Machine Learning: A Cave Story Quest
- Thread starter Lepidoptera
- Start date
- Action
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
It seems like we have a pretty clear decision here.
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
I have a final today, so the chapter might be slightly delayed depending on how exhausted I am when it's finished.
File 1, Entry 11 - System Scan
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Machine Learning - File 1, Entry 11 - System Scan
Holding your Machine Gun in standard frontal scouting position and peering out the open doorway into the connected hallway, you silent reprimand yourself for the utterly absurd decision to try to escort a child through the Island and back to safety. Not just any child, but a Mimiga child. And not just any Mimiga child either, but one who could not safely walk because you had shot just a moment earlier. How had you justified to yourself that that was in any way a good idea? Responsibility? Was that it? The only responsibility you have towards Mimiga was to ensure that they never become a threat to humans. Now you've been drawn off your intended path and into more of the Island's murderous geography.
You once again weigh the costs and benefits of shooting the strange contraption that nearly crushed you in its eye. It would be immensely satisfying and destroy something that was, at least at one point, a significant threat to you. It might still be a threat. The other one didn't move at all after trying to crush you once, but that doesn't mean it can't. The monolithic block is a mystery to you, one you do not have the time or resources to solve. At best, you can render it a mysterious smoking chunk of metal that cannot move at all.
The gunshots would be a problem, though. It's not the noise alone that's the issue. Anything that would have been alerted by the sound of gunfire must have already heard you fall down the stairs in the first place. Your presence, if not your exact location, cannot possibly be a secret at this point. You trawl through your memories of the Island's inhabitants. Animals have an equal chance of running or investigating. The Cthulhu don't do anything but stand around and act ominous. Mimiga… you can handle Mimiga, but even then the girl implied that the only colony nearby was extremely small. Broadcasting your position isn't as risky as it would be on a battlefield, but it's still unfavorable.
The Mimiga girl is the issue. Considering how unlikely it is that she was dragged away in the seconds it took for you to stand up, she must have run away herself. The sound of gunshots would only scare her away further. Being shot leaves an impression, and the girl has already shown poor judgement on account of having wandered all the way out here and run into that thing you fought earlier. If she heard you firing again, it's likely she would run further. Losing track of your charge would be unacceptable. You'll do this quietly.
You slip out the door and into a plain metal hallway. It stretches out several metres and is then interrupted by an uneven wall of rubble filling the passage. Two doors connect the accessible portion of the hallway. You stalk down the hall as quietly as you can, slipping the first door open a crack and peering in. It's a clean room, filled with boxes stacked tightly against the wall. Remembering the previous incidents, you turn your eyes up towards the ceiling. Once you are certain there are no immediate threats inside, you step in and begin searching through the boxes. There wasn't enough time for the kid to move any of them considering their size, but they could have hidden inside of one.
The first box emits an unpleasant odor when you crack open its lid. Pushing it all the way open, a pair of massive green-shelled beetles are revealed feasting on a pile of rotten vegetables. You slam the lid shut, not wanting to risk the sound of gunfire on animals. The next box is much the same, excluding the oversized insects. One after another, you find only long-rotted stocks of food. There are no logos on the boxes, no indication of where these were shipped from. Further, the food shipment is entirely fruits and vegetables, and contains no rations. This wasn't meant to feed soldiers, but this installation would only have been constructed during the war. It could have been for a research team, but this much food is far too much for any reasonably-sized group of researchers.
It's not your job to come to conclusions about what you find. You'll put it in the report and Command will make whatever judgement necessary. You have more pressing concerns right now. You leave the food stores and cross the hall to the other door, taking the same precautions you did the first time. This room is far different to the first. The clean steel floor abruptly ends in a rough tear, opening up into a nearly-vertical cavern descending into the dark. You're barely glancing at it, though. Something else is far more worthy of focus.
Growing out of the lower wall of the cavern, barely illuminated by the room's flickering lights, is a tiny flower. Its stem is bright green and bears thick, oval leaves spaced evenly up to the end where it opens up into a deep, red bloom. The flower's petals are an unnaturally solid red. Their color is untouched by shading or weathering, pure and bright scarlet. It grows alone, pushing through the cave wall in a way that should not be possible alongside its pristine appearance.
Your grip on your Machine Gun tightens, straining the gun's metal. This is a job you've done time and time again. You should be completely and utterly prepared for it. You are prepared to do what needs to be done to follow your mission's parameters. You just didn't expect to see one of them here, now, sitting in the middle of a cave on an unrelated mission like it's mocking you.
One of the Demon Flowers.
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\
Data Recovery
Restoring memories…
[X] Island Briefing
Recall the meeting with Command alongside Commander Syn and your specific outlined instructions for your venture into the Island.
[] Island Landing
Recall landing on the Island alongside your team and your first observations.
[X] Island Exploration
Recall an abnormal structure found along one side of the Island.
Holding your Machine Gun in standard frontal scouting position and peering out the open doorway into the connected hallway, you silent reprimand yourself for the utterly absurd decision to try to escort a child through the Island and back to safety. Not just any child, but a Mimiga child. And not just any Mimiga child either, but one who could not safely walk because you had shot just a moment earlier. How had you justified to yourself that that was in any way a good idea? Responsibility? Was that it? The only responsibility you have towards Mimiga was to ensure that they never become a threat to humans. Now you've been drawn off your intended path and into more of the Island's murderous geography.
You once again weigh the costs and benefits of shooting the strange contraption that nearly crushed you in its eye. It would be immensely satisfying and destroy something that was, at least at one point, a significant threat to you. It might still be a threat. The other one didn't move at all after trying to crush you once, but that doesn't mean it can't. The monolithic block is a mystery to you, one you do not have the time or resources to solve. At best, you can render it a mysterious smoking chunk of metal that cannot move at all.
The gunshots would be a problem, though. It's not the noise alone that's the issue. Anything that would have been alerted by the sound of gunfire must have already heard you fall down the stairs in the first place. Your presence, if not your exact location, cannot possibly be a secret at this point. You trawl through your memories of the Island's inhabitants. Animals have an equal chance of running or investigating. The Cthulhu don't do anything but stand around and act ominous. Mimiga… you can handle Mimiga, but even then the girl implied that the only colony nearby was extremely small. Broadcasting your position isn't as risky as it would be on a battlefield, but it's still unfavorable.
The Mimiga girl is the issue. Considering how unlikely it is that she was dragged away in the seconds it took for you to stand up, she must have run away herself. The sound of gunshots would only scare her away further. Being shot leaves an impression, and the girl has already shown poor judgement on account of having wandered all the way out here and run into that thing you fought earlier. If she heard you firing again, it's likely she would run further. Losing track of your charge would be unacceptable. You'll do this quietly.
You slip out the door and into a plain metal hallway. It stretches out several metres and is then interrupted by an uneven wall of rubble filling the passage. Two doors connect the accessible portion of the hallway. You stalk down the hall as quietly as you can, slipping the first door open a crack and peering in. It's a clean room, filled with boxes stacked tightly against the wall. Remembering the previous incidents, you turn your eyes up towards the ceiling. Once you are certain there are no immediate threats inside, you step in and begin searching through the boxes. There wasn't enough time for the kid to move any of them considering their size, but they could have hidden inside of one.
The first box emits an unpleasant odor when you crack open its lid. Pushing it all the way open, a pair of massive green-shelled beetles are revealed feasting on a pile of rotten vegetables. You slam the lid shut, not wanting to risk the sound of gunfire on animals. The next box is much the same, excluding the oversized insects. One after another, you find only long-rotted stocks of food. There are no logos on the boxes, no indication of where these were shipped from. Further, the food shipment is entirely fruits and vegetables, and contains no rations. This wasn't meant to feed soldiers, but this installation would only have been constructed during the war. It could have been for a research team, but this much food is far too much for any reasonably-sized group of researchers.
It's not your job to come to conclusions about what you find. You'll put it in the report and Command will make whatever judgement necessary. You have more pressing concerns right now. You leave the food stores and cross the hall to the other door, taking the same precautions you did the first time. This room is far different to the first. The clean steel floor abruptly ends in a rough tear, opening up into a nearly-vertical cavern descending into the dark. You're barely glancing at it, though. Something else is far more worthy of focus.
Growing out of the lower wall of the cavern, barely illuminated by the room's flickering lights, is a tiny flower. Its stem is bright green and bears thick, oval leaves spaced evenly up to the end where it opens up into a deep, red bloom. The flower's petals are an unnaturally solid red. Their color is untouched by shading or weathering, pure and bright scarlet. It grows alone, pushing through the cave wall in a way that should not be possible alongside its pristine appearance.
Your grip on your Machine Gun tightens, straining the gun's metal. This is a job you've done time and time again. You should be completely and utterly prepared for it. You are prepared to do what needs to be done to follow your mission's parameters. You just didn't expect to see one of them here, now, sitting in the middle of a cave on an unrelated mission like it's mocking you.
One of the Demon Flowers.
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\
Data Recovery
Restoring memories…
[X] Island Briefing
Recall the meeting with Command alongside Commander Syn and your specific outlined instructions for your venture into the Island.
[] Island Landing
Recall landing on the Island alongside your team and your first observations.
[X] Island Exploration
Recall an abnormal structure found along one side of the Island.
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questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
[X] Island Briefing
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Island Exploration
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Island Exploration
- Location
- Oregon
[X] Island Briefing
- Location
- Canada
[X] Island Briefing
[X] Island Exploration
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Since we once again have come to a tie, I will once again be dividing things between the winning options.
Recovered Data 3 - Mission I
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Machine Learning- Recovered Data 3 - Mission I
"Bracket? Are you awake?"
"Of course!"
Commander Syn removes his hand from your shoulder, having barely brushed up against your body. You refocus on the sparse, lifeless waiting room and the undecorated windowless door into the briefing room. Like the rest of the base, it's utilitarian above all else. The walls and ceiling are plain beige and the flooring is divided between a few different equally uninteresting carpet patterns depending on the room. The waiting room is denoted only by the rows of comfortable-looking chairs lining its walls and floor and the unusual number of doors connecting to it. Most of them connect to conference rooms. You have been told one of the doors on this floor connects to a cafe, but you've never seen it. The only rooms in the base's upper floor that you have ever seen in your years of service are the halls up to the waiting room, the paths out of the base, and the room on the other side of the door in front of you.
"Are you sure? You were standing in front of the door and not moving. You know, you don't need to attend these briefings with me." Syn offers. You shake your head in negative.
"No. I should be here. It's only right that I allow myself to share some responsibility with you." you affirm. Commander Syn handles most administrative work for your team. They are the one most connected with Command, the one who keeps appraised of your position with your creators. They receive the in-depth orders and appraisals, while the rest of the team is instead given a brief instruction before each mission and directed as necessary. They are the one asked to keep Command updated in the current situation during and after missions. In truth, your position under them is more ornamental than anything else. This is one of the few responsibilities you have a chance to interact with.
"As long as that's what you want." Commander Syn accepts. "Well, since we are still a little early, would you mind sharing what's got you so distracted?"
"I wasn't distracted." you protest. "I was only…"
"Only..?" Syn repeats, tilting his head towards you. A single strand of plaster-white hair falls in front of his face as he smiles earnestly down at you.
"This is going to be another extended mission, isn't it?" you ask.
"That seems to be what they're saying." Syn confirms. You say nothing in return. You don't know what to say. "Is there something wrong?"
"It's not a problem; I'll perform as necessary." you assure. Longer missions are rarer but they still happen. They tend to be either investigative or explorative in nature. Capable as you are, your team is only six people. Occupying or holding territory is better suited to large groups of lower-quality soldiers. Typically, they're more enjoyable than shorter standard missions. You've seen beautiful things on these scouting missions.
"Well, what's wrong then?" Syn continues to prod. "Come on, I know it's not nothing. If you overheard one of the technicians talking, or one of the others told you something…"
"I've already said that it's unimportant. I…" Your voice trails off and you run through a diagnostics check. All systems are functioning optimally. No damage, physical or otherwise, impairs your function. But even so, there is a persistent and illogical disturbance lingering within you. "I am feeling anxious regarding the next mission."
The Commander's expression turns pitying. "Well, if you can't pin down a reason, there's not much I can do besides promise you that I'll be careful. Does that help?"
It doesn't. The feeling doesn't go away. It sits like some sort of parasite inside your chest and clings to you, growing with every thought that you give to it.
"Yes. I feel much better now, Commander." you answer, plastering a calm smile onto your face. They must have enough to worry about without adding yourself as another burden.
"That's great to hear!" Commander Syn says, not loudly but still with energy. That, at least, manages to ease the illogical insistence that something will go wrong. "It's time to head in now."
Without further explanation, the Commander pushes open the door and you follow him into the briefing room.
The room is sparse and lifeless. Two chairs are set on one side of a foldable table opposite where the handler is sitting. The person who delivers your missions is never the same. This time, it's a short, tired woman with messy brown hair pulled into a hasty ponytail. You're not sure exactly how old she is. You were always very bad at estimating on sight, and people someways get upset if you assign them an incorrect age, so eventually you stopped trying altogether. She looks up from the overstuffed folder that she was sifting through before you entered, surprised despite your arrival being exactly at the scheduled meeting time.
"Commander. Welcome, you're just on time." the woman greets, attempting to regain control over the situation and move on from her clear lack of preparation. She glances at you for one a second and then returns her full focus to the Commander as the two of you take your seats.
"Of course. Let's get directly to the mission; we don't have any reason to waste time." Commander Syn requests. They lean slightly forward in their chair, expression polite and affable. The handler is taken aback, but quickly composes herself and acquiesces to the Commander's request.
"Of course." There's a slight tremble in their voice as they move on and the Commander leans back into their chair. "Are you aware of the Island?"
Syn laughs airily. "You're going to have to narrow it down. There are a lot of islands, you know?"
The handler straightens her stack of files, flips through them nervously, then straightens them again. "The floating Island, I mean. It's been spotted above Qilin forest several times in the past."
"I'm familiar with the location." you state. It's an extremely popular mystery landmark, mentioned at least once in almost every significant discussion of geographical or magical phenomena. "The floating Island, often simply referred to as the Island, is a magical landform with a currently unknown method of function. Records of its appearance date back hundreds of years, though its existence is theorized to be much older. It is a known zone of activity for other magical phenomena, both living and non-living." You recite the opening description in perfect, mechanical prose. The handler looks surprised, but your attention is more taken by the wide smile on the Commander's face. Before the handler can start talking, you continue. "The Island is home to populations of Mimiga, which everyone here is already aware of, the Cthulhu, which are also a known quantity, and the Gaudi, a race of insectiod creatures of human-like intelligence with a decentralized but comparably modern civilization. There have also been numerous sightings of local wildlife affected by the location's natural magic, leading to unusual growth and hostility. The more notable forms of fauna include-"
"Thank you, for that introduction, Two." the handler interrupts, still sounding rattled. Your mouth immediately snaps shut, not daring to continue speaking when silence is asked of you. Syn goes you another smile, this one so obviously putting, before returning their attention to the handler.
"The primary point of interest in the Island for us is the presence of Demon Flowers. There have been reports of them growing in the wild there. Along with the Mimiga population, it falls in line with your usual mission parameters." she says. Her voice is uneven and weathered, not at all like yours. Of course, that's because she's human and you are not. "However, due to the lack of immediate interest and need of your presence elsewhere, the Island was not a priority for your assignment until recently. Other teams were considered, but given the danger of the environment and the need for manpower they could not be wasted in this way."
"So what changed?" Commander Syn asks.
"To put it simply, other people changed. Information suggests that other factions are planning on landing forces on the Island to harvest its resources. Your team will be sent in to prevent this." the handler explains. She looks towards the Commander as she speaks, not so much as glancing towards you.
"So this is just a standard mission then? Kill them all and come back as soon as we're done?" the Commander asks. It's true, based on this description the mission doesn't appear that it would be especially long. Certainly nothing that would explain the senseless anxiety clinging to your insides.
"Not quite." the handler corrects, and you double-check your already perfect posture. "The primary goal of this mission is the same as our opponents. You'll be asked to gather important items and, more essentially, information on the Island and its mysteries. We have here a list of items and structures that may be present or related and what we need you to be looking for."
Exploration. Not just exploration, but investigation. It's not what you were made for. A mission like this is within the purview of Quote or Curly Brace, meant to be finished quickly and returned from to rejoin with the rest of the team. You aren't suited for this. Chevron and Paren are absolutely not suited for this. You can't refuse a mission, not even if it were you and not Syn who was Commander, but despite the lack of understanding you don't want to. This is an opportunity. For what you're not sure, but it is an opportunity. That you know.
But even as the woman sifts through her stack of files to show you carvings and ruins and ancient texts to keep a look out for, you cannot ignore that lingering emotion settled in your chest.
"Bracket? Are you awake?"
"Of course!"
Commander Syn removes his hand from your shoulder, having barely brushed up against your body. You refocus on the sparse, lifeless waiting room and the undecorated windowless door into the briefing room. Like the rest of the base, it's utilitarian above all else. The walls and ceiling are plain beige and the flooring is divided between a few different equally uninteresting carpet patterns depending on the room. The waiting room is denoted only by the rows of comfortable-looking chairs lining its walls and floor and the unusual number of doors connecting to it. Most of them connect to conference rooms. You have been told one of the doors on this floor connects to a cafe, but you've never seen it. The only rooms in the base's upper floor that you have ever seen in your years of service are the halls up to the waiting room, the paths out of the base, and the room on the other side of the door in front of you.
"Are you sure? You were standing in front of the door and not moving. You know, you don't need to attend these briefings with me." Syn offers. You shake your head in negative.
"No. I should be here. It's only right that I allow myself to share some responsibility with you." you affirm. Commander Syn handles most administrative work for your team. They are the one most connected with Command, the one who keeps appraised of your position with your creators. They receive the in-depth orders and appraisals, while the rest of the team is instead given a brief instruction before each mission and directed as necessary. They are the one asked to keep Command updated in the current situation during and after missions. In truth, your position under them is more ornamental than anything else. This is one of the few responsibilities you have a chance to interact with.
"As long as that's what you want." Commander Syn accepts. "Well, since we are still a little early, would you mind sharing what's got you so distracted?"
"I wasn't distracted." you protest. "I was only…"
"Only..?" Syn repeats, tilting his head towards you. A single strand of plaster-white hair falls in front of his face as he smiles earnestly down at you.
"This is going to be another extended mission, isn't it?" you ask.
"That seems to be what they're saying." Syn confirms. You say nothing in return. You don't know what to say. "Is there something wrong?"
"It's not a problem; I'll perform as necessary." you assure. Longer missions are rarer but they still happen. They tend to be either investigative or explorative in nature. Capable as you are, your team is only six people. Occupying or holding territory is better suited to large groups of lower-quality soldiers. Typically, they're more enjoyable than shorter standard missions. You've seen beautiful things on these scouting missions.
"Well, what's wrong then?" Syn continues to prod. "Come on, I know it's not nothing. If you overheard one of the technicians talking, or one of the others told you something…"
"I've already said that it's unimportant. I…" Your voice trails off and you run through a diagnostics check. All systems are functioning optimally. No damage, physical or otherwise, impairs your function. But even so, there is a persistent and illogical disturbance lingering within you. "I am feeling anxious regarding the next mission."
The Commander's expression turns pitying. "Well, if you can't pin down a reason, there's not much I can do besides promise you that I'll be careful. Does that help?"
It doesn't. The feeling doesn't go away. It sits like some sort of parasite inside your chest and clings to you, growing with every thought that you give to it.
"Yes. I feel much better now, Commander." you answer, plastering a calm smile onto your face. They must have enough to worry about without adding yourself as another burden.
"That's great to hear!" Commander Syn says, not loudly but still with energy. That, at least, manages to ease the illogical insistence that something will go wrong. "It's time to head in now."
Without further explanation, the Commander pushes open the door and you follow him into the briefing room.
The room is sparse and lifeless. Two chairs are set on one side of a foldable table opposite where the handler is sitting. The person who delivers your missions is never the same. This time, it's a short, tired woman with messy brown hair pulled into a hasty ponytail. You're not sure exactly how old she is. You were always very bad at estimating on sight, and people someways get upset if you assign them an incorrect age, so eventually you stopped trying altogether. She looks up from the overstuffed folder that she was sifting through before you entered, surprised despite your arrival being exactly at the scheduled meeting time.
"Commander. Welcome, you're just on time." the woman greets, attempting to regain control over the situation and move on from her clear lack of preparation. She glances at you for one a second and then returns her full focus to the Commander as the two of you take your seats.
"Of course. Let's get directly to the mission; we don't have any reason to waste time." Commander Syn requests. They lean slightly forward in their chair, expression polite and affable. The handler is taken aback, but quickly composes herself and acquiesces to the Commander's request.
"Of course." There's a slight tremble in their voice as they move on and the Commander leans back into their chair. "Are you aware of the Island?"
Syn laughs airily. "You're going to have to narrow it down. There are a lot of islands, you know?"
The handler straightens her stack of files, flips through them nervously, then straightens them again. "The floating Island, I mean. It's been spotted above Qilin forest several times in the past."
"I'm familiar with the location." you state. It's an extremely popular mystery landmark, mentioned at least once in almost every significant discussion of geographical or magical phenomena. "The floating Island, often simply referred to as the Island, is a magical landform with a currently unknown method of function. Records of its appearance date back hundreds of years, though its existence is theorized to be much older. It is a known zone of activity for other magical phenomena, both living and non-living." You recite the opening description in perfect, mechanical prose. The handler looks surprised, but your attention is more taken by the wide smile on the Commander's face. Before the handler can start talking, you continue. "The Island is home to populations of Mimiga, which everyone here is already aware of, the Cthulhu, which are also a known quantity, and the Gaudi, a race of insectiod creatures of human-like intelligence with a decentralized but comparably modern civilization. There have also been numerous sightings of local wildlife affected by the location's natural magic, leading to unusual growth and hostility. The more notable forms of fauna include-"
"Thank you, for that introduction, Two." the handler interrupts, still sounding rattled. Your mouth immediately snaps shut, not daring to continue speaking when silence is asked of you. Syn goes you another smile, this one so obviously putting, before returning their attention to the handler.
"The primary point of interest in the Island for us is the presence of Demon Flowers. There have been reports of them growing in the wild there. Along with the Mimiga population, it falls in line with your usual mission parameters." she says. Her voice is uneven and weathered, not at all like yours. Of course, that's because she's human and you are not. "However, due to the lack of immediate interest and need of your presence elsewhere, the Island was not a priority for your assignment until recently. Other teams were considered, but given the danger of the environment and the need for manpower they could not be wasted in this way."
"So what changed?" Commander Syn asks.
"To put it simply, other people changed. Information suggests that other factions are planning on landing forces on the Island to harvest its resources. Your team will be sent in to prevent this." the handler explains. She looks towards the Commander as she speaks, not so much as glancing towards you.
"So this is just a standard mission then? Kill them all and come back as soon as we're done?" the Commander asks. It's true, based on this description the mission doesn't appear that it would be especially long. Certainly nothing that would explain the senseless anxiety clinging to your insides.
"Not quite." the handler corrects, and you double-check your already perfect posture. "The primary goal of this mission is the same as our opponents. You'll be asked to gather important items and, more essentially, information on the Island and its mysteries. We have here a list of items and structures that may be present or related and what we need you to be looking for."
Exploration. Not just exploration, but investigation. It's not what you were made for. A mission like this is within the purview of Quote or Curly Brace, meant to be finished quickly and returned from to rejoin with the rest of the team. You aren't suited for this. Chevron and Paren are absolutely not suited for this. You can't refuse a mission, not even if it were you and not Syn who was Commander, but despite the lack of understanding you don't want to. This is an opportunity. For what you're not sure, but it is an opportunity. That you know.
But even as the woman sifts through her stack of files to show you carvings and ruins and ancient texts to keep a look out for, you cannot ignore that lingering emotion settled in your chest.
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
On the way… (Max 2)
[X] Give a more detailed mission briefing to the rest of your squad
[X] Recite useful information regarding the location
[] Admit your strange uncertainty
[] Write-in
[] Say nothing
Exploration Team with You (Pick Two)
[X] Curly Brace
[] Chevron
[] Paren
[X] Quote
[X] Give a more detailed mission briefing to the rest of your squad
[X] Recite useful information regarding the location
[] Admit your strange uncertainty
[] Write-in
[] Say nothing
Exploration Team with You (Pick Two)
[X] Curly Brace
[] Chevron
[] Paren
[X] Quote
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- Pronouns
- He
[X] Give a more detailed mission briefing to the rest of your squad
[X] Recite useful information regarding the location
[X] Chevron
[X] Paren
[X] Recite useful information regarding the location
[X] Chevron
[X] Paren
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Bleh, hand cramps are back. Was worried I wasn't going to get this post out in time and might have pushed myself a little ways past when I should've taken a break and now I can't move my wrist in certain directions.
Voting!
[X] Give a more detailed mission briefing to the rest of your squad
[X] Admit your strange uncertainty
[X] Curly Brace
[X] Quote
Rationale
Giving a detailed mission briefing to our squad feels like it is doing the same thing as reciting information. I think we should pick one or the other but both are overkill, and I'd prioritise the one which means we interact more with other characters. Then in terms of the team mates we pick, I'd like to see the Cave Story OGs, I feel like we have not spent much time with them so far and I'd like to see more of them.
Ooof!
Hope you get better soon, and please take a break from quest-writing until you do.
[X] Give a more detailed mission briefing to the rest of your squad
[X] Admit your strange uncertainty
[X] Curly Brace
[X] Quote
Rationale
Giving a detailed mission briefing to our squad feels like it is doing the same thing as reciting information. I think we should pick one or the other but both are overkill, and I'd prioritise the one which means we interact more with other characters. Then in terms of the team mates we pick, I'd like to see the Cave Story OGs, I feel like we have not spent much time with them so far and I'd like to see more of them.
Ooof!
Hope you get better soon, and please take a break from quest-writing until you do.
[X] Give a more detailed mission briefing to the rest of your squad
[X] Chevron
[X] Paren
[X] Chevron
[X] Paren
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Voting closes, and we have more ties. You all aren't doing this on purpose, are you? I can't exactly split the difference here, so I'll just flip a coin or something.
A link to both the original freeware version, which is a classic that I recommend anyone with any interest in indie games should play:
Cave Story (Doukutsu Monogatari), A Tribute Site
Cave Story Tribute Site is a tribute fansite to a Japanese game called Doukutsu Monogatari and translated under the title Cave Story.
www.cavestory.org
Steam
Cave Story®+
One thing I would recommend if you're playing Cave Story+ is getting the patch/mod that restores the script for the English translation back to the original. The modern remake makes a lot of bizarre (sometimes bordering on grammatically incorrect) translation choices which are greatly inferior to the charming and generally superb fan version in the original. It's a classic example of a translation trying for too much fidelity to an original in a language with a very different structure, resulting in sentences which seems almost machine-translated to an English speaker:
Note that as well as being worse prose, the Nicalis version changes the meaning here; seeming to read as an outright statement that Curly was the robot who killed the Mimiga orphans' mother. This is ambiguous but not nearly as strongly implied in the original Japanese. This detail is pretty key to who Curly is as a person, and was (presumably) meant to be left up to the player to ponder. Whilst there are a few cases where the Nicalis translation is undoubtedly closer to the original authorial intent, I don't think it outweighs instances like these where it inadvertently occludes that intent through poor word choices.
Oh snap.
Sadly you might be right about that - although looking into it, the situation seems to be frustratingly murky. Not sure if there's some way to donate to Pixel or not, but the Cave Story fan site and a quick Google do not present any obvious leads.