to grow them back together. You're not really sure how you work at all besides that gem inside you that must not be broken at all costs.

Status Screen v1.0 Kaed 2012/08/24(Fri)14:21 No. 447068 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134584330728.gif - (84.92KB , 832x532 , Status Screen v1_0.gif )

>>446655

I'm a little cut, yeah. I'll manage though.

>>446661
None of them actually caught in my back, looks like. They'll all on the tunnel floor.. or in the ceiling.

>>446674
Gem? I have a gem? If I do, I can't tell where it is.... and there is not a premium of dirt around here, in stone caverns.

So, should I just continue through this tunnel, then?

Yes continue. Watch out for additional traps... try to spot openings like the one that saw came out of.

>>447070
And listen for any more clicks.

Did your backpack get damaged?

Its on his front thankfully

We got some increase in level of insight for your body here...
Say, would you like to have some name? Now would be a good point to get one you like...

Kaed 2012/08/24(Fri)14:51 No. 447080 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134584510863.png - (115.13KB , 458x403 , Tunnel Crawling.png )

>>447074

No, my FRONTpack was undamaged by my BACK wound, fortunately. The laws of causality remain stable.

But yeah, I'm keeping my eyes firmly out for more potential traps, trust me.





-click-

A pitfall trap? I'd have thought you'd be too big for any in here.

Just climb back out, or stand up. I doubt the trap designers were planning on someone your size.

Kaed 2012/08/24(Fri)15:08 No. 447087 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134584612233.png - (163.76KB , 458x403 , Fallin\'.png )

>>447085

Yeah, I actually don't think they intended size to be much of a factor, either.

But... good news is, I've found a way out.

Always think positive, right?

>>447079

Sure, why not. A name sounds nice. I've got a few moments to spare.

What a lovely sunrise...

Grab onto something I guess.

>>447088
Yeah, no way too tell how high you're up. A long fall could hurt.

Kaed 2012/08/24(Fri)15:28 No. 447090 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134584729417.png - (174.82KB , 458x403 , Sunlight.png )

>>447088
>>447089

Nothing to grab in the air...

I'll just grab onto the ground, I guess...

... and it did hurt...

... but more importantly...

... I still can drag myself out...

... into the sun...

... and rest here.

Make sure the laws of causality are still in effect before you think of a name.

Well... rest then. You're wood, hopefully sun and earth will get you back on your feet after a while.

END CHAPTER 1 Kaed 2012/08/24(Fri)15:32 No. 447094 ID: 1fcf1d
File 134584753516.png - (156.56KB , 458x403 , Chapter 1 End.png )

PROLOGUE COMPLETE