regrettably I will not be getting the update out today. between some depressive moments that cut work yesterday short, and sleep irregularities trying to be ready for jury duty, and errands I need to run this evening, I don't think I'm going to get things done today.
I'm at the tail end of this update's prep, so I should have something soon. I'll know tomorrow how jury duty will fuck things over, if at all.
regrettably I will not be getting the update out today. between some depressive moments that cut work yesterday short, and sleep irregularities trying to be ready for jury duty, and errands I need to run this evening, I don't think I'm going to get things done today.
I'm at the tail end of this update's prep, so I should have something soon. I'll know tomorrow how jury duty will fuck things over, if at all.
Thank you, that means a lot to hear!
Thankfully I wouldn't say there's a lack of interest.
I will admit I have my frustration with how long this section of things has taken me, but I've got a lot of interest for this coming sequence! A fair bit of the daydream plotting and design work is focused on background characters and concepts for Act 1, and wanting to get there keeps me working on things.
If I lose interest or somehow get frustrated enough to drop this quest I should have the sidequest project NERrium to put out. I've got several projects I want to do in this setting to say the least, and then there's all the original and fanfic quests I want to run as well, so this wouldn't be the last thing I try and make either.
Delays almost always end up being a mixture of mental health related, or physical health. I have unfortunately a bouquet of conditions, and sometimes I forget to pace myself or set healthy expectations for myself.
Anyway, I was part of the juror group who were dismissed rather than selected for the trial, and my 'cohort' was told we've completed the duty and will not need to come back tomorrow.
Today's probably not gonna be one I get work done, but I wasn't certain of that to begin with.
Zippi fidgets as they patiently wait while Klevas drops item after item into the portal to store away their excess items.. and it amazes Klevas a little as they seem to just vanish into that portal. Vae can see them drop neatly onto one of the tables, or neatly as they can with the bottles rolling to the side a little before coming to a rest. One protein bar drops into the cauldron only for the scrapbook to tip it over, and for the next protein bar to drop on the side of the cauldron.
Vae knows vae'll have to probably organize things in there later, but for now vae relaxes knowing vae won't have to worry as much if there's a need to run from something, or annoyingly have to try and climb up somewhere.
Klevas waves one of vaer arms upwards as if to tell Zippi to close their zippertail, and while it takes a couple tries they eventually get it.
"Huh.." vae says, and looks down at vaer cognion as vae says "easier than expected."
Vae looks back to the acolyte on the shrine's interface and says "I think we're ready to head out.. so is there going to be a map you give me of the NER?"
They chuckle with their usual smile, "Wouldn't that be lovely? An easy linear map from here to the safehouse you must reach.. but such a boon is one beyond this shrine's lowly capabilities."
They awkwardly chuckle, "I am likewise not that adept in seerage either.. one moment.."
a black background with white lines atop it. An example segpock leads to a hallway of doors where a mini klevas pawn shape (marked with the text, where the i's on "mini klevas" are dotted like eyeballs). Door A leads to an lake bed segpock, and onwards to C and D, which lead further to unknown segpocks. B leads to a forest, leading to D, E, and F segpocks. F does not lead anywhere, but the others lead to multiple segpocks. C and D lead to one of the same segpocks, with D and E leading also to the same. An unknown number of segpocks lie between the mini klevas and the goal, which is marked over a set of red doors with S A on one red door and F E on the other. There is an icon of a house in the bottom left corner of the double doors.
Klevas can hear sounds like scribbling from over the interface, and soon the shrine interface displays something new.
"This is a rough visualization of a NER, Klevas," they chirp out, "and also your goal traipsing this NER: a safehouse. There is almost always going to be one located somewhere within a NER, and finding it can involve a bit of guesswork at times.."
"In any voidtraipsing party there will be various roles, and that of the seer is often integral to pathing out from a NER and making passage elswhere." They explain, and scribble on a new note, "The Safe House broadcasts a signal of sorts.."
"Which is a boon to many like myself, as my seerage is limited much like this basal shrine is.."
"But through the connection and your sensorium shared I am granted an additional window into the NER as you traipse its bounds.." They say, "with this I may trace the pull of different routes.." They say trailing off into a sigh, "Yet I cannot trace much further than morsels.. the signal strength and the distance away in segpocks. Thankfully that is as much as most parties need anyway of a seer."
Klevas considers commenting on how much of vaer time so far has been hearing explanations of things that go over vaer head, but vae also considers that there isn't any significant benefit in making an issue out of it when vae could still run into the pursuer from earlier again.. so all vae does is give a nod before looking to Zippi.
Vaer starter bobs with a fresh zeal considering its life only began moments ago, so Klevas begins the same process as vae had before even meeting Caestellau..
Rather than try to head back the way vae came, Klevas begins to search the shrine segpock in hopes of finding the way to the next.
Klevas considers checking drawers, the spaces between shelves, and even in the wardrobes..
But decides to look towards the back instead, and finds that the rear exit the store would have had does seem to lead out to another segpock..
Klevas looks back to the shrine console for a moment and sees a Korite from within vaer field of vision looking back to the same,
"Do head on," they chime in, "I can remotely set the shrine to its hibernal state."
As this Korite speaks, Klevas sees the shrine console revert to it's original state, "As you can see our connection will remain established just fine."
A pink desert resembling Joshua Tree National Park. The sands, rock formation, and much of the foliage is pink. A rock formation with a natural tunnel leading to an even more pink area that looks larger on the inside is to the left behind a rest area.
The rest area includes a pink concrete bench, a pile of firewood, a camp grill, a large stone by the sidewalk path marking the campground zone, and in front of both the rock and marker are a group of blue wildflowers.
The sidewalk splits with one path leading to a rest stop, and the other behind it. There are blue flowers on the side of the rest stop and in front of a rock at the fork in the path. A one way only sign lies along the path behind the rest stop, and a similar sign with garbled and glitched text sticks out from the vent at the top of the rest stop.
The rest stop has a green button next to its open door, and a pile of fuschia and green buttons cluttering the opening. Next to the rest stop are orange palms of varying sizes, and pastel rocks closer to the viewer with more blue flowers.
In the foreground there is what looks like a one way sign with garbled text and an arrow to the left. Near the rock formation is a sign lying on the ground due to it being severed from the post. The rod still attached to it is dented. The background is a clear sky with only a couple clouds obscurring a snowy mountain rising far on the horizon.
Klevas finds the rear exit leads out... and into a desert of some sort.
Where the sands do not sit idle the desert scrub has taken root, and as vae looks out Klevas can see the desert valley stretch onwards into foothills and mountains alike on the horizon.
Immediately in front of vaem can be seen a rest stop. Some sort of structure sits to vaer right, and vae suspects it may be a restroom.. and to vaer left lies a rock formation.
Klevas can never quite tell where segpocks truly begin and end, as while there looks to be a clear threshhold it looks to be of the same desert even if it looks larger inside the formation than the exterior space says it should contain.
Klevas can be given commands.
Vae could Investigate vaer surroundings, Examine what may stand out, or even use Abilities vaer cognion may have.
Vae can also always Talk with others, and Traipse Elsewhere when the time comes.
This Quest uses voting to direct how the story progresses, and multiple types of voting.
With Choices, I've seen ways things can go, and have pre-written options. These will usually be story forks like "enter the left room first". I will try and communicate the risks and rewards, and other details like dice rolls.
With Commands, you can give any controllable character a command prompt. Maybe you want them to use a psychic power to affect the environment, or have one of their pets use their abilities. Maybe you want them to pick up a cool rock, or ask a specific question in a conversation. I may still roll dice, but these are for simpler and quicker actions. You can reference a character's personality traits to better show your reasoning, but I may also choose commands I find funny.
Please use brackets for each command line.
Your brackets should have an "x" or "X" in them.
A bit of this Quest started out with being inspired by point and click games, text adventures, and stuff like that.
Most commands can be used on what appears within background images, but may be used on inventory contents or a way to prompt a character to think about things.
[] Investigate: pick something to interact with. Roughly synonymous with "Interact" [] Consider: pick something for the character to think about. Roughly synonymous with "Examine" [] Traipse: Pick a direction to proceed from the present location. Future updates will have possible directions marked, and backtracking will become possible. Roughly synonymous with "Go".
These example commands are not required, but should give you an idea how to command characters. Feel free to get creative with your own ideas!
Party members and cognions alike may have abilities they can use in various situations. These range from psionic abilities to skills they've picked up.
Klevas lacks any particular special abilities at present.
To use an ability Zippi might have: [] Zippi: Use (ability) (context, such as "on the wall")
GLOMP!!
Pap
Inventory Access
Reunion
Simple Song
Dont worry too much about if something goes wrong, my storytelling style leans fluffy and forgiving even if I can go for the throat.
Death is not The End - [ Party ] members can die! That isn't to be equated with 'permadeath'. You can play cautiously all you like, but if things take a turn for the worst it isn't goodbye forever.
I make usage of something called a 'miracle roll' when it comes to death, and even after the worst happens it's possible a character will respawn somewhere else... but I give no guarantees they'll show back up before the next major arc begins.
For instance if Klevas is to die while exploring this NER, vae would likely respawn in another NER. I'd likely roll for it to see the circumstances (and there would be options outside of a NER should it happen), but so long as Zippi remains alive they would return to vaem.
(If Zippi is ensouled within Klevas's inner world on death, reunion wouldn't be necessary as they would be spirited away with Klevas on respawn).
Regardless of commands Klevas will Ask Korite about how the path forward looks.
As Klevas considers how to proceed, Zippi begins to investigate the new environment. Whether getting a closer look at the camp grill or the flowers they seem curious about this space, and Klevas finds vaemself thinking how the second place you've ever been to will probably be that much more interesting than the first.
Shifting weight from one "leg" to the other Klevas finds the sand too shifts around vaer tendrils. They're not too warm, but vae could imagine standing too long on the sand or the pavement alike could get uncomfortable..
Vae supposes vaer thankful there's a bench if vae sticks around for long, or even had to camp here..
Klevas was getting used to the idea of a threshold as the point where two segpocks might connect, and amidst the scenery the Rest Stop was what drew vaer attention first.
Specifically what lay about the doorway made vaem ask of Korite: "Any leads?"
It takes but a moment of them turning their attention to whatever interface they've played with on their end, and they answer a question with one of their own, "Yes, but why to the point so quickly?"
Instead of answering back immediately vae crouches to look at the buttons strewn about in the doorway. The assortment reminds vaem of where Caestellau enchanted vaer possessions, and the colors speak to vaer [ Creative ] side.
Would they be worth using in making a new instrument? Klevas feels like it's been too long.
"If you were worried about taking something belonging to someone," they chime as if to answer a question before it was asked, "unless a NER is so well-traveled.. you can assume that what you find has either been abandoned and unowned for some time, or spawned into existence free for the taking."
As Klevas looks about the rest stop vae notices that there seems to be a green button beside the door into the rest stop.. vae thinks it looks like one that should be on an elevator, but doesn't know what it would do if pressed.
For that matter vae finds vaemself asking, "Who propped the door open?"
A rock is wedged in front of the door to keep it open. The door has a handle on both sides. It has vents so it isn't for safety or anything like that...
"Have you considered it was born propped open?" Korite muses, "Have you looked up at the sky lately Klevas? Have you noticed there is no clearly defined light source? Have you noticed many of the shadows are independently informed of where they should point from each other?"
Vae feels slightly overwhelmed at the amount of questions asked, but understands this is probably a 'rhetorical question' and that no answer is truly being asked of vaem.. but vae still respond, "No? Why would it be 'born' at all?"
"This segpock had to have come into being somehow. You may as well call emerging from the uncosm of countless unconscious minds a birth.." They explain, and 'lean in' to however they record their projection, "Listen Klevas, it isn't my job to work out what a segpock was before it ended up in this NER. It could've been someone's dream, and that dream could've been based on trips they took to a park as a kid.. and it could've been based on a brochure they saw in passing. This could just be the result of a person's lifetime of visits to the park collapsing in on themselves as they breathed their last.. and that's before throwing in that the void plays endlessly with the contents that comprise it. This segpock could be the result of a thousand memories stitched together.." and when they finally lean back into their seat they sigh, "Sometimes it's worth questioning why things are, and sometimes it will serve you no benefit. The question is whether you want to change the state of the world around you, I guess."
Klevas rocks back and forth to tilt vaemself in a nodding motion, and says "So the door was always propped open?"
"I don't know. Nothing in the notes I can access about the 'open or closed' state of that part of this segpock," they say, "Could've been another voidtraipser, could've just been that way to begin with."
After a pause the acolyte flashes Klevas a wry grin, "Still waiting on an answer, by the way~" prompting Klevas to stop lingering on the door's status of being propped open.
Vae notices there is a small flower bed of the same blue flowers found throughout the segpock. Klevas feels [Curious] about their scent, and if they contain a natural dye of some sort given their strong color.
Vae wonders if they're safe to eat... maybe they'd be good in tea? Klevas feels like vae'd heard about a tea dyed blue from the flowers used for it.
Klevas notices that one of the signs posted throughout the segpock looks like it is sticking out of the.. is it an air vent? Vae doesn't think it's a chimney of all things, but the sign seems to have been wedged into that space. Vae wonders if it's stuck there... and what it's supposed to say.
Vae considers asking Korite who would put it there, but the idea of how to get it down appeals more. Vae could try to climb up atop the rest stop via the gaps in the wall or the palms... or maybe vae could ask Zippi to climb up?
Klevas decides..
[X] Investigate: Rest Stop Doorway
Klevas can feel Korite's attention on vaem.. "Hunch." Vae states, as vae looks into the rest stop..
The buttons strewn about are a different set of colors and shades, but it looks too similar for vaem to ignore, prompting vaem to ask "Can a NER have the same Segpock twice?"
(Korite statement of response bodily) "It is possible, but existing documentation does not show this segpock intersecting with the desert... but such is what happens when a NER is forced to re-align itself." They say, and Klevas can feel their gaze scan over the stairway as it leads down into depths unclear as the first time, "I expect what you bear witness to is one and the same segpock that you had traipsed prior."
Making vaer way over to the rock formation, as the alternative is hiking through the brush and up the mountainside in hopes of finding another connecting point to another segpock.. Klevas contemplates if it's really a natural rock formation.
The shapes all feel natural enough, but vae could swear the one atop feels like it should slide down and off...
"Worried about it collapsing on you?" Korite chimes in as though having read vaer mind, "Unlike the stairs this little tunnel's reliably been a part of the documentation for this NER, so by all accounts it should remain stable."
The smile the acolyte has as they interrupted vaer thoughts leaves Klevas suspecting they can see more than vae might want.
"If it's that much of a problem you may want to consider practicing warding when you get to Rememaudlin," Korite says as if to answer the question lingering in the air, "but hey, you can also ask me to let your doubts remain unanswered."
"Could ask you to stop as well," Klevas notes, and puts vaer tendrils to the rock face at the entrance, "Sturdy enough for flowers to grow.." vae says, looking up to see the same blue flowers growing throughout the desert collecting the same place where the moisture does.
Klevas feels like they are still within the same segpock, but the lighting has changed as they come out the other side only a short distance away. As though it falls differently, as though the skylight it filters through is a different rose-tinted lens coloring all below.
The blue flowers crowd the scenery before vaem, and Zippi bounds ahead to frolick among them, before bounding onto a rock to look back at you.
"I had grown certain this was the other path.." Korite makes note as you look ahead. "I am certain that the rock formation leads to the other means of egress.." They say, and begin to speak only to cut themselves off with a sigh, and starting again make out "it is documented" and cuts themselves off again with a groan, "this should be a safehouse route.."
Vae looks ahead, and seeing an archway that only connects to a cliff-face hazards a guess by asking "Wrong?"
"Yes, something is wrong," They reply with little delay, groaning as you can hear rapid tapping through the connection, "because of course the quick path dissociated in the re-alignment!"
Their frustrations return to the same cycle with little clear end.
"I.." Klevas begins to say, but is cut off
"The good news is that I have determined the (Technically) shorter path!" Korite exclaims, "And the bad news is that the segpocks are only adjacent, and that the longer path is (now) the shorter path!"
Korite immediately disappears from the chriilth'tyn's field of view, and for a moment it seems as if the connection had been remotely closed.
A distortion rolls through their senses for a moment informing vaem that this is not the case. Vaer left with the impression that the psychic scream had been 'muffled'.
The process rattles Klevas causing vaem to once again tense, tendrils drawing tight around their instrument concerned for dropping it.. but as vae looks about vae only sees Zippi staring back at vaem expectantly. Vae feels a little relief at knowing that however Korite is venting their frustration.. at least it isn't affecting the NER?
Vae feels like vaer first day in the void has been hectic enough without an alien managing to break something just by screaming.. so this is fine, right?
Vae feels like it'll need to be fine, as vae can feel something... like there's a thought vae can't let go of, as the connection widens back to its prior bandwidth and the acolyte returns.
Klevas is initially unsure, but still chooses to ask, "Are you.. okay?"
The acolyte says "No. The next segpock is still there, but you personally have no means of reaching it."
Klevas rocks vaer torso back and forth to nod, saying "Okay.."
Cutting off any further inquiries, Korite says "I need a moment."
The connection dims once more, and it's readily apparent once more how vaer head feels a little emptier than it has since vae activated the shrine. Being around others feels like a weight in its own right, but the psionic connection since the shrine has been a constant presence since it began... and vaer not sure if vae wants to be left alone for too long.
Klevas feels like they could probably reach the safehouse on their own, but isn't sure enough of the idea. It's different now knowing there's something worth avoiding in the NER, and vae feels lucky that vae didn't run into the [ Pursuer ] as it patrolled the NER.
Klevas doesn't feel like vae would have known what to do if vae had. Vaer response probably would have been more panicked than the first time, whether freezing up or running without any idea where vae was going.
Running into a corner and turning about only to see that gas masked head and gaunt form blocking the only way back..
Vae freezes up, and you prompt vaem to intone vaer instrument to call to Zippi. They immediately perk up looking at vaem with the same excitable interest, scampering through the flowers and between the rocks to reach vaer side.
Vae isn't quite sure where to pet Zippi, but brushes a tendril against the part of a mask shard they aren't gripping. The starter briefly flinches, but leans into the touch when they realize they're not going to be hurt. It's strange due to the icing glaze coating the ceramic, but so long as Klevas is gentle vae doesn't feel like vae'll break the glaze.
You prompt Klevas to head back to the main area as there was still more to check out, and so vae walks back to the rest stop through the tunnel, and vae thinks about how otherwise vae'll just be standing around waiting for Korite to come back.
The desert segpock vae'd traipsed into had a number of different signs posted about. Vae'd already noticed the one atop the rest stop, but vae'd passed right by the one that was toppled..
On closer inspection it wasn't toppled, but broken off.
Cut maybe? Klevas looks at the rod still inserted into the sands next to the rocks.. and notices it looks kind of like a cut, kind of like torn fabric.
So why did it look like the bar was dented on the part still attached to the sign?
Klevas doesn't know what could have done it, but feels like it is free scrap metal just laying there. Vae also realizes with the dent that it could be treated like a curved handle for the sign, and used like a blunt object maybe? Vae doesn't feel too confident about vaer strength when it comes to using it as a weapon, so maybe vae could use it for putting bread in an oven.. but vae realizes that's probably a silly use for it.
Vae might get tired carrying it around in vaer tendrils, but vaer inventory has plenty of space to spare. Whether the sign is taken or not, vae has options.
Klevas realizes vae'll have to decide on what to scavenge from the segpock later, as vae can feel the connection return to it's previous strength once more..
"I will keep this one brief.." They say as they bring up another visual to the chriilth'tyn's field of view.
"I know which direction is which now. I am not yet certain how long the available path will take you, but it should be under 10 segpocks. This does not change that the only way forwards (at present) is along that staircase."
The image shows Korite commenting on the disconnection of the desert from what they expect is an urban segpock, note labelled "Dissociation. How unfortunate."
Another note next to the rest stop says "Yeah Sorry"
unknown segpocks are labelled with repeated question marks, or brief guesses at what they are seeing.
It is clear to both Klevas and Korite alike that there is only one way forwards to safety for now.
The [ Party ] can be given commands
They could Investigate their surroundings, Examine what may stand out, or even use Abilities they may have.
They can also always Talk with those around them, and Traipse Elsewhere when the time comes.
[]Klevas: Attempt to climb the rest stopKlevas will attempt to climb the side of the rest stop to reach the roof and retrieve the sign. (Success requires a 75 or higher on a d100. Failures under 33 result in an injury for Klevas, may make future actions harder.) []Zippi: Attempt to climb the rest stopKlevas will attempt to give Zippi a boost up the side of the rest stop so that they can put the sign directly into the inventory. (Success requires a 65 or higher on a d100. Failures under 25 result in an injury for Zippi, and will disadvantage them in combat.)
[]Traipse Elsewhere: See where the Button Stairway leads. (If not chosen this update, Klevas will opt for it in the one after this).
Hey! Well, I'd meant to get this posted for Friday, but things get in the way now and again.
I'm unsure if I'll be updating the following week, as I do want to work on the prologue update I've been leaving on the wayside.. plus this next one could take me the whole week to work on, and idk if I'd be able to get it out by this coming friday, or saturday, or sunday =w=;;
The one thing I've been aware of with this sequence is that once I finally got us out of the vintage store segpock, it's all a lot easier... so long as I have my background images prepped. There's a detail or two that still needs prepwork, but we'll see how it goes.
Aside from that, did you know that the other forum I mirror this Art Quest on, Thousand Roads, is celebrating their 5 year anniversary? I didn't realize until the announcement was made there (as festivities were underway here), but it's kinda funny both have April Anniversaries right?
This update doesn't require any majority voting, but some feedback reminded me that I should be putting reminders to check the votes on the other mirror, as that helps transparency and collaboration.
[x]Klevas: Ask Korite if putting oneself in their own inventory is a bad idea.
[x]Zippi: Attempt to climb the rest stop
Depending on the outcomes of both of those, i.e. a go-ahead from Korite and actually climbing the rest stop,
[x]Klevas: Put self in inventory and then remove self.
[x]Klevas: Ask Korite if putting oneself in their own inventory is a bad idea.
[x]Zippi: Attempt to climb the rest stop
Depending on the outcomes of both of those, i.e. a go-ahead from Korite and actually climbing the rest stop,
[x]Klevas: Put self in inventory and then remove self.
[X]Klevas: Ask Korite if putting oneself in their own inventory is a bad idea.
[X]Zippi: Attempt to climb the rest stop
Depending on the outcomes of both of those, i.e. a go-ahead from Korite and actually climbing the rest stop,
[X]Klevas: Put self in inventory and then remove self.
Zippi fails.
Woops, did a second roll in setup (^=<>=^);;
Both pockets will by default be filled with a handful or two of buttons.
1d6 = 3 ; +2 Klevas now has 5 scoops-worth of buttons from the Desertified Button Stairway.
Klevas picked flower stacks comprise 3-4 sprigs of the blue flowers found in the Pink Desert Segpock of this NER. Klevas picks flowers from around the Rest Stop and Segpock.
1d3= 1 +1 = 2 Rolls of Blue Flower Sprigs. Klevas puts them in vaer messenger bag.
Klevas retrieved The Fallen Sign and put it in vaer inventory.
I'll have a mini update in the next day or two.
This is a fun one, as I've had the answer to this sort of idea set since a few months or so back.
If folks get to experimenting, well yup your starter is a portal to the Inner World and exploring those memories with ease.
Just, yknow, turns out it is risky doing that in the middle of a random place.
Since the plan involves "remove self" realtively easily, I'll be accepting that..
Still, since I rolled accidentally, yknow what I'm gonna be setting that as the result for rolling if anything goes wrong while inside.
This is because each turn that someone explores their innerscape / inventory while in an unstable location like a NER, or in a space that lacks privacy, this roll is to check is something happens to either the host environment or if there is a disruption.
This would range from the NER realigning itself and causing the innerscape exit to be a different segpock, or worse with the innerscape becoming unmoored from the segpock entirely.
This would range from a wild cognion wandering into the core memory, a predatory cognion trying to hunt Zippi or enter the innerscape.. and in a demiplane or similar space others might pass by, the risk of sophonts entering your core memory and possibly messing with things or ambushing a party member.
At 43, the roll isn't bad, so I'll be using it to do something I was already planning for.
This means I'll be rolling for where in the NER the [ Pursuer ] ended up after chasing Caestellau and your Party Lead.
( Secret Dice Roll = PASS )
Dont worry it's a merciful roll, I just can't share where I placed them down.
Every other turn I'll be rolling for the Pursuer's movement from here on out.
What do you think of the prototyped inventory formatting I'm working on?
There won't be a vote for 2.5, as it'll be dialogue / worldbuilding followed by the actual update with the inventory contents.
While Zippi fails to climb the rest stop, I will be having Klevas still attempt to do the inventory fuckery. Since Zippi was not injured, this won't have any penalties or further issues.
For a look at what I've been working on for 2.5
And this shitpost in response to a review given on Thousand Roads, which I may mirror due to the worldbuilding content of it
"alium" reminded me of the tumblr post meme, Our Friend The Allium, and the idea popped into my head of "Korite if the deiforme spheres were just slightly different"
no 2.5 update, or 3 I guess. at least not yet. I'll probably roll them into one.
things are delayed until next week anyway, probably. I have appointments during both tuesday and thursday, both some of my bigger workdays. if there is an update this week it may be sunday, as I've got plans saturday.
I haven't been able to get much of any serious work done for most of the last week, for one reason or another. Most days have amounted to "hm, really wish I hadn't bothered with taking my adderall" because I would've rather taken a tolerance break if I'd known it would play out this way.
I'll probably have another empty update at the end of this, whether I try a makeup update or not, just because I should really do a tolerance break.
I'll try and get to uploading the drabbles I'm doing for TR's anniversary here, as I'll have to upload them to TR anyway.
The two out of three are the only work I feel I've gotten done in the last week.
Well, I was and am intrigued by the sign, but... for whatever reason I really want the flowers more at the moment, lol. Can never have too many pretty flowers. Let's do it.
[x]Klevas: Ask Korite if putting oneself in their own inventory is a bad idea.
[x]Zippi: Attempt to climb the rest stop
Depending on the outcomes of both of those, i.e. a go-ahead from Korite and actually climbing the rest stop,
[x]Klevas: Put self in inventory and then remove self.
Vae realize it's going to be difficult for vaem to climb up, so Klevas calls out a whistling note to get Zippi's attention.
If vae can't climb easily, vae can always give vaer starter a boost up right?
Vaer starter is a bit heavier than vae had expected... but once they were overhead it became a matter of stamina holding the position while they got a grip.
Their tail swung back and forth the same way it did when vae called them over, and it gave vaem the sense that if Zippi wasn't careful that oversized clip could take a chip out of vaer instrument!
Vae did find it awfully cute the way they swung it about while trying to get a grip on the ledge. Limbs made out of wrapper foil, animated or not, didn't exactly make for the best ones to grasp objects with vae supposed..
[ Zippi attempts to climb the rest stop ]
The tail though... that presents a thought to the forefront of vaer mind..
If vaer inventory links to vaer inner world, and zippi's tail can open pretty wide... Could vae just hop in?
"So.. weird question.." vae starts, and the look Korite gives vaem does not fill vaem with an excess of confidence as vae continues "but I can just put myself in my inventory right? Would that be a bad idea?"
[ Zippi needs a 65 or higher to succeed ]
"Yes." They say immediately.
Several seconds pass before the acolyte fills the silence once more, "Yes, it would."
"Most sophonts, in fact, would advise against you doing that."
[ Rolling . . . ]
[ curious ]-ity sparked, Klevas feels the need to ask, "Okay, but Why?"
"Your inventory rather directly links to the interior of your Self." They say, "Being within your own metaphysicality is by no means the problem, countless people do it all the time. Your's Truly prefers slumbering within the comfort of my innerspace, for instance."
"Where the bad part of this idea comes from is doing it without any precautions." They expand, "Where I work allows and encourages us to have an altered version of the memory of our office cubicle to enlarge and personalize the space. This office may not be perfectly private, but it is not open to the public nor do cognions wander it."
The space Korite worked in did seem to be an office cubicle of sorts, and from what Klevas could remember they didn't tend to be so spacious.. vae would wonder if everyone worked in such a setup in the same place as Korite, but that seemed the case from what they'd just said.
The sound of a soft thudding and sand being displaced from behind vaem makes Klevas say "One moment."
Klevas can hear Korite sighing and saying "yes, do as you will, my expositories will await you." as vae turns about..
[ Zippi rolled a 53. ]
[ Roll Failed. ]
It seems Zippi fell while trying to climb atop the shelter..
Klevas considers checking them out thoroughly, but Zippi rolls over to upright themselves fairly readily and shakes off the dirt without too much delay. Vae can clearly see that vaer starter has some dented and dirtied glazing, but Zippi doesn't seem particularly injured or upset about their fall.
"Sorry about that.." Klevas says, as vae realizes that they probably fell because vae got distracted, "You okay?" vae asks to be sure.
Zippi's tail swings back and forth as it did before and they hum a couple notes at the chriilth'tyn as if to confirm they are fine... and steps closer so that they can nuzzle Klevas. It seems to vaem like vaer starter isn't mad at vaem either.
Negrek from Thousand Roads said:
Well, I was and am intrigued by the sign, but... for whatever reason I really want the flowers more at the moment, lol. Can never have too many pretty flowers. Let's do it.
It comes to mind that while vae're on a break from Korite's explanation, vae could collect flowers for later.
Klevas holds vaer sleeves out and takes a good look for any spots where vaer coat weave has grown in long enough, and sets to tugging free strands of fiber vae'd be shedding anyway from vaer hoodie. After this vae sorts through the flower bed at the bathroom to find points where the plants diverge so that vae're not taking the whole plant, and constricts a tendril around the base to weaken the connection before breaking it off. All vae has to do is repeat the process enough times, and then bind the collected sprigs with shedded strands.
As Klevas is about to get up vae takes another look at the entrance to the button staircase, and begins to group some of vaer digit tendrils to form a holding space, and the others to funnel the buttons to scoop handfuls to fill vaer pockets. The way the magenta and mint tinted buttons caught the light told vaem that they'd make a good accent for whatever project vae worked them into. Vae only gets the single scoop from the doorway, and has to take from the landing where the stairs turn about from the doorway to scoop more out.. though it doesn't take much more effort to grab a few more scoops for vaer bag, so they opt for that as well.
It's almost a shame vae didn't get to pack away the buttons before they changed colors in the NER's restructuring, but vae feels accomplished in doing that now rather than having to backtrack for it.. from the sound of things there wasn't any guarantee that the stairway would be here linked to the bathroom if vae came back again. The magenta and mint buttons are vaer's now, however, so it's some consolation that vae wont miss out on this version of them.
Klevas turns vaer attention back to vaer conversational partner and waves a couple unoccupied tendrils poking out the side of vaer instrument to signal that vae're ready for the acolyte to continue.
Korite readily picks up from where they left off, "Voidtraipsers, those who delve into and traipse from NER to Demiplane to Folded Worlds and beyond alike.. if for whatever reason they deem it worthwhile to explore themselves while out in the open, often observe a more layered 'buddy system'." The alien acolyte brought up a visualization of an individual walking into a free-standing doorway through which elsewhere awaited. "If one person is within, another is without and watching guard." They state, as another figure stands with what looks like crackling electricity orbiting them.
That same visual changes to one of the portal standing idle while the other fends off a tripedal wolf-like beast, "The idea is that no uninvited guests begin to explore one's innerscape.."
They shudder before saying "and I want you to understand that there is something uncomfortable about visiting a cherished memory to find things are not as you left them.. this is also why a common piece of ettiquette is that you shouldn't leave your innerscape standing wide open in the middle of a public space." The visual cues up to be one of a more populated environment as more placeholder people pass by the same open door, "It's all well and good to take a nap or to retrieve something, so long as you don't find some stranger has wandered in and decided to go through your things.. let alone if an antagoniste wanted to ply their trade upon you."
The word 'antagoniste' comes off with a twist in how it's said that keys Klevas into it being another of those 'void things', that Korite isn't talking about a book's plot, but vae opts to not derail and smooth the moment over by offering "Have you ever heard the phrase 'an open door is an invitation' ?"
Korite blinks their glowing eye at the chriilth'tyn from across the telepathic conduit, "I.. I think I understand the expression?"
"I think if I left my memory open to others and someone took something they needed I dont think I'd mind too much?" Klevas says, "But, hm, if I needed it.. but I guess if I'm doing that 'in public' like you said, I'd know then?" Mulling it over, Klevas turns about towards the picnic table to look over things. The segpocks vae'd traipsed through weren't the same as someone's personal memories, "I was unsure of taking things back when I woke up even when I hadn't seen anyone around for.. it felt like I might never run into anyone right?" Vae says with the answer clearly being otherwise now "Sometimes that's how it could be on the surface, but.. it still felt like I was being watched, or like I was in someone's nesting site. I know other species build on the surface and stuff.." and vae couldn't always count on others holding the same values, and begins to find vaemself rambling..
Vae comes to realize vaer point probably isn't any clearer, and that vae're not quite sure what the point of this was.. trailing off as a consequence.
Korite seems as though they aren't sure what to say either, but tilts their head as if to ask if vae had more to say on the matter, as if to ask if it was rude to interrupt vaem..
So vae says, "It's not important.. please, continue"
"Your innerscape is anchored to You and Zippi alike. When Zippi is ensouled within you, your innerscape is still attached to you, and so they can return wherever you traipse. When within your Self, Zippi remains an anchor."
"You are in a NER presently, and not within a segpock intended for sheltering. This introduces such problems: How will you know if another cognion, hunting, thinks Zippi looks delectable? What happens should Zippi perish while you are inside yourself?"
There's a pit growing at the core of vaer skeletal system.. the chriilth'tyn is at a loss for what to really say here to the idea of Zippi being hurt while vae weren't around..
That contemplation isn't given long before Korite continues to press by asking "What happens if both you and Zippi occupy your innerscape? And what of the NER's layout shuffling once more while you occupy yourself?"
Vae mostly wants to say that vae understands the concepts being talked about.. but this one.. "I'd still be in the NER?" Klevas asks as to offer something so that there isn't another silence left to sit.
The acolyte merely shakes their head, "What fragile connection you both had occupying the NER comes undone and you come unmoored. This is the same were your Zippi to perish, were you both to occupy the innerscape, or the NER to shuffle its layout once more."
That phrase... 'unmoored', it's connected to how they talked about an anchor.. but ensouling, was that the same?
Vaer inventory is something vae can use with Zippi's help, and Zippi's core thing is connected to vaer core memory.. which is the innerscape, Klevas thinks, but wonders if vaer assuming anything there.. and that when Zippi is within vaer inner world, Zippi is inside them? Klevas figures the 'ensoul' thing is about being inside vaer soul, probably?
Klevas realizes Korite has been looking at them waiting for some acknowledgement, so vae asks, "Ensouling?"
"I believe I.." They say, pausing, and you can see their eye repeatedly bounce back and forth from the top to the bottom of the bounds of their incense cloud, "Wondrous... .... .... I had not explained that.."
"I had however shown you this visualization of a keeper, their cognion, and their innerscape." They say, "This is ensouling.. You'll probably want to do that before traipsing down the stairs all things considered, but.." They pause again, and hum to themselves, "It sometimes phrased as welcoming something into you? Think of it like putting Zippi in your inventory.."
They huff, and look back to their end of the telepathic conduit, "Now, to return to what I was saying.. we will assume you were to add yourself to your own inventory, to ensoul yourself, to visit your innerscape, and all was fine..." They say, and shrug, "All is fine, of course, but I will remind you: NERs are not static in their composition or layout. At any time the NER may decide it would be best if two segpocks were not connected to each other," Korite adds onto their explanation yet further, "And were Zippi to be within either segpock while you were traipsing your innerscape, there would be a risk of You coming unmoored from the NER all the same."
Klevas decides now would be best to interject, "when you say unmoored..."
"I mean that you would not be within the NER. You would be nowhere... and everywhere at once. Complete and total immersion within the void itself," They say, and sigh, "Well the good news is that you'd likely just get spat back out into another NER, the same as if you were to die and not embrace oblivion.."
Korite seems to understand now is an alright time to speak, "It is only a bad idea in the wrong circumstances. If you were at a dormitory, a safehouse, or somewhere else that offered both stability and privacy.. both you and Zippi could co-occupy your innerscape swimmingly."
"Frankly, I will be distraught if you were to vanish, but it would not be the first time some acolyte was working on a questant call from a shrine, only for the questant to vanish from the NER entirely." They say, "So while I may caution you... it is always your right to act on bad ideas... ill-informed as they may be."
Klevas tilts vaer instrument to the side to show a touch of confusion, prompting the acolyte to say further, "I don't see any merit to exploring your singular accessible memory at present. At best you could move some chairs around manually, or manually retrieve tablecloths." They say, and lean back into the cushions of their office chair, "It isn't as though you could be breaking down the contents into their component noemes and doing any sort of crafting with them, nor do you have a need to retire and rest within your innerscape. The Safehouse is close enough that you could traipse there before you tire out."
Vaer left to hum as vae considers everything Korite's been saying, and decides to voice that "I won't be in there long?" vae says, "In and out isn't that much of a risk it sounds like.."
The corner of their mouth curls as they say "This came off as condescension and a scolding hasn't it?" The chriilth'tyn isn't sure vae'd go so far so vae only shrugs as the acolyte continues, "My response may seem odd.. Im sure for folded folk the idea of visiting and rifling through cherished memories, places that no longer materially exist on your folded homeworld.. I'm sure that is a gland stimulating experience," They say with a mock wonder to their voice, and Klevas is glad vae cannot 'frown' the way a creature like Korite can..
Their attention drifts as they look off as though distracted by something on their end.. but they still look back to Klevas and rounding off what they'd said, "But in-and-out, a short while only, well that is your risk to take."
They sit back up enough to look at Klevas, "Sometimes it is best sophonts learn from doing, so please continue at your leisure. I will await you when you finish."
By the bench Zippi trots about the rest area idly. They prod at the grill a few times, and if they had a nose or muzzle Klevas expects they'd be sniffing for whatever might be inside it.
Zippi turns about when they hear Klevas play a couple notes to grab their attention, and as they come over Klevas asks them to open up their zipper.
The starter's tail flicks from one side to the opposite, and they tilt in some seeming of confusion.
You decide to try out another gesture, and Klevas this time raises up one of vaer arms and asks them to open up their zipper as vae lowers vaer arm. Vae repeat the command, and this time Zippi's zipper moves a bit as though to confirm what Klevas is asking for. Vae tilts vaer mask and torso in a nodding motion and plays a couple notes, and the starter opens further.
The chriilth'tyn isn't terribly concerned whether the bench will hold vaer weight as vae climbs atop, but vae are concerned about if vae'll be able to hop into the cognion's aperture..
Vae makes the leap anyway, and feels the wisp-like membrane separating the NER's space from vaer inner world spread like a mist as the tendrils poking out the bottom of vaer jeans.. a sudden shift in the humidity to something less arid, and a stable temperature compared to the muted warmth of a desert approaching midday.
Something goes here about Klevas finding the room familiar, albeit a bit cluttered
Well.. this is messier than Klevas remembers the place.
With a memory as an inventory system vaer head could get cluttered fast, vae realizes..
The clutter could be worse, but Klevas has a hunch sorting it all out would take a little more time than they have to scope the area about... it isn't particularly well-lit in parts, and it feels like there's a literal brainfog clouding those areas as well. Klevas finds vaemself wondering if this is just a normal part of amnesia, but vae also knows being able to actually explore a memory isn't normal for most people at this point. Well at least people they would've known back home, as it sounds like the people (sophonts?) Korite knows do this sort of thing regularly.
Vae doesn't delay in playing out a few notes in hopes of getting Zippi's attention.
It takes a couple tries, but eventually vae see a zipper open jsut a bit in front of the doorway, and vae ducks to step through and back into the desert.. yeah it's definitely a little warmer out in the segpock.
There wasn't much left to stick around for Klevas reasoned. Vae could maybe gather some of the other things within the segpock, but otherwise? Vae had a safehouse to find.
The sign did stick out though.. so vae looked to Zippi and played out a couple notes, lifting up an arm. Zippi wags their tail out and up to let the zipper keychain slide down it's length and over to the front of their body, opening up to vaer core memory.
The sign is definitely a long piece of metal vae supposes from the weight, and vae manages to lift it up over the opening before dropping it down and watching it disappear into vaer starter.
Zippi tilts themselves to 'look' up at Klevas expectantly, and vaer left to think what else vae could do before moving on..
The [ Party ] can be given commands
They could Investigate their surroundings, Examine what may stand out, or even use Abilities they may have.
They can also always Talk with those around them, and Traipse Elsewhere when the time comes.
Klevas will Traipse down the stairway next update.
You can read the mirrored update on Thousand Roads, and see commands voted for there.
Voting closes June 5th at 3 pm PST.
WELP. I was hopeful I could get a few updates out in May, but various things had other plans. Whether it was a series of errands needing to be run during the time I set aside for working on this comic, or personal life / mental health needing attending to, or getting sick with strep again... I was able to work on this update over the last month, buuuut not as much as desired. This is about a normal update's week or two's worth of work that got spread out over a month.
This update got reworked a bit here and there. I realized I'd hit the image limit for a single post on SV during planning and went from "nah I dont need to split this update" to "no, this update needs splitting"... soooo I'll be trying to get a shorter update out next week. The voting choice I'd planned for this update will be in the next one.
Current pipeline will range from
Finally setting up the new profile page for Klevas
Prologue update 5 (part 1), whenever it happens
Rough drafting models for Act 1's opening animation / the background art for that
Background images for the next few updates
Character and Cognion designs, whether for the extras I'll be uploading to SV or updates.
Hope you're looking forward to summer! Happy pride!!
was hoping to get this update out today, but I've struggled to do much work this week despite being mostly free.
should have one out next week, though I may try to frankenstein this update with the one I wanted to put out next week.
hey there, I'm unlikely to get an update out this week due to a mixture of factors.
Due to existing plans for next week, I dont think I'm going to get an update out next friday either.
Due to my pacing issues, I'm not confident I'll be able to get things to where they need to be before the 1 year anniversary. I've had plans for a while to try and animate an intro to Act 1, but as it's looking right now I'd need to juggle trying to work on weekly updates, the prologue updates, and animating while juggling everything else in my life.
There's a chance this is the depressive episode talking, but I am otherwise concerned making further updates may be a matter of sunk cost fallacy thinking. I may cancel the project and move onto something else in the same setting, idk.
hey there, I'm unlikely to get an update out this week due to a mixture of factors.
Due to existing plans for next week, I dont think I'm going to get an update out next friday either.
Due to my pacing issues, I'm not confident I'll be able to get things to where they need to be before the 1 year anniversary. I've had plans for a while to try and animate an intro to Act 1, but as it's looking right now I'd need to juggle trying to work on weekly updates, the prologue updates, and animating while juggling everything else in my life.
There's a chance this is the depressive episode talking, but I am otherwise concerned making further updates may be a matter of sunk cost fallacy thinking. I may cancel the project and move onto something else in the same setting, idk.
Depressive episode seems to have passed, kinda frustrating that I'll be pretty deep in it until suddenly I'm just not, but hey, I got some work done today.
This is a test post. The actual content is an animated webp I'm testing out on both forums, but I'll be redacting it due to update spoilers.
nothing here anymore!
it worked! I'll be sticking with webp from here on out, and tentatively may unfuck a gif or two in the future (like, months from now) so that the colors aren't squashed
also while I'm here, thank you, this was reassuring to hear. I'm still frustrated with how things have been paced, but I'm feeling better about how I might still be able to achieve my goals. might not be as ✨ grandiose ✨ as I compulsively envision it at times, but I'll still get where I need to be with things hopefully
I've been fascinated by evolution quests for a hot minute, and decided to draft out two experiments where I play with the formula. This art quest will be divided into three arcs (which will each have their own thread). The starting point will be a biological colony ship that's crash-landed.. but...
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
I intend to have any monsters that show up in this quest be cognion-viable, and that worldbuilding in this setting be interactable via my voidverse setting. While this quest takes place within a 'folded universe', that doesn't mean things can't find their way to the void sooner or later.
I've had a busy last few weeks again, so I'm trying to get an update together for this week, but we'll see how it goes as I try to balance it with Summerfest.
If we dont make it to the showdown round, I'll be putting HntaaGB on the backburners until I feel like finishing arc 1, so it's possible this wont take over the time I have for HntaaGB
I've been busy in real-life and otherwise. The usual "life keeps going faster and faster" trying to keep up with any number of things.
Questant definitely could've been paced better, and the track I'd wanted to get things on by the 1 year anniversary were a bit different than the latest accidental hiatus.
The plan so far is to get 1, maybe 2, very loose updates put out.
They'll be different, however:
The next couple updates will be 'on-rails', so there wont be any choices.
I really wanted to give yall a narrative puzzle, but I designed it assuming I could get all the prologue updates done in-time. I got a bit too in my head about drafting those last four updates, and work on them hasn't happened in a while, so while I may go back to them, the 'prologue' is a perma-hiatus
Questant as it stood was meant to be a tutorial dungeon before opening into a sandbox. The tutorial dungeon hasnt panned out as intended, and while I could keep doing sporadic updates, it truly is something I struggle to put my adhd attention into even with medication, caffeination, and a couple supplements intended to work with my adhd meds.
All that together? these updates will be messy. they might be 'clip show' with scene skips.
"here's that lore talk, some light setup, the puzzle, the puzzle solved" - Klevas takes the shortest route, and gets a new usable item.
Caestellau rejoins the party, interaction with The Cleric (talksprite will be... placeholder sketch =w=;, interaction with Caestellau's friend (may reuse the panel sketch). This one will host the only choice, if I manage it
Loose animation prelude to what comes next
So that's 1, maybe 2 updates. A lot lower quality on any account for my standards, but this sometimes feels torturously slow of a narrative to run, and I expect for readers it's about the same. This was meant to be gradual, but oh boy weekly updates weren't something I could manage.
What comes after this? New thread. I want a cleaner slate for newer readers to be introduced to, and less of a slow-burn.
If people want the vibes, the backstory, they can check this thread out, but otherwise? I'll have a loose recap.
What creative time I've had has gone into either Bioship's prep (which is nearly done, so that'll resume sometime october / november - I may cancel it, but optimistic right now), and chipping away at how I want to open Act 1
I'm not 100% sure I'll manage it for the oct 1st deadline, but we'll see.
animation delayed to 1st, backup anniversary in prepNew
Regretful news, im not finishing the project by the 1st, ehich I'd plqnnwd for the anniversary
this weeekends gonna be the attempt for a "here's what questant is metaplot wise, here's what happened next, here are examples of what Klevas will be able to do after a brief "here is the town" sequence to familiarize further" update to round off the thread.
, interaction with Caestellau's friend (may reuse the panel sketch). This one will host the only choice, if I manage it