Carving out the future (pt.6)
Kkutlord
Prince of Breath
- Location
- Indianapolis, Indiana
While collecting the shield now would be nice, this would obviously be an event flag for a scripted battle in a video game. Plus, if removing one artifact activated all these symbols and lights, there's no telling what removing more would do.
Sure, you could just embrace protagonist logic, but plot armor and reloads aren't a thing. Geez, maybe you should of said no and just... do what? Ignore the existence of magic?
What you do know, is that you haven't gotten harassed by magic robots or bound spirits yet. So, you could probably get Sabrina's vessel without issue. Turning to look at Sabrina, you wince a little at her soulful silver eyes looking back at you. She definitely seems worried for that shield...
"We should hold off for now Sabrina, I'm worried removing the shield might trigger something. Your sword wasn't put back, so we should get that first. Besides, we should look for your sheathe too, remember?"
Frowning a little, Sabrina glances at the shield. For a moment, you're worried she might free the shield anyways, but she turns away as she rubs her arms again. "We, we have to free her later, o-okay?"
Rubbing your neck as you focus on her, you let out a sigh and give a look of reassurance. "Yeah, if nothing comes up, then we'll come back for... her. Even got a name in mind already."
That causes Sabrina to smile a little, and you proceed to slide back into the hallway. Glancing around, you're... a little disappointed something didn't happen? God, it hasn't really sunk in fully has it?
Still, it seems just entering a room doesn't trigger anything, and the symbol is even still present above the doorway. You'll know for sure what it means once you return to Sabrina's vessel.
Though you continue to be cautious, and even re-examine things as you pass, there really doesn't seem to be anything new. Still, since you aren't in a rush like yesterday, you actually notice that this route doesn't seem nearly as long as the starting hall.
Hmm, was the vault extending too far for Amirose's Tree, so they stopped here? Alternatively, given all the symbol-less rooms for the 'shield route', maybe there just wasn't enough artifacts of specific types to merit further expansion?
Whatever the case, you soon shift over to the 'sword route' and start examining the surroundings. Unlike the other route, the majority of these doorways have symbols above them, and in fact you only spot two that lack one.
Then there's the runic lights, which actually seem brighter than the starting route. Other than that, the only thing to catch your attention is the symbol above Sabrina's room. Specifically, the fact it is fading in and out somewhat erratically, like it is confused.
Huh, that's not... concerning. Peering through the doorway, there's definitely green lights all over the place like the shield's room, and once you slide through it becomes clear the stand got a similar change.
Looking over to Sabrina's broken vessel, your gaze lingers on it. Because of your carelessness, your want for something exciting, you accidentally created a person and are now slowly piecing together an age of magic.
Isn't that funny? Being cautious then would of resulted in you just calling up some news channel and getting fifteen minutes of fame, whilst being barred off from coming back and Sabrina never being reborn- lest not by you.
Speaking of Sabrina, you spot her fixating on the presence of her broken vessel. Blinking, you're surprised by the embarrassed look on her face. Wait, no, you did swing her vessel around like an idiot and broke it by pure accident.
Wow, you must really be ruining all her notions of you being some badass that specifically chose her of all options. You'll definitely need to figure out why she knows some of this magic stuff, eventually anyways.
Seeing Sabrina approach her broken vessel, there's a reverential air about her. The whole reason you chose to come now was to help her process being a human, so you won't interfere.
Still, you decide to briefly analyze the room while she has her big personal moment. Overall, you don't spot any obvious signs of hidden extras or secret passages, though it might be magically hidden. In which case, you can't really do anything, especially since hacking the roots might just make it permanently inaccessible.
"Huh!?" Eyes darting wildly to focus on Sabrina, you stop in place upon processing the sight before you: the shattered blade and hilt sinking into Sabrina's body, as she begins glowing.
Then, you instinctively close your eyes as a bright light flashes out. Blinking your eyes open, you look at Sabrina initially with worry... but soon calm down, as nothing seemed to change.
Wait, actually... did she get taller? She certainly seems to be puzzled by what happened, so it can't be any major change. Still, this wasn't quite expected... "Sabrina, do you... do you know what just happened?"
Sabrina glancing at you, her face seems slightly more mature than before. Curling and uncurling her fingers experimentally, even her voice sounds slightly more grown. "I picked up my vessel, and then... it was like I fixed something wrong with me. I feel... I feel great!"
Smiling at you, there's this twinkle in her eyes, like Sabrina rediscovered something important to her. Speaking of... "Have you sensed your sheathe yet? I can't tell if there's anything hiding it- her in here."
Watching as she glances around the room, her expression frowns as she begins moving about as well. Hearing some slight shifting as a bit of dirt falls on your head, you brush it off as you hear Sabrina make an annoyed "Hmph".
"No, she isn't here, but... she was, back when I was sealed down here. It doesn't make sense though! She should be here, yet there's nothing even broken that seems like her!"
Hmm, maybe the rooms with symbols are making it difficult for her to identify her sheathe? There has to be a reason these rooms are filled with- hearing more shifting above you, your eyes widen as it clicks.
"Sabrina, does this place employ-" You abruptly stop yourself, as an arm of dirt emerges from the wall behind the artifact stand. Soon, a leg 'pulls' itself free, and a crude body of compacted dirt steps forwards.
Sweeping its gaze between you and Sabrina, the thing is voiceless, yet its purpose is clear: that thing is the missing security measure. Did it react to Sabrina absorbing her broken vessel? Whatever, you two need to act fast.
-- How do you handle this?
[] Have Sabrina attack it, she's the one with superpowers.
[] Fight it yourself, what kind of 'father' makes his kid fight a monster?
[] Take it on together, you might not have power but you can distract it so Sabrina can 'recharge' after attacking.
[] Run for it, you have no idea how difficult this thing is!
[] Write-In
-- What do you do after running/winning? (multiple actions allowed if not mutually exclusive)
[] Head back to the shield quickly, better not waste time.
[] Investigate the other rooms, the sheathe might be in one of them.
[] Sabrina got her vessel, time to go for now.
[] Write-In
A/N: Given this is the first fight, it isn't particularly difficult. That said, the one that'd be triggered removing the shield would be weaker, reflecting the theory that section didn't receive as much attention. Regarding there being an encounter at all, it was basically a coin toss- the security system being super confused due to Sabrina's vessel having been removed during the mostly-inactive state.
Future "Forsaken Vaults" that are more intact will be noticeably different, so the "Amirose's Tree Vault" is basically the starter area introducing the basics of Forsaken Vaults. Regarding the Sheathe, I'll admit she wasn't one of the five originally planned, but she'll appear eventually. In all honesty, she'll likely be in a different Vault, more because I hadn't planned on introducing two new Artifact Daughters at the same time.
As for my update rate... I'm mostly updating as quickly as I am to get things rolling. Though if there's a long enough stretch of no additional votes (about 12 hours) after 3 votes, then I'll update instead of waiting hours for a 4th vote.
Sure, you could just embrace protagonist logic, but plot armor and reloads aren't a thing. Geez, maybe you should of said no and just... do what? Ignore the existence of magic?
What you do know, is that you haven't gotten harassed by magic robots or bound spirits yet. So, you could probably get Sabrina's vessel without issue. Turning to look at Sabrina, you wince a little at her soulful silver eyes looking back at you. She definitely seems worried for that shield...
"We should hold off for now Sabrina, I'm worried removing the shield might trigger something. Your sword wasn't put back, so we should get that first. Besides, we should look for your sheathe too, remember?"
Frowning a little, Sabrina glances at the shield. For a moment, you're worried she might free the shield anyways, but she turns away as she rubs her arms again. "We, we have to free her later, o-okay?"
Rubbing your neck as you focus on her, you let out a sigh and give a look of reassurance. "Yeah, if nothing comes up, then we'll come back for... her. Even got a name in mind already."
That causes Sabrina to smile a little, and you proceed to slide back into the hallway. Glancing around, you're... a little disappointed something didn't happen? God, it hasn't really sunk in fully has it?
Still, it seems just entering a room doesn't trigger anything, and the symbol is even still present above the doorway. You'll know for sure what it means once you return to Sabrina's vessel.
Though you continue to be cautious, and even re-examine things as you pass, there really doesn't seem to be anything new. Still, since you aren't in a rush like yesterday, you actually notice that this route doesn't seem nearly as long as the starting hall.
Hmm, was the vault extending too far for Amirose's Tree, so they stopped here? Alternatively, given all the symbol-less rooms for the 'shield route', maybe there just wasn't enough artifacts of specific types to merit further expansion?
Whatever the case, you soon shift over to the 'sword route' and start examining the surroundings. Unlike the other route, the majority of these doorways have symbols above them, and in fact you only spot two that lack one.
Then there's the runic lights, which actually seem brighter than the starting route. Other than that, the only thing to catch your attention is the symbol above Sabrina's room. Specifically, the fact it is fading in and out somewhat erratically, like it is confused.
Huh, that's not... concerning. Peering through the doorway, there's definitely green lights all over the place like the shield's room, and once you slide through it becomes clear the stand got a similar change.
Looking over to Sabrina's broken vessel, your gaze lingers on it. Because of your carelessness, your want for something exciting, you accidentally created a person and are now slowly piecing together an age of magic.
Isn't that funny? Being cautious then would of resulted in you just calling up some news channel and getting fifteen minutes of fame, whilst being barred off from coming back and Sabrina never being reborn- lest not by you.
Speaking of Sabrina, you spot her fixating on the presence of her broken vessel. Blinking, you're surprised by the embarrassed look on her face. Wait, no, you did swing her vessel around like an idiot and broke it by pure accident.
Wow, you must really be ruining all her notions of you being some badass that specifically chose her of all options. You'll definitely need to figure out why she knows some of this magic stuff, eventually anyways.
Seeing Sabrina approach her broken vessel, there's a reverential air about her. The whole reason you chose to come now was to help her process being a human, so you won't interfere.
Still, you decide to briefly analyze the room while she has her big personal moment. Overall, you don't spot any obvious signs of hidden extras or secret passages, though it might be magically hidden. In which case, you can't really do anything, especially since hacking the roots might just make it permanently inaccessible.
"Huh!?" Eyes darting wildly to focus on Sabrina, you stop in place upon processing the sight before you: the shattered blade and hilt sinking into Sabrina's body, as she begins glowing.
Then, you instinctively close your eyes as a bright light flashes out. Blinking your eyes open, you look at Sabrina initially with worry... but soon calm down, as nothing seemed to change.
Wait, actually... did she get taller? She certainly seems to be puzzled by what happened, so it can't be any major change. Still, this wasn't quite expected... "Sabrina, do you... do you know what just happened?"
Sabrina glancing at you, her face seems slightly more mature than before. Curling and uncurling her fingers experimentally, even her voice sounds slightly more grown. "I picked up my vessel, and then... it was like I fixed something wrong with me. I feel... I feel great!"
Smiling at you, there's this twinkle in her eyes, like Sabrina rediscovered something important to her. Speaking of... "Have you sensed your sheathe yet? I can't tell if there's anything hiding it- her in here."
Watching as she glances around the room, her expression frowns as she begins moving about as well. Hearing some slight shifting as a bit of dirt falls on your head, you brush it off as you hear Sabrina make an annoyed "Hmph".
"No, she isn't here, but... she was, back when I was sealed down here. It doesn't make sense though! She should be here, yet there's nothing even broken that seems like her!"
Hmm, maybe the rooms with symbols are making it difficult for her to identify her sheathe? There has to be a reason these rooms are filled with- hearing more shifting above you, your eyes widen as it clicks.
"Sabrina, does this place employ-" You abruptly stop yourself, as an arm of dirt emerges from the wall behind the artifact stand. Soon, a leg 'pulls' itself free, and a crude body of compacted dirt steps forwards.
Sweeping its gaze between you and Sabrina, the thing is voiceless, yet its purpose is clear: that thing is the missing security measure. Did it react to Sabrina absorbing her broken vessel? Whatever, you two need to act fast.
-- How do you handle this?
[] Have Sabrina attack it, she's the one with superpowers.
[] Fight it yourself, what kind of 'father' makes his kid fight a monster?
[] Take it on together, you might not have power but you can distract it so Sabrina can 'recharge' after attacking.
[] Run for it, you have no idea how difficult this thing is!
[] Write-In
-- What do you do after running/winning? (multiple actions allowed if not mutually exclusive)
[] Head back to the shield quickly, better not waste time.
[] Investigate the other rooms, the sheathe might be in one of them.
[] Sabrina got her vessel, time to go for now.
[] Write-In
A/N: Given this is the first fight, it isn't particularly difficult. That said, the one that'd be triggered removing the shield would be weaker, reflecting the theory that section didn't receive as much attention. Regarding there being an encounter at all, it was basically a coin toss- the security system being super confused due to Sabrina's vessel having been removed during the mostly-inactive state.
Future "Forsaken Vaults" that are more intact will be noticeably different, so the "Amirose's Tree Vault" is basically the starter area introducing the basics of Forsaken Vaults. Regarding the Sheathe, I'll admit she wasn't one of the five originally planned, but she'll appear eventually. In all honesty, she'll likely be in a different Vault, more because I hadn't planned on introducing two new Artifact Daughters at the same time.
As for my update rate... I'm mostly updating as quickly as I am to get things rolling. Though if there's a long enough stretch of no additional votes (about 12 hours) after 3 votes, then I'll update instead of waiting hours for a 4th vote.
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