MoultonLava
Torch God
I was just enjoying my life, until I woke up in a strange cage. White runes swirled around it, and multiple strange people cloaked in a white and gold cloth carried me. I don't know why this is so, but I wasn't going to ask them.
I thrashed at the cage, but whenever I touched the strange runes, I felt weaker. Eventually, I collapsed to the bottom, which was mostly supplies. I was carried for what was probably multiple days, but I didnt grow hungry or thirsty for some strange reason. The cage's doing, no doubt. Until suddenly, a small butterfly landed on the cage, destroying the strange runes. After it did that, it exploded into silk, destroying the bridge below me.
I plummeted down, along with my carriers. I blacked out due to the sudden rush of air, before jolting awake when the cage hit the ground. By some miracle, I didn't break anything. I looked around, before seeing the mossy green of the area, along with the cage around me, shattered into many parts. I picked up the remains of supplies, perhaps there might be food there. And then I looked around to see where on Earth I am and how I might get out of here.
I thrashed at the cage, but whenever I touched the strange runes, I felt weaker. Eventually, I collapsed to the bottom, which was mostly supplies. I was carried for what was probably multiple days, but I didnt grow hungry or thirsty for some strange reason. The cage's doing, no doubt. Until suddenly, a small butterfly landed on the cage, destroying the strange runes. After it did that, it exploded into silk, destroying the bridge below me.
I plummeted down, along with my carriers. I blacked out due to the sudden rush of air, before jolting awake when the cage hit the ground. By some miracle, I didn't break anything. I looked around, before seeing the mossy green of the area, along with the cage around me, shattered into many parts. I picked up the remains of supplies, perhaps there might be food there. And then I looked around to see where on Earth I am and how I might get out of here.
I looked around myself, before I noticed something. My body seemed to have changed, into a strange bug-like form. It looked like I had no toes or fingers, just black legs and arms. My torso was also clothed in a strange cloth of which I had never seen before.
I tried to stand up to regain my bearings, but fell down. There was a lot of light coming from above. The second time I tried to stand was more successful, and I decided that it was best to get moving. There were strange fuzzy grubs on my path, which weren't much of a threat to me, even without a weapon. Eventually, I came across less friendly hornets, who attacked from above.
I didn't have a proper way to fight, given my new arms weren't for punching, so I had to flee them. While I was gathering up a swarm of irritated insects following me, I came across a strange door, with eight spider like eyes and a split in the middle.
Unfortunately, I couldn't investigate further due to the swarm of mossy hornets after me. I was eventually able to get them off of me by moving in a way to cause them to fly into spikes, which instantly killed them. As I walked past,I suddenly fell down a long open tunnel down, which I now assume is how I got here in the first place. Fortunately, I found a ledge I could grab onto. I leaned on some vines to try to rest, but they broke apart, revealing a room with a chest in it. Opening it revealed strange red beads, which I subconsciously gathered up.
Eventually, I came across a room with a large egg-like sack in its center. Curious, I poked it. It rumbled, before splitting open to reveal an enormous hornet, with a deadly stinger.
I tried to stand up to regain my bearings, but fell down. There was a lot of light coming from above. The second time I tried to stand was more successful, and I decided that it was best to get moving. There were strange fuzzy grubs on my path, which weren't much of a threat to me, even without a weapon. Eventually, I came across less friendly hornets, who attacked from above.
I didn't have a proper way to fight, given my new arms weren't for punching, so I had to flee them. While I was gathering up a swarm of irritated insects following me, I came across a strange door, with eight spider like eyes and a split in the middle.
Unfortunately, I couldn't investigate further due to the swarm of mossy hornets after me. I was eventually able to get them off of me by moving in a way to cause them to fly into spikes, which instantly killed them. As I walked past,I suddenly fell down a long open tunnel down, which I now assume is how I got here in the first place. Fortunately, I found a ledge I could grab onto. I leaned on some vines to try to rest, but they broke apart, revealing a room with a chest in it. Opening it revealed strange red beads, which I subconsciously gathered up.
Eventually, I came across a room with a large egg-like sack in its center. Curious, I poked it. It rumbled, before splitting open to reveal an enormous hornet, with a deadly stinger.
The beast roared at me, knocking me away from it, before it went on the attack. It swung down with its stinger while I frantically tried to dodge it, getting scratched a few times. Sometimes, it would slam into the ceiling, dropping rocks on me. Escape was impossible, due to impenetrable grass that had grown over the entrance and exit. I panicked, and begun frantically thinking of a way to take down this thing. That's when it hit me.
The large hornet knocked boulders from the ceiling.
So perhaps...
When it went to go slam its head against the ceiling for another deluge of rocks I yelled at it "Hey you! Look at me!" The thing was startled at my outburst, and a rock slammed into its head.
This, while not deadly, stunned it for a few seconds, allowing me to prepare. Once it got over its concussion, it slammed its head against the ceiling again, dropping its spiny children upon me.
But, I had a plan.
I picked one up (somehow, without any fingers) and threw it at the Moss Mother.
While it didn't harm the beast much, it certainly enraged it. Enough to make it recklessly begin to ram its head into the ceiling yet again. This time, an unusually sharp rock fell not into its body, but its wings, cutting them off. This caused the beast to fall to the earth, before it started thrashing, raining rocks from the ceiling.
Until a massive rock landed on its writhing body, crushing it into green paste.
"Finally..." I said, as the greenery preventing me from moving forward retreated back, giving me access to further in. I was not unscathed, and had sustained mostly minor injuries with a few larger ones. I sat down at a bench nearby, and the wounds began to heal very fast. I was totally surprised by this, and took note of it for future reference. I walked up what seemed to be the entrance of a chapel, before spotting a strange figure. Suddenly, a head injury caught up to me, and I passed out.
The large hornet knocked boulders from the ceiling.
So perhaps...
When it went to go slam its head against the ceiling for another deluge of rocks I yelled at it "Hey you! Look at me!" The thing was startled at my outburst, and a rock slammed into its head.
This, while not deadly, stunned it for a few seconds, allowing me to prepare. Once it got over its concussion, it slammed its head against the ceiling again, dropping its spiny children upon me.
But, I had a plan.
I picked one up (somehow, without any fingers) and threw it at the Moss Mother.
While it didn't harm the beast much, it certainly enraged it. Enough to make it recklessly begin to ram its head into the ceiling yet again. This time, an unusually sharp rock fell not into its body, but its wings, cutting them off. This caused the beast to fall to the earth, before it started thrashing, raining rocks from the ceiling.
Until a massive rock landed on its writhing body, crushing it into green paste.
"Finally..." I said, as the greenery preventing me from moving forward retreated back, giving me access to further in. I was not unscathed, and had sustained mostly minor injuries with a few larger ones. I sat down at a bench nearby, and the wounds began to heal very fast. I was totally surprised by this, and took note of it for future reference. I walked up what seemed to be the entrance of a chapel, before spotting a strange figure. Suddenly, a head injury caught up to me, and I passed out.
"Hey. Wake up. Wake up. I ain't letting you die on my doorstep. Wake up,"
I woke up soon after, feeling a strange poking sensation. I got up, and saw a strange cloaked figure poking my body with her staff.
"Ah. There you are, finally awake. I knew something was going on down there when i heard the Mother attacking. Pretty bold of you."
"Who are you?"
"Oh, my apologies for my lack of manners. I am the Caretaker of this chapel here. And who might you be?"
"I... uh... don't remember my name. I remember coming here by a cage carried by strange beings wielding staffs with bells on them, cloaked in white. There were strange white runes covering the cage, sapping my strength. And then, a butterfly landed on the cage, breaking the seals, and then lashing out with many lines of silk, crumbling the bridge below me."
"Oh, the Citadel's people? I've seen them go out and capture some before. But what you described is interesting... Never seen any butterfly with that kind of power. But why would the Citadel capture a normal pilgrim? Is there something special about you?"
"Well... I didnt always have this form. Its really hard to explain. Maybe the "Citadel" wanted whatever special power my old form carried."
"Most interesting... Well, if you want to get to the Citadel for some answers, you have to make a pilgrimage. Its a long standing tradition here for the lower bugs to find their ways up to the Citadel. They arm themselves with nothing but song and prayer, which most likely gets them killed."
"Is there any way for me to have a better chance?"
"Well, you clearly killed the Moss Mother down there, so you have to have some skill in combat."
"You're right, but I used the raining boulders of the cavern to assist me. I don't think that everything up ahead will be like that."
"Well, you should try finding yourself something that can give whatever you're facing a good whack. Anyways, I've been talking too long, you should get moving. There's a town right that way, you should stop there."
And with that conversation, I was off. as I walked down, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the caverns above. As I walked by, I saw the ruins of the bridge that caved in due to the butterfly, and a crushed carrier nearby, its staff on the ground near it. Strangely, the bell staff was in perfect condition.
"I don't think that bug will mind if I take that staff. It's better than nothing here."
I walked into Bonebottom, wielding the newfound staff in my hands.
I woke up soon after, feeling a strange poking sensation. I got up, and saw a strange cloaked figure poking my body with her staff.
"Ah. There you are, finally awake. I knew something was going on down there when i heard the Mother attacking. Pretty bold of you."
"Who are you?"
"Oh, my apologies for my lack of manners. I am the Caretaker of this chapel here. And who might you be?"
"I... uh... don't remember my name. I remember coming here by a cage carried by strange beings wielding staffs with bells on them, cloaked in white. There were strange white runes covering the cage, sapping my strength. And then, a butterfly landed on the cage, breaking the seals, and then lashing out with many lines of silk, crumbling the bridge below me."
"Oh, the Citadel's people? I've seen them go out and capture some before. But what you described is interesting... Never seen any butterfly with that kind of power. But why would the Citadel capture a normal pilgrim? Is there something special about you?"
"Well... I didnt always have this form. Its really hard to explain. Maybe the "Citadel" wanted whatever special power my old form carried."
"Most interesting... Well, if you want to get to the Citadel for some answers, you have to make a pilgrimage. Its a long standing tradition here for the lower bugs to find their ways up to the Citadel. They arm themselves with nothing but song and prayer, which most likely gets them killed."
"Is there any way for me to have a better chance?"
"Well, you clearly killed the Moss Mother down there, so you have to have some skill in combat."
"You're right, but I used the raining boulders of the cavern to assist me. I don't think that everything up ahead will be like that."
"Well, you should try finding yourself something that can give whatever you're facing a good whack. Anyways, I've been talking too long, you should get moving. There's a town right that way, you should stop there."
And with that conversation, I was off. as I walked down, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the caverns above. As I walked by, I saw the ruins of the bridge that caved in due to the butterfly, and a crushed carrier nearby, its staff on the ground near it. Strangely, the bell staff was in perfect condition.
"I don't think that bug will mind if I take that staff. It's better than nothing here."
I walked into Bonebottom, wielding the newfound staff in my hands.
The residents of the town greeted me. I decided to ask around to see what is up. I first talked to a winged pilgrim next to a "fire".
"Hello there, what is this place?"
"Hello, fellow pilgrim. This place is known as Bonebottom, a sacred starting town. Here, there isn't too much to see, as it's main purpose is to be a checkpoint."
"Interesting. Can you tell me about the building with three arrows above it?"
"We don't know for certain what it is, but it seems like a travel station. It hasn't been used in years, but something may appear eventually there. There's a pilgrim down there who thinks so (albeit they seem a bit crazy)."
"So when I want to start my "pilgrimage", I just go through that entrace over there, right? (He points to the hole leading into the Marrow.)"
"Yes. Make sure to stop by our shopkeeper, they might have something of use. But may I ask, what is that bellstaff for?"
"Defending myself from foes."
"Hmm... Us pilgrims don't carry weapons on ou pilgrimages. We only arm ourselves with our belief and song."
"Well, I'm going."
I walk through the town, looking at the shopkeeper's shop for anything useful (I am too poor to buy anythiing), waving at a hammer wielding pilgrim putting up a sort of sign, and enter the tunnel to start my pilgrimage.
The Marrow
As I walked into the place, I instantly noticed the bones lining the walls, floor, and ceiling. Kinda creepy, but its fine. I had to climb a bit, before I heard something odd. It sounded like... singing? There was also the clinking of a simple instrument to investigate. I quickly found the source of it, a pilgrim wearing a cymbal-hat while playing a triangle.
"Hello, fellow pilgrim! Would you like to sing with me to open this ancient gate?"
"Uh, you know singing to the gate is about as effective as trying to cave in a cavern by throwing a coin at it, right?"
"Well, us pilgrims have to find our way to the holy Citadel through song and prayer alone! Eventually, this ancient and wise gate will recognize my song and open up!"
After this encounter with the very enthusiastic and optimistic pilgrim, I decided to try and find a way to open the gate. Unfortunately, I found myself in a room full of bones, which suddenly began to move. Multiple flying creatures with hard skulls came out of the wall, which I struck down with my staff. The skulls on the floor began to move, but they weren't much a threat. After they were dispatched, a large skull burst out, which proved a tough challenge. I eventually defeated it, and the way to the gate opened. I flicked the lever, and the gate opened.
"Did you see it, pilgrim? The gate heard my song, and in its wisdom opened the way for us! We can set off, closer to the Citadel!"
"I opened the gate here. But, before you go, can I get your name?"
"Of course! Where are my manners? My name is Sherma."
"Alright Sherma, I hope to see you on the roads ahead."
I than set off, wandering around the Marrow. I had to put down many skull creautures, along with some unfortunate pilgrims who seemed to be controlled by a strange thread. I collected the shards and rosaries dropped by them, in case they might be of use sometime. I occasionally found myself in a grassy area similar to the grotto I started in, although it did seem as though they were simply passing areas. As I went through a tunnel, I saw multiple pilgrim's bodies on the ground, dead, with rings cut deep in their bodies. I tread carefully, watching for the source of these rings, before suddenly:
"Poshanka! Edges sharp and senses keen!"
"WHAT THE-"
"In my land, that is the way warriors greet each other. Although you look like a pilgrim, you carry yourself in a strange way, especially with that staff of yours. I am Shakra Wielding Rings."
"Sorry, you startled me."
"That is fine. You clearly are not affected by the Haunting that has caused me to kill the other pilgrims here. Keep that staff of yours in hand, as you will most certainly face great threats soon. I am a navigator among my tribe, and I have been making maps of these lands. I can trade you these maps, if you wish."
"A map? That would be wonderful, I've gotten lost in these twisting bones caverns more than once."
I then traded every single rosary I owned for a map of the Marrow and Mosslands, a compass, and a quill.
"Thank you, Shakra."
"I wish you good luck on your travels, Pilgrim Wielding Bellstaff."
"Hello there, what is this place?"
"Hello, fellow pilgrim. This place is known as Bonebottom, a sacred starting town. Here, there isn't too much to see, as it's main purpose is to be a checkpoint."
"Interesting. Can you tell me about the building with three arrows above it?"
"We don't know for certain what it is, but it seems like a travel station. It hasn't been used in years, but something may appear eventually there. There's a pilgrim down there who thinks so (albeit they seem a bit crazy)."
"So when I want to start my "pilgrimage", I just go through that entrace over there, right? (He points to the hole leading into the Marrow.)"
"Yes. Make sure to stop by our shopkeeper, they might have something of use. But may I ask, what is that bellstaff for?"
"Defending myself from foes."
"Hmm... Us pilgrims don't carry weapons on ou pilgrimages. We only arm ourselves with our belief and song."
"Well, I'm going."
I walk through the town, looking at the shopkeeper's shop for anything useful (I am too poor to buy anythiing), waving at a hammer wielding pilgrim putting up a sort of sign, and enter the tunnel to start my pilgrimage.
The Marrow
As I walked into the place, I instantly noticed the bones lining the walls, floor, and ceiling. Kinda creepy, but its fine. I had to climb a bit, before I heard something odd. It sounded like... singing? There was also the clinking of a simple instrument to investigate. I quickly found the source of it, a pilgrim wearing a cymbal-hat while playing a triangle.
"Hello, fellow pilgrim! Would you like to sing with me to open this ancient gate?"
"Uh, you know singing to the gate is about as effective as trying to cave in a cavern by throwing a coin at it, right?"
"Well, us pilgrims have to find our way to the holy Citadel through song and prayer alone! Eventually, this ancient and wise gate will recognize my song and open up!"
After this encounter with the very enthusiastic and optimistic pilgrim, I decided to try and find a way to open the gate. Unfortunately, I found myself in a room full of bones, which suddenly began to move. Multiple flying creatures with hard skulls came out of the wall, which I struck down with my staff. The skulls on the floor began to move, but they weren't much a threat. After they were dispatched, a large skull burst out, which proved a tough challenge. I eventually defeated it, and the way to the gate opened. I flicked the lever, and the gate opened.
"Did you see it, pilgrim? The gate heard my song, and in its wisdom opened the way for us! We can set off, closer to the Citadel!"
"I opened the gate here. But, before you go, can I get your name?"
"Of course! Where are my manners? My name is Sherma."
"Alright Sherma, I hope to see you on the roads ahead."
I than set off, wandering around the Marrow. I had to put down many skull creautures, along with some unfortunate pilgrims who seemed to be controlled by a strange thread. I collected the shards and rosaries dropped by them, in case they might be of use sometime. I occasionally found myself in a grassy area similar to the grotto I started in, although it did seem as though they were simply passing areas. As I went through a tunnel, I saw multiple pilgrim's bodies on the ground, dead, with rings cut deep in their bodies. I tread carefully, watching for the source of these rings, before suddenly:
"Poshanka! Edges sharp and senses keen!"
"WHAT THE-"
"In my land, that is the way warriors greet each other. Although you look like a pilgrim, you carry yourself in a strange way, especially with that staff of yours. I am Shakra Wielding Rings."
"Sorry, you startled me."
"That is fine. You clearly are not affected by the Haunting that has caused me to kill the other pilgrims here. Keep that staff of yours in hand, as you will most certainly face great threats soon. I am a navigator among my tribe, and I have been making maps of these lands. I can trade you these maps, if you wish."
"A map? That would be wonderful, I've gotten lost in these twisting bones caverns more than once."
I then traded every single rosary I owned for a map of the Marrow and Mosslands, a compass, and a quill.
"Thank you, Shakra."
"I wish you good luck on your travels, Pilgrim Wielding Bellstaff."
I rested on a bench close to Shakra, before setting off to the area above. Strangely, I saw a large beast tangled in thick threads, but I didn't approach it for now. I decided to go to the left instead, as the threads snaring the creature completely blocked off further access. I came across travelers overgrown by moss (ew), and I eventually found a strange stone outcrop with a spider-like being inside it. I struck it with my staff since there wasn't much else to do. Suddenly, white threads came out of it and overcame my body. Suddenly, I woke up in a strange thread-covered place, with platforms seemingly floating in the air made entirely of silk.
"What on earth...?"
I decided to try climbing higher, and after falling more than once (thanks to the platforms disappearing shortly after being stepped on), I reached the top. Suddenly, I returned to the real world, lying on the ground. I could feel that something had changed, so I picked up my staff. That's when I heard something odd in my head.
"Pilgrim... Claimed the Weaver's power... Interesting...
"WHAT?!?? WHO ARE YOU??"
"You can now... Weave silk... As a weapon..."
Well, that was strange. But I suddenly (probably from the voice) became aware of the fact I could now use the silk in bugs to do things, such as healing myself midbattle. I decided to get away from that place where the weaver doll (now gone) once stood, but I came across strange silk that could not be cut through. So, I tried doing what a small voice in my head said to do, and focused energy around my staff, before throwing it at the silk. Astonishingly, it cut through the thread like a warm knife through butter, and it returned to my hand via a silk strand.
"Alright, this is interesting... Perhaps I can try cutting through that beast's silk bindings?"
I decided to go down, before noticing a strange druid, who asked of me to find these "Mossberries", which I accepted because why not.
I decided to rest again at the bench, before going up to the beast, taking a deep breath, and thrust the staff into its bindings, cutting it free.
The beast roared, closing off the entrance and exit in bells bound together by Silk, before attacking.
"CRAPCRAPCRAPCRAP"
The beast burrowed into the ground before going across the ground, forcing me to ride it for a short time.
"CALM DOWN!!!"
this did absolutely nothing, so I decided I would have to beat some sense into it.
It jumped over me from the bells, and I managed to jab it in the stomach. It burrowed into the bells, before the ground rumbled below, before it burst out under me, knocking me along with two large bells into the air, before descending again.
We fought for a while, bells clanging throughout the battle, the roars of the beast, and my attempts to strike at it.
Eventually, it collapsed into the bells, and the silk-bound bells at the entance and exit disappeared. I went to the right, noticing a strange harp-like protrusion on the elevated area.
Suddenly, the beast of the bells burst out, roaring. I prepared for another fight, but it stopped, seemingly... purring?
"You... aren't angry?"
"Mrrrrrr"
"Ah, ok. What can you do for me?"
The beast gestured to its back, and that made me assume that it would let me ride it.
"But first, I think you should have a name... how does Phil work?"
The Bell Beast made an irritated noise.
"Guess not... how about Eira?"
The Bell beast seemed to like that.
"What on earth...?"
I decided to try climbing higher, and after falling more than once (thanks to the platforms disappearing shortly after being stepped on), I reached the top. Suddenly, I returned to the real world, lying on the ground. I could feel that something had changed, so I picked up my staff. That's when I heard something odd in my head.
"Pilgrim... Claimed the Weaver's power... Interesting...
"WHAT?!?? WHO ARE YOU??"
"You can now... Weave silk... As a weapon..."
Well, that was strange. But I suddenly (probably from the voice) became aware of the fact I could now use the silk in bugs to do things, such as healing myself midbattle. I decided to get away from that place where the weaver doll (now gone) once stood, but I came across strange silk that could not be cut through. So, I tried doing what a small voice in my head said to do, and focused energy around my staff, before throwing it at the silk. Astonishingly, it cut through the thread like a warm knife through butter, and it returned to my hand via a silk strand.
"Alright, this is interesting... Perhaps I can try cutting through that beast's silk bindings?"
I decided to go down, before noticing a strange druid, who asked of me to find these "Mossberries", which I accepted because why not.
I decided to rest again at the bench, before going up to the beast, taking a deep breath, and thrust the staff into its bindings, cutting it free.
The beast roared, closing off the entrance and exit in bells bound together by Silk, before attacking.
"CRAPCRAPCRAPCRAP"
The beast burrowed into the ground before going across the ground, forcing me to ride it for a short time.
"CALM DOWN!!!"
this did absolutely nothing, so I decided I would have to beat some sense into it.
It jumped over me from the bells, and I managed to jab it in the stomach. It burrowed into the bells, before the ground rumbled below, before it burst out under me, knocking me along with two large bells into the air, before descending again.
We fought for a while, bells clanging throughout the battle, the roars of the beast, and my attempts to strike at it.
Eventually, it collapsed into the bells, and the silk-bound bells at the entance and exit disappeared. I went to the right, noticing a strange harp-like protrusion on the elevated area.
Suddenly, the beast of the bells burst out, roaring. I prepared for another fight, but it stopped, seemingly... purring?
"You... aren't angry?"
"Mrrrrrr"
"Ah, ok. What can you do for me?"
The beast gestured to its back, and that made me assume that it would let me ride it.
"But first, I think you should have a name... how does Phil work?"
The Bell Beast made an irritated noise.
"Guess not... how about Eira?"
The Bell beast seemed to like that.
As I went past the Bell Beast, I came across a lever connected to a bell.I decided to hit it,ringing a large bell. After that, the lever turned into a bench, which I desperately needed due to the fight with Eira. After that, I walked through, and down into a vertical area with red balloon-like sprouts about. I ran into a room, spotted an enormous red beast wielding a large weapon, and instantly backed away.
"I aint dealin with that thing."
I went further down, which revealed a delapidated jail-like structure with a bench. I decided to explore, before finding a orange prisoner.
"Hey you! You there! Get me out of here! When was a bit of theivery worth a life sentence!!??!"
"Uh... I don't have a key."
"Swing at these bars with that staff of yours! That'd break them, these bars feel weak."
And so I did, breaking the orange bug free.
"Thank you. I am Grindle, a snitchbug who lurks around these parts looking for goodies the people here have left around."
"Uh... OK."
I walked past him, and noticed a bin of pins above him.What absolute baffoon who built a prison and put a bin full of deadly weaponry in a cell kinda deserves what happened to them. I decided to pick some up, before that otherworldly voice started talking.
"You have found... a tool... You can only use a certain amount...before one must forge more... at a bench..."
having now obtained a new weapon, i decided to approach that big red ant that I saw before.
It instantly attacked when I got close, swinging its enormous club. I managed to barely roll out the way, before throwing the new pins I got at it. It didn't slow the ant down, as it jumped up for a devastating attack. I had to roll under it to just barely dodge, hitting it in the back with my staff. I managed to lure it to a lower ceiling, where it was less effective. I slowly whittled it down until the beast fell.
"FInally... that took some time..."
I was completely exhausted, and that club HURT. I went back down to the prison and rested there, before going into the entrance the large ant was blocking. I turned back after I saw a room where I would more than likely be ambushed.
"Alright, what do we have here..."
I looked at the map, which had most of the Marrow filled out, except for the bottom right. I decided that I'd be going there next.
I walked down, reaching a large field of magma with a strange transport machine. I activated it for future use, and went further right, reaching the Deep Docks.
It was hot. Really hot. Not unbearably, but pretty darn hot. I walked straight, and found Shakra surrounded by multiple bell-headed beings around her.
"Poshanka. We meet again, Pilgrim Wielding Bellstaff. What do you make of this huge, groaning structure?"
"It seems like a forge of some sort. Maybe a power source, too?"
"Perhaps. They must have prized this work, if they built something so grand in such a dangerous place."
I than traded some Rosaries for a map of the area, along with Bench and Bellway markers.
I decided to go to the Bellway marked on the map, but found I needed to pay Rosaries to open it. I had just barely enough for it.
"Come on, why is everything so darn expensive??????"
At least I can see Eira now.
"I aint dealin with that thing."
I went further down, which revealed a delapidated jail-like structure with a bench. I decided to explore, before finding a orange prisoner.
"Hey you! You there! Get me out of here! When was a bit of theivery worth a life sentence!!??!"
"Uh... I don't have a key."
"Swing at these bars with that staff of yours! That'd break them, these bars feel weak."
And so I did, breaking the orange bug free.
"Thank you. I am Grindle, a snitchbug who lurks around these parts looking for goodies the people here have left around."
"Uh... OK."
I walked past him, and noticed a bin of pins above him.What absolute baffoon who built a prison and put a bin full of deadly weaponry in a cell kinda deserves what happened to them. I decided to pick some up, before that otherworldly voice started talking.
"You have found... a tool... You can only use a certain amount...before one must forge more... at a bench..."
having now obtained a new weapon, i decided to approach that big red ant that I saw before.
It instantly attacked when I got close, swinging its enormous club. I managed to barely roll out the way, before throwing the new pins I got at it. It didn't slow the ant down, as it jumped up for a devastating attack. I had to roll under it to just barely dodge, hitting it in the back with my staff. I managed to lure it to a lower ceiling, where it was less effective. I slowly whittled it down until the beast fell.
"FInally... that took some time..."
I was completely exhausted, and that club HURT. I went back down to the prison and rested there, before going into the entrance the large ant was blocking. I turned back after I saw a room where I would more than likely be ambushed.
"Alright, what do we have here..."
I looked at the map, which had most of the Marrow filled out, except for the bottom right. I decided that I'd be going there next.
I walked down, reaching a large field of magma with a strange transport machine. I activated it for future use, and went further right, reaching the Deep Docks.
It was hot. Really hot. Not unbearably, but pretty darn hot. I walked straight, and found Shakra surrounded by multiple bell-headed beings around her.
"Poshanka. We meet again, Pilgrim Wielding Bellstaff. What do you make of this huge, groaning structure?"
"It seems like a forge of some sort. Maybe a power source, too?"
"Perhaps. They must have prized this work, if they built something so grand in such a dangerous place."
I than traded some Rosaries for a map of the area, along with Bench and Bellway markers.
I decided to go to the Bellway marked on the map, but found I needed to pay Rosaries to open it. I had just barely enough for it.
"Come on, why is everything so darn expensive??????"
At least I can see Eira now.
As I explored these fiery docks, fighting the many enemies I come across, I found a few things of note.
First off, a large smith with wide shoulders, plated entirely in bell.
As I came up to her, she spoke with a deep and resonating voice.
"Hello, pilgrim. It is rare to see your sort in these burning docks. I am the Forge Daughter, and this is my assistant, Ballow. Do you need anything forged?"
"Do you have anything specific you sell?"
"Yes, I do. I have made a special trinket of my own design for the workers here, to allow them to endure the singeing heat of this place. I would be willing to give you one, if you have the rosaries and Craftmetal for one."
"Craftmetal... I think I've heard of it before. Never seen it besides in a shop."
After that, I decided to go back to Bonebottom with Eira, snag the Craftmetal the shopkeep was selling, before coming back and buying the Magma Bell.
"Pleasure doing business with you. The forge is always hot."
After that, I went north, finding a less oppressively hot area, with the skull beasts I was familiar with along with rather thin, hopping bugs which were easy to dispatch. I noticed a strange unnatural stone pillar protruded out of the ceiling. As I walked further, I went further up, before seeing a similar statue to the one I saw in Mosshome. I went up to it, before attempting to bind it. I managed it first try, and now i suddenly could run without tiring, along with being able to "dash" by throwing myself in a direction (surprisingly didn't hurt at all). After this, I ran around, looking for anything of note. Going up, I found Hunter's March (wasn't going there anytime soon). As I descended back to the fiery pits of Deep Docks, I noticed something above the Forge Daughter's area. A gate, with a pale being seemingly conducting multiple butterflies with her needle. As I flicked the lever above, and descended to the area where she was conducting, she suddenly turned around and started talking.
"How sad. A little bitty pilgrim has fallen from his cage. So lost. So weak.
I can save you from this fate, pilgrim. I can simply skewer you right here and now, and pluck your flickering life right out of you."
"You threaten me, but you must prove these threats are valid. Show me, if you can."
"Delicious... I like you already!"
Lace
She almost instantly thrust her pin right at me, and I barely evaded to the left, swinging down with my bellstaff. But she dodged it with apparent ease, before counterattacking with a dive. As the battle went on, I started to get more desperate under her barrage of attacks, swinging my staff wildly at her. At one point, i even managed to knock her into lava, before she jumped out. I went in for an overhead swing, before she suddenly countered, flinging me towards the lava. I dug my staff into the ground, and just barely managed to keep out of it. I rapidly threw pins at her, hoping to accomplish something. She knocked away some, but was struck by them, enough to leave an opening for attack. I slammed my staff into her head, knocking her back to the point where she teetered on the edge of lava.
"You fight like nothing I've ever seen, but you still can't beat me!""
She stood in place for a bit, before appearing in a flurry of slashes above me, knocking me to the ground of the arena. As I barely got up, she charged at me again, but before she landed, my bellstaff collided with her pin. For a second, time seemed to stop, before the staff overpowered her pin and slammed into her, finally knocking her out.
First off, a large smith with wide shoulders, plated entirely in bell.
As I came up to her, she spoke with a deep and resonating voice.
"Hello, pilgrim. It is rare to see your sort in these burning docks. I am the Forge Daughter, and this is my assistant, Ballow. Do you need anything forged?"
"Do you have anything specific you sell?"
"Yes, I do. I have made a special trinket of my own design for the workers here, to allow them to endure the singeing heat of this place. I would be willing to give you one, if you have the rosaries and Craftmetal for one."
"Craftmetal... I think I've heard of it before. Never seen it besides in a shop."
After that, I decided to go back to Bonebottom with Eira, snag the Craftmetal the shopkeep was selling, before coming back and buying the Magma Bell.
"Pleasure doing business with you. The forge is always hot."
After that, I went north, finding a less oppressively hot area, with the skull beasts I was familiar with along with rather thin, hopping bugs which were easy to dispatch. I noticed a strange unnatural stone pillar protruded out of the ceiling. As I walked further, I went further up, before seeing a similar statue to the one I saw in Mosshome. I went up to it, before attempting to bind it. I managed it first try, and now i suddenly could run without tiring, along with being able to "dash" by throwing myself in a direction (surprisingly didn't hurt at all). After this, I ran around, looking for anything of note. Going up, I found Hunter's March (wasn't going there anytime soon). As I descended back to the fiery pits of Deep Docks, I noticed something above the Forge Daughter's area. A gate, with a pale being seemingly conducting multiple butterflies with her needle. As I flicked the lever above, and descended to the area where she was conducting, she suddenly turned around and started talking.
"How sad. A little bitty pilgrim has fallen from his cage. So lost. So weak.
I can save you from this fate, pilgrim. I can simply skewer you right here and now, and pluck your flickering life right out of you."
"You threaten me, but you must prove these threats are valid. Show me, if you can."
"Delicious... I like you already!"
Lace
She almost instantly thrust her pin right at me, and I barely evaded to the left, swinging down with my bellstaff. But she dodged it with apparent ease, before counterattacking with a dive. As the battle went on, I started to get more desperate under her barrage of attacks, swinging my staff wildly at her. At one point, i even managed to knock her into lava, before she jumped out. I went in for an overhead swing, before she suddenly countered, flinging me towards the lava. I dug my staff into the ground, and just barely managed to keep out of it. I rapidly threw pins at her, hoping to accomplish something. She knocked away some, but was struck by them, enough to leave an opening for attack. I slammed my staff into her head, knocking her back to the point where she teetered on the edge of lava.
"You fight like nothing I've ever seen, but you still can't beat me!""
She stood in place for a bit, before appearing in a flurry of slashes above me, knocking me to the ground of the arena. As I barely got up, she charged at me again, but before she landed, my bellstaff collided with her pin. For a second, time seemed to stop, before the staff overpowered her pin and slammed into her, finally knocking her out.
After Lace more than likely got a concussion, she blasted off(somehow). I instantly ran for the nearest bench in the Deep Docks. After I rested back to reasonable strength, I decided to go back to areas I had visisted to see if I had missed anything.
Turns out, I did.
I went back to the bottom section, where I had found the ability to dash, when I suddenly heard a cute noise coming from above. I instantly ran, trying to find a way up, before running across some platforms, finding a very fluffy thing stuck in a container, making the noise. I freed it, after a bit of difficulty, and it flew off, not before giving an "awoo" of thanks.
"Wonder if there are more of those around..."
After that, I went back to Eira's station, and asked her to bring me to the Marrow. After a bit of a rough ride, I arrived, and begun to look for spots on the map I had missed. Turns out, I missed a good bit. I found a small caravan with fleas like the one I had saved, and the Fleamaster, Mooshka, thanked me for finding the flea, before asking if I could find any more.
"I don't see why not."
I than dedicated some time to looking around the areas I had explored, to fill out the map. The notable things I found was a piece of Craftmetal in a highly explosive environment, a large area with an enormous skull that I am not approaching with a 20 foot pole, a flea stuck in vines, and a good amount of Rosaries. After that, I checked out Mosshome, which was a bit disappointing itemwise, giving only Rosaries. After I reinstated an elevator there, I went to check on Bonebottom, where Flick had finished the wishboard, which had some quests on it.
One simply required depositing some Shell Shards (which I had a lot of, so i quickly did that for some Rosaries)
and the other required me to... declothe the fallen pilgrims here.
Uh... not sure why they want that. (still took the quest though)
Anyways, I feel ready to take on that big ant, lets go see If I can take it down!
Battle insued with the large ant, and it was close, but a single pin took it down in the end.
I decided to push my luck and go into the Hunter's March. I had to swing my bellstaff downwards to bounce off these red flower-balloon things (no idea if they're artificial or actual flowers) to reach higher fleas, but hey, found another flea!!!
"awoo"
As a walked a long corrider, I found some more of the tribe. A smaller ant wielding some nasty curveclaws, which seemed to be able to hit me even if i was walking.
This will have to wait for a while.
Turns out, I did.
I went back to the bottom section, where I had found the ability to dash, when I suddenly heard a cute noise coming from above. I instantly ran, trying to find a way up, before running across some platforms, finding a very fluffy thing stuck in a container, making the noise. I freed it, after a bit of difficulty, and it flew off, not before giving an "awoo" of thanks.
"Wonder if there are more of those around..."
After that, I went back to Eira's station, and asked her to bring me to the Marrow. After a bit of a rough ride, I arrived, and begun to look for spots on the map I had missed. Turns out, I missed a good bit. I found a small caravan with fleas like the one I had saved, and the Fleamaster, Mooshka, thanked me for finding the flea, before asking if I could find any more.
"I don't see why not."
I than dedicated some time to looking around the areas I had explored, to fill out the map. The notable things I found was a piece of Craftmetal in a highly explosive environment, a large area with an enormous skull that I am not approaching with a 20 foot pole, a flea stuck in vines, and a good amount of Rosaries. After that, I checked out Mosshome, which was a bit disappointing itemwise, giving only Rosaries. After I reinstated an elevator there, I went to check on Bonebottom, where Flick had finished the wishboard, which had some quests on it.
One simply required depositing some Shell Shards (which I had a lot of, so i quickly did that for some Rosaries)
and the other required me to... declothe the fallen pilgrims here.
Uh... not sure why they want that. (still took the quest though)
Anyways, I feel ready to take on that big ant, lets go see If I can take it down!
Battle insued with the large ant, and it was close, but a single pin took it down in the end.
I decided to push my luck and go into the Hunter's March. I had to swing my bellstaff downwards to bounce off these red flower-balloon things (no idea if they're artificial or actual flowers) to reach higher fleas, but hey, found another flea!!!
"awoo"
As a walked a long corrider, I found some more of the tribe. A smaller ant wielding some nasty curveclaws, which seemed to be able to hit me even if i was walking.
This will have to wait for a while.
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