Take everything but only go back to our island if you can't carry anything else. And keep the big rock around in case another infected voidling shows up.

I'm going to name the rock Peter. Peter's our friend.

1/2 Silv 2024/04/01(Mon)18:54 No. 1087680 ID: 1effd3
File 171202284190.png - (219.08KB , 900x750 , 040124_FromNothing50_ShroomLogger.png )

>First up, are you ok silv?That must have been nerve wracking.
“I’m ok. I wasn’t ready for that, but it wasn’t nearly as scary as the behemoth.”

>did you grab the wood you wanted yet?
>Gather as much shroomwood as you can carry, and then return to our base of operations.
“I’m going to try to drag the big mushrooms that fell off the island using the stringy fungus stuff. I’m not sure how I’m going to cut the mushroom logs later though.”

>Retain this voidmatter, Runelearner. It may prove to be beneficial to the friend we've left back home. Seize these runes, as well--they will allow our domain to expand and prosper further. Gather as much shroomwood as you can carry, and then return to our base of operations.
>I say take whatever it is. The voidmatter. What wood and shrooms you already have should be enough to get a start on something. Id say try to tame and take home one. Not just as a friend for flan. The more diverse forms of voidling you can study and understand, the better prepared you'll be when you return here to gather more wood and supplies. You may even be able to train one of these to fetch and carry light things.
>Take everything but only go back to our island if you can't carry anything else. And keep the big rock around in case another infected voidling shows up.
>I'm going to name the rock Peter. Peter's our friend.

“You guys can never decide whether you want me to use you to hit things or not…”
Silv decides to look for some runes before trying to tame one of the floater voidlings around, dragging the big rock as she does so. After a little while, she manages to find another rune, however she encounters an infected slug type voidling. She easily dispatches it with the big rock where she gains another rune and some voidmatter. She removes some more mushrooms from her bag to make space for them, then decides to try to tame a voidling.

Silv doesn’t actually know how to tame voidlings, so she just tries to feed a floater some rocks and mushrooms while talking to it. Apparently, this is enough to work for Silv, because it begins to follow her around.
“Ok, it’s time to head back. We’ll give you a name when we get home, but we have to drag these mushroom logs with us first.”

[i]Using Tremor to move the rock around, Silv pulls a bunch of fungal vines down, and wraps them around some of the large mushrooms that fell off the island. She slowly drags them back home, with the floater in tow.

2/2 Silv 2024/04/01(Mon)18:54 No. 1087681 ID: 1effd3
File 171202285758.png - (139.17KB , 900x750 , 040124_FromNothing51.png )

After an agonizingly slow trip dragging logs, Silv returns to her island with a bag full of stuff and a floater voidling. In total, you got:
x2 Voidmatter
x3 Giant Mushroom Logs
x20 Small Mushrooms
x1 Floater Voidling
x4 Runes

“Blek!” Flan seems to be happy you’re back! It doesn’t seem like he managed to get into your food stash, but you still need a proper way to store stuff. You give him a few pats and look around the island. Doesn’t appear like they’ve made any runes while you were gone.

“I think that went well! We got some stuff to build with, as well as some runes. I’d like to make some shelter, but I want to combine some of the runes we got. Remember, We can turn runes into other ones we already know!”
You know the following runes you can combine into more complex ones: Flare, Tremor, Stream, and Breeze.
You have 4 runes available.

>>1087680
>“You guys can never decide whether you want me to use you to hit things or not…”
look, we're probably an unbreakable artifact, but are you strong enough to do any damage like that?

>>1087681
>Doesn’t appear like they’ve made any runes while you were gone.
you'd probably have a food rune if you had let them eat some of your food instead of stashing it all

>You have 4 runes available.
uhhh... which ones? I guess if they were new you'd have told us, I suppose. Anyway, you have 4 known runes, so that's only 6 possible combinations. Assuming you can't combine opposites, that's only 4: b+f, b+s, f+t, s+t. I'm also assuming you can't combine two of the same rune, or you'd have another 4.

Take the logs and make a lean-to over the wall corner. Its not much, but it'll be cozy and you can reuse the logs later.

Don't combine opposing runes until we understand the process a bit more they might explode

>>1087681
We have four extra runes which means we can combine some to create two complex runes.
Tremor+Stream. Stream+Breeze. I want to see if we can make some plant and weather related runes.

Hmm, do you have any ability to cut up the shroomlogs into usable planks? Maybe you can break up some stone into sharp pieces to chop with, but what we really need is a saw.

>>1087681
Try to combine Tremor and Stream

Remember you can swap any rune for its opposite, before combining!

I agree with trying out Tremor+Stream and Stream+Breeze. Those seem like the best runes to combine for base expansion purposes. Don't combine Flare+Tremor yet, until you have some way to safely contain molten magma.

Combine Stream and Breeze

Combine the resulting rune with breeze again.

Combine that resulting rune with breeze again!

I'm hoping for something like Rain -> Storm -> Gale

>>1087681

Thats a lot of material to work with.
Youve got more than the parts to build a shelter here, you have the foundations of a hone.
Well done silv.
You must be tired though.
Take a short rest and consider our collective musings.

>4: b+f, b+s, f+t, s+t. I'm also assuming you can't combine two of the same rune, or you'd have another 4.

Hmm.
I wonder...
Maybe combining the same rune is how you augment the power it can manifest?

Ive also been wondering what would happen if you fed a rune to a voidling.
Or the voidmattet.
I suspect that the latter would result in growth, either mentally, physically or both.

Unfortunately such experiments are best done at a time when we have a surplus.
Right now the runes are all too essential as tools to risk.

Perhaps silv should start by securing the shroom trees in place.
See if we can figure out how to get a roof over her head.
I know theres no weather to shelter from, but it cant feel all that comfortable sleeping under that yawning void.
So exposed...

Oh!
Maybe some of the fungal strands could be woven together and suspended between the wall corners
Make a hammock.
A little comfort to help you rest all the better.

> “You guys can never decide whether you want me to use you to hit things or not…”
You can do magic. Why would you use us to whack things when you can fry them with magic? Or bash them with a rock? Or mildly inconvenience them with a spray of water or a strong breeze in the face?
Speaking of which, I suggest combining two Flare runes together. Maybe it will create a Blaze or something like that. Or maybe Breeze and Flare, you should try that too. Don't forget to invert the result.
And be careful to point your spells away from the mushrooms when you try them.

W-we're delicate, OK?

1/4 Silv 2024/04/06(Sat)17:43 No. 1088104 ID: 1effd3
File 171245060898.png - (187.97KB , 900x750 , 040624_FromNothing52_Tantrum.png )

—
>look, we're probably an unbreakable artifact, but are you strong enough to do any damage like that?
>You can do magic. Why would you use us to whack things when you can fry them with magic? Or bash them with a rock? Or mildly inconvenience them with a spray of water or a strong breeze in the face?
>W-we're delicate, OK?
“See, you can never agree on this! Also, rude, I can swing you fast enough to do some damage!” Silv complains, swinging Tetsi around wildly.

2/4 Silv 2024/04/06(Sat)17:43 No. 1088105 ID: 1effd3
File 171245063086.png - (208.47KB , 900x750 , 040624_FromNothing53_Nature_Eldritch.png )

>Combine Stream and Breeze, Combine the resulting rune with breeze again. Combine that resulting rune with breeze again! I'm hoping for something like Rain -> Storm -> Gale

“I feel like that’s a bit wasteful. I’m only going to fuse twice, because I want to keep the other 2 runes for later.”

>I agree with trying out Tremor+Stream and Stream+Breeze. Those seem like the best runes to combine for base expansion purposes. Don't combine Flare+Tremor yet, until you have some way to safely contain molten magma.
>Try to combine Tremor and Stream
>Hmm. I wonder… Maybe combining the same rune is how you augment the power it can manifest?
>b+f, b+s, f+t, s+t.
>Don't forget to invert the result.
Silv begins by fusing Tremor and Stream together.

Nature rune obtained!
“Nature! That should be plants and stuff, right? Also, I didn’t seem to learn a new spell from it.”
Inverting the Nature rune also resulted in another new rune!

Eldritch rune obtained!
“No spell for this one either, but what does it mean though?”

3/4 Silv 2024/04/06(Sat)17:44 No. 1088106 ID: 1effd3
File 171245065596.gif - (90.90KB , 840x700 , 040624_FromNothing54_BlastRuneGif.gif )

Next, she attempts to fuse two Flare runes together. The result is… slightly unstable. The new rune vibrates violently in Silv’s hands, threatening to go off at any second.

Blast rune obtained! Silv learned Lesser Blast.
“This feels… very unsafe.”
Silv cautiously converts the Blast rune into another that shouldn’t explode. “I think we should limit that runes use. I did learn a new spell though.”

Silv tests out Lesser Blast on the edge of the island. It does just about what you’d expect it to.

4/4 Silv 2024/04/06(Sat)17:44 No. 1088107 ID: 1effd3
File 171245067352.png - (127.13KB , 900x750 , 040624_FromNothing55_Chopper.png )

>Ive also been wondering what would happen if you fed a rune to a voidling. Or the voidmatter. I suspect that the latter would result in growth, either mentally, physically or both. Unfortunately such experiments are best done at a time when we have a surplus. Right now the runes are all too essential as tools to risk.
“Yeah, I don’t want to spend our limited resources on stuff like that right now.”

>Take the logs and make a lean-to over the wall corner. Its not much, but it'll be cozy and you can reuse the logs later.
>Perhaps silv should start by securing the shroom trees in place. See if we can figure out how to get a roof over her head. I know there's no weather to shelter from, but it cant feel all that comfortable sleeping under that yawning void. So exposed…
>Hmm, do you have any ability to cut up the shroomlogs into usable planks? Maybe you can break up some stone into sharp pieces to chop with, but what we really need is a saw.
“I have to keep the logs off the island, otherwise they’re too heavy to move. The only way I can think of to cut them is maybe a sharp rock using Tremor?”

After a few attempts, Silv manages to get a sharp-ish rock to break apart the shroomlogs. They aren’t pretty, but she makes a few shroomplanks to make a lean-to with. x2 Shroomlogs remain.

Silv lets out a yawn. “Ok, I’m getting tired now Tetsi. We'll figure out how to plant the small mushrooms tomorrow, but other than that, what should we do?
The Floater Voidling lets out a loud puff of air. Seems you forgot to name it!
“Sorry, we hadn’t forgotten about you! Tetsi, do you have any names for our new friend? My idea is Flumph.”

Stay and work on the island, or explore? If explore:
Options for Weak Dowsing:
-Food
-Cloth
-Other

Provide an Environmental keyword
Fungal and Overgrown cannot be reused.

Work on a shelter, or at least a dugout.
At least you can do your business by just going off the island.

>>1088104
...
..
.you are truly a master of the martial arts.

Ought to dowse for food, unless you can dowse for seeds. Although with no sun it might be hard to farm. Sustainable food is a must.
keyword: scraggly

Flumph, ah that's great, go with that.

>>1088105
Nature and eldritch rune.
Makes sense.
The natural world and the eldritch are opposites while not being opposed. Same coin, different sides.
Hmm.
No inherent spell.
Either theyre an interim thatll develop into a spell or theyre a property rune.
Sonething you can latch on to a spell, effect, item or subject.
Have you tried casting two runes at once silv?

>>1088107
Flumph is perfect.

Silv, use those fungal strands and make yourself a hammock.
String it between two corners of the building walls.
If youve never seen one its like a...
A...
A cocoon of pure comfort.
If you can master climbing into it.

Hm.
Cloth if we have more than two days food remaining.
Otherwise, got to keep yourself fed silv.

Environmental keyword : ruin.

>>1088107
Flumph is good.

Dowse for food.
Keyword: Bricks

OK so combined runes can be unstable. Combining Flare and Flare went about as well as pushing two positive magnetic monopoles together. Can you use the Nature rune to expand your island? Might result in something useful. You could explore more, maybe some food to stock up on. Or sleep. Would you feel better sleeping with a roof over your head? Not like it's going to rain on you here. If you would, you could probably make a crude lean-to by leaning the mushroom planks against the stone ruins.

Exploration Keyword: Comfy

>>1088117
Makes me think of a magical rune accelerator. Smash unstable runes together to create exotic runes that can only exist for picoseconds.

>>1088104
oh, that was fun. Again! Again!

>>1088106
you forgot to invert Blast, tho. I'm sure you'll be able to do it before it explodes if you're fast enough, I believe in you!

I wonder if combining two of the same rune is what makes runes unstable, and not necessarily the Flare components.

Considering that Tremor is the most useful rune as of right now, you should look into upgrading it somehow. Combining 2 Tremors might yield a more powerful version.

I wonder what land comes out of the Blast rune?

We have an Eldritch rune. We have a Blast rune. Combining them would probably be very fun.
I wonder if we could keep combining Blast runes together (and converting them to something harmless immediately), until we have a rune powerful enough to create a sun ? Not necessarily a big one, just big enough for our island.
Anyway, I advise dowsing for Food. You don't have much of it. Keyword : Hollow.

>>1088154

We'll get right on the task of creating a sun as soon as construction of the rune accelerator is finished. Until then, Silv has more eh... immediate problems, like food, spores, giant voidlings, and getting lost.

We never inverted Blast. Might as well do that.

1/5 Silv 2024/04/12(Fri)18:28 No. 1088624 ID: 1effd3
File 171297170518.png - (229.34KB , 900x750 , 041224_FromNothing56_MasterCraftsman1.png )

>Food: 5
>Cloth: 1
>Other: 0

>Ought to dowse for food, unless you can dowse for seeds. Although with no sun it might be hard to farm. Sustainable food is a must.
“Ok, we’ll look for more food after I rest, and get the mushroom patch organized.”

>Flumph is perfect.
>Flumph is good.
“Ok, our new friend's name is Flumph!”
COMPANION RECRUITED

— — —
Name: Flumph

Race: Floater Voidling
Natrualborn of the Void, they consume and recycle all that exists. Smaller voidlings can only eat matter that breaks down into the most basic of runes.

Abilities:
Breakdown:Voidlings consume any matter for sustenance, and convert it into runes. It is not a fast or efficient process.
— — —

>Work on a shelter, or at least a dugout.
>If you would, you could probably make a crude lean-to by leaning the mushroom planks against the stone ruins.
>Would you feel better sleeping with a roof over your head?

“What do you mean, I already did that, see?”

2/5 Silv 2024/04/12(Fri)18:28 No. 1088625 ID: 1effd3
File 171297173234.png - (204.53KB , 900x750 , 041224_FromNothing57_MasterCraftsman2.png )

THUNK

“...I’m going to go to sleep now.”

3/5 Silv 2024/04/12(Fri)18:29 No. 1088626 ID: 1effd3
File 171297175473.png - (203.14KB , 900x750 , 041224_FromNothing58_Gardening.png )

Silv awakes to another sunless darkness lit by Tetsi. After breakfast, time to set up the mushroom farm!
Silv decides to set up a little farm on the longer end of the island, where she plants 10 of the small mushrooms to hopefully start growing. The other 10 are to be eaten later. Maybe.

>Silv, use those fungal strands and make yourself a hammock. String it between two corners of the building walls. If you've never seen one it's like a cocoon of pure comfort. If you can master climbing into it.
“That sounds nice, but I don’t know if I could make that!”


>We have an Eldritch rune. We have a Blast rune. Combining them would probably be very fun.
I wonder if we could keep combining Blast runes together (and converting them to something harmless immediately), until we have a rune powerful enough to create a sun ? Not necessarily a big one, just big enough for our island.
>Makes me think of a magical rune accelerator. Smash unstable runes together to create exotic runes that can only exist for picoseconds.
“What’s an accelerator? And do you really think we could make a sun??”

>I wonder what land comes out of the Blast rune?
“I’d rather not find out!”

>We never inverted Blast. Might as well do that.
>you forgot to invert Blast, tho. I'm sure you'll be able to do it before it explodes if you're fast enough, I believe in you!
Silv cautiously converts a rune back into Blast, and tries to invert it, to no success.
“Doesn’t seem like Blast can be inverted. I guess some runes don’t have opposites maybe?”

—

“Flan, Flumph, I’m going to look for some food. Please don’t eat the mushrooms and other things I’ve stashed away, ok?”
“Blek!”
Flumph responds with a puff of air.

After activating Dowsing, Silv and Tetsi head out in the nearest direction of food.

>Nature and eldritch rune makes sense. The natural world and the eldritch are opposites while not being opposed. Same coin, different sides. No inherent spell. Either they’re an interim that’ll develop into a spell or they're a property rune. Something you can latch onto a spell, effect, item or subject. Have you tried casting two runes at once silv?
“By ‘casting two runes’, do you mean spells? I tried, but I couldn't focus on it. I do wonder why Nature and Eldritch didn’t give me a spell for them when the other runes did, it might be as you suggested.”

4/5 Silv 2024/04/12(Fri)18:29 No. 1088627 ID: 1effd3
File 171297178594.png - (283.61KB , 900x750 , 041224_FromNothing59_NewDestination.png )

Ahead of Silv lies the target of her Dowsing. The island is uneven and covered in a swamp, where lies a multitude of ruins, dead trees, and craters. Large crystals pierce the ground, and toxic gas hangs low over the water. This… doesn’t seem like the best place to find food, but this is where Dowsing has led you.

5/5 Silv 2024/04/12(Fri)18:30 No. 1088628 ID: 1effd3
File 171297180252.png - (479.00KB , 900x750 , 041224_FromNothing60_ToxicBlue.png )

“This place is… something. Will we actually find food here?”
“So what should we do first?”

Be cautious of the noxious vapors. Even if they leave you with your life, they may harm you or alter your mind in unpredictable ways.

Reach for things that are near at hand; the blue ferns, with their shoots and fruits, seem like they have the greatest potential to provide nourishment. It may be prudent as well to retrieve a sample of the crystals growing here.

>>1088626
>Please don’t eat the mushrooms and other things I’ve stashed away, ok?
Just let them eat a little of it, maybe you'll get a rune that will get you a spell that summons food.

>>1088628
those are some neat crystals. I don't suppose they're edible, right?

Are those shadows alive? Are those silos in the background?

>>1088627
Also those "stars" look ominously like giant voidlings

>>1088628
Oooh pretty. (What keyword did this? Ruins I guess?)

Careful going. Break some crystal to bring back, Flumph might like it. Check out the ruins!

This... looks familiar.
Okay, if I remember correctly, those crystals can make people smarter - but it also scrambles their brains. For obvious reasons, they only do the procedure on babies.

In any case, crystals are ordered patterns of matter, which should translate to powerful runes. Get as many types as you can, you're going to give Flan a buffet.

>>1088628
Kts an eerily beautiful islet.

Hmm.
Well., i dont think giant salt crystals would count as food, but dowsing hasnt been wrong yet...

If the plants dont have readily apparent fruit, the roots may be edible.

There could be something living in the water but that toxic looking miasma is something you want to avoid. Breeze it away if you approach.

The final food candidate i see is the one i hope is a failure.
Dead trees are a good place to find bugs, grubs and other insects. Edible, but notappetising.

I say start with the plants.

Identify plants and crystals?

Take some of those crystals and inspect them. How heavy are they ? Are they fragile ? How do they taste ? We should try to identify them too.
Then to the ruins !

Oh yes use Identify on the crystals and plants before you put your mouth parts on them.

cast identify on the crystals and plants

1/3 Silv 2024/04/17(Wed)12:30 No. 1089053 ID: 1effd3
File 171338223822.png - (372.20KB , 900x750 , 041624_FromNothing61_Toxigrowth.png )

>Are those shadows alive? Are those silos in the background? Also those "stars" look ominously like giant voidlings
Silv stares at the lights above, seeing if any are moving or obscured. Fortunately, none of them seem to belong to any giant voidlings.

>Reach for things that are near at hand; the blue ferns, with their shoots and fruits, seem like they have the greatest potential to provide nourishment. It may be prudent as well to retrieve a sample of the crystals growing here.
>Identify plants and crystals?
>Oh yes, use Identify on the crystals and plants before you put your mouth parts on them.
>cast identify on the crystals and plants
“I’m too far away to Identify the crystals in the middle of the swamps. The only one I think I could get close enough to check is that big one further in. Let’s check out these plants though.”


Toxigrowth
These blue plants grow from the polluted mud of the swamps here. The fruit, while edible, is poisonous to most forms of life. Eating too much in a short amount of time will cause a toxin buildup to occur. The toxins are most heavily concentrated in the plants roots.

“Ok, Toxigrowth is at the top of “things I shouldn’t eat” list. Can Voidlings eat it though? I should probably take a few fruits with me.”
x5 Toxigrowth Fruits obtained.

2/3 Silv 2024/04/17(Wed)12:30 No. 1089054 ID: 1effd3
File 171338225365.png - (451.97KB , 900x750 , 041624_FromNothing62_ToxRuins1.png )

>Be cautious of the noxious vapors. Even if they leave you with your life, they may harm you or alter your mind in unpredictable ways.
>Careful going. Break some crystal to bring back, Flumph might like it. Check out the ruins!
>In any case, crystals are ordered patterns of matter, which should translate to powerful runes. Get as many types as you can, you're going to give Flan a buffet.
>There could be something living in the water but that toxic looking miasma is something you want to avoid. Breeze it away if you approach.
“There’s some ruins on the way towards the big crystal, so I’ll check that out first.”

Metal scraps litter the ground, and the shells of forgotten vehicles rust away. Toxigrowth creeps its way along the building’s ruined bricks and metal skeleton. A low miasma clings to the ground. Silv blows it away with Breeze.
“What is this place? And what happened here?”

3/3 Silv 2024/04/17(Wed)12:31 No. 1089055 ID: 1effd3
File 171338227283.png - (580.28KB , 900x750 , 041624_FromNothing63_ToxRuins2.png )

Inside, rubble and torn metal litter the ground. There is a great number of voidling slugs in here eating the rubble, along with some runes.
x2 runes obtained.
“More runes! Nothing new, but it means we can use them when we get back home.”

Silv begins to walk out of the ruined building, towards the giant crystal structure in the crater.
“Let's see if we can get a bit of this crystal now!”

>>1089053
Some recipes include trace amounts of toxic ingredients, like nutmeg.

>>1089055
Metal! Literally!
Steel is strong and abundant, but you don't have the means to produce it yet. Grab some, and try to get your voidlings to recycle it into steel-production runes! Steel alloys are mostly iron and oxygen, so it should be non-toxic.

Lastly, tame some more voidlings.

>>1089055
Are those shears on that pile?

>>1089056
Maybe feed one of the fruit to a voidling here to tame it...and if it's poisonous, at least you didn't poison st that was already your friend. ;P

>>1089055
Oooh, metal. We should take some of that back.
Is that a smaller crystal back there you can identify?

See if you can find a nice metal bar in the rubble, to use as a pick for crystal samples.

>>1089055
The steel is a good find.
Seems quite well preserved.
Difficult to transport but in the future itll be a useful building material.
Smaller parts could make a more reliable wewpon than beaning things on the head with us.

The advice to take a little is very sound.
As is taking that tool ifnit is indeed one.

Other than that, the crystal calls.

This place is a brick building with steel girders and walkways. What happened here is something broke a hole in the wall. The real question is who built it, and where did they go?

>>1089054
...is that a tank?

Clearly, this construction hasn't come from nothing. We've seen ruins of roads and automobiles, and here, perhaps great industry, as well. We must be journeying in the wake of great destruction that has shattered some prior civilization. Runelearner, you would do well to take heed of the nature of this wreckage, and endeavor to know the cause of the broken land's fate. We may need to avoid it, ourselves.

>>1089117
Just looks like two rectangular pieces of rubble to me.

It appears those voidlings can't digest metal, and it's a bit too heavy to bring back. That's a shame, we could use a metal rune. Take some small metal parts, maybe it'll prove useful at some point.

I've been thinking...
The opposite of Blast could be many things: Implode, Collapse, Stabilize, Freeze, Order, Vacuum, and Void are what immediately come to mind. Perhaps if the inverse concept is too open ended then the possibilities can only be made by combination?

1/4 Silv 2024/04/23(Tue)12:33 No. 1089476 ID: 1effd3
File 171390078931.png - (378.04KB , 900x750 , 042324_FromNothing64_Shovel!.png )

>I've been thinking… The opposite of Blast could be many things: Implode, Collapse, Stabilize, Freeze, Order, Vacuum, and Void are what immediately come to mind. Perhaps if the inverse concept is too open ended then the possibilities can only be made by combination?
“Like… I have to try to invert Blast while also trying to fuse it?”

>...is that a tank?
>Just looks like two rectangular pieces of rubble to me.
“What’s a tank?”

>Metal! Literally! Steel is strong and abundant, but you don't have the means to produce it yet. Grab some, and try to get your voidlings to recycle it into steel-production runes!
>It appears those voidlings can't digest metal, and it's a bit too heavy to bring back. That's a shame, we could use a metal rune. Take some small metal parts, maybe it'll prove useful at some point.
>See if you can find a nice metal bar in the rubble, to use as a pick for crystal samples.
>Oooh, metal. We should take some of that back.
>The steel is a good find. Seems quite well preserved. Difficult to transport but in the future it'll be a useful building material. Smaller parts could make a more reliable weapon than beaning things on the head with us. The advice to take a little is very sound. As is taking that tool if it is indeed one.
“If I remember correctly, the small voidlings we’ve seen so far can only eat things that convert into basic runes. I suppose metal is too complex. I can try digging around this pile for some smaller things, because I definitely won't be able to drag it to the island's edge.”

Silv digs around the pile of rubble and metal for a short bit, and found the following:
x7 metal scrap obtained.
small Shovel-Pick obtained.
“This is neat, the top part moves up and down!”

>This place is a brick building with steel girders and walkways. What happened here is that something broke a hole in the wall. The real question is who built it, and where did they go?
>Clearly, this construction hasn't come from nothing. We've seen ruins of roads and automobiles, and here, perhaps great industry, as well. We must be journeying in the wake of great destruction that has shattered some prior civilization. Runelearner, you would do well to take heed of the nature of this wreckage, and endeavor to know the cause of the broken land's fate. We may need to avoid it, ourselves.
“With the way everything is wrecked, it’s hard to tell if it's all just old, or if something destroyed it all. I definitely know it’s hard to survive here, even if you didn’t have poisonous fruits to eat. Also, what’s an automobile?”

2/4 Silv 2024/04/23(Tue)12:33 No. 1089477 ID: 1effd3
File 171390081937.png - (449.39KB , 900x750 , 042324_FromNothing65_.png )

After playing with the shovelhead for a bit, Silv leaves the ruin and resumes heading towards the giant crystal. Toxigrowth and dead trees litter the landscape, with the craters and swamp scattered around. Some of the swamps seem to have creatures in them, but it’s hard to tell with the murky water and toxic gas around.

3/4 Silv 2024/04/23(Tue)12:34 No. 1089478 ID: 1effd3
File 171390085044.png - (693.51KB , 900x750 , 042324_FromNothing66_toweringCrystal.png )

The crystal towers above Silv and the surrounding landscape, sitting in its gas filled crater. Silv can blow away the gas, but it won’t last long until she has to do it again. Got to be quick!

4/4 Silv 2024/04/23(Tue)12:34 No. 1089479 ID: 1effd3
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Reaching the massive crystal at last, Silv begins hitting it with the shovel.

TIIIING
TIIIING
TIIIING

A decently large chunk of crystal breaks off, and Silv casts Identify on it.

Toxcite
Crystalized Toxin. A tough crystal with a muddy, semi-transparent coloration, it pulses with an unsafe, negative energy.

”...Well, that explains everything being toxic around here. Do I …still want a chunk of this stuff?”

Um...maybe? Do you have a bag or something that isn't your hands or pockets? Maybe you could hold it with the shovel.... And uhhhhh, see if one of the unaligned voidlings nearby can eat it

If one of the giant void beasts comes to devour your island, this is your deterrent.

You're not equipped to keep something toxic stored safely yet. This chunk seems like a bust, except for your cool new pick.

I say drop it. your current home island is to small for you to have somewhere to place this safely without risking poisoning the rest of the island and you don't really have a container laying around to safely store it in so none of your voidlings won't eat it by mistake...
speaking of voidlings, what are the ones around here eating?

I'd advise against bringing it back or carrying around too much.
We don't really have a use for it, we don't know how to handle or store it safely, and apart from its name and appearance the only thing IDENTIFY returned was "unsafe negative energy".

One thing we can do is experiment with it before we go.
Bring it somewhere away from the other crystals, if possible without touching it. Then try your current runes on it, except blast. Do not use blast on it. Be careful and ready to jump into cover if it looks like it's going to destabilize.
Finally, try fusing it with one of the runes you just found. Like when you fuse two runes. Or maybe try physically pushing the rune into it ?

>>1089479
I don't think we have any way of carrying toxin safely, much less storing it in a way that won't gas up our home base. Leave it for now. If we ever need it we can come back to get it.

Investigate the creatures in the gas.

>>1089479
An automobile is a form of conveyance.
Entirely useless now

Good find with that tool.

>>1089477

Oh.
You know, this place really is beautiful.
Shame its so deadly

>>1089479

...mmm.
That doesnt look safe at all.
Id say take a tiny bit but void only knows what you could be scattering into the air if you break it smaller.

My curiosity is driving me to want samples to experiment with to find out whether the crystal is coalesced from present toxins or a generating source of the toxic pollution.

Applications exist for either form.

All the same, best leave it.
I wouldnt want to see you hurt for my curiosity, nor what would happen if flan got ahold of it.

1/3 Silv 2024/04/26(Fri)16:38 No. 1089769 ID: 1effd3
File 171417469254.png - (338.02KB , 900x750 , 042624_FromNothing68_.png )

>Um...maybe? Do you have a bag or something that isn't your hands or pockets? Maybe you could hold it with the shovel.... And uhhhhh, see if one of the unaligned voidlings nearby can eat it
>You're not equipped to keep something toxic stored safely yet. This chunk seems like a bust, except for your cool new pick.
>I say drop it. your current home island is to small for you to have somewhere to place this safely without risking poisoning the rest of the island and you don't really have a container laying around to safely store it in so none of your voidlings won't eat it by mistake…
>I'd advise against bringing it back or carrying around too much.
We don't really have a use for it, we don't know how to handle or store it safely, and apart from its name and appearance the only thing IDENTIFY returned was "unsafe negative energy".
>I don't think we have any way of carrying toxin safely, much less storing it in a way that won't gas up our home base. Leave it for now. If we ever need it we can come back to get it.
>...mmm. That doesnt look safe at all. Id say take a tiny bit but void only knows what you could be scattering into the air if you break it smaller. My curiosity is driving me to want samples to experiment with to find out whether the crystal is coalesced from present toxins or a generating source of the toxic pollution. Applications exist for either form. All the same, best leave it. I wouldnt want to see you hurt for my curiosity, nor what would happen if flan got ahold of it.
“We are all in agreement then, I don’t see much use for this stuff besides looking pretty.”


>One thing we can do is experiment with it before we go. Bring it somewhere away from the other crystals, if possible without touching it. Then try your current runes on it, except blast. Do not use blast on it. Be careful and ready to jump into cover if it looks like it's going to destabilize. Finally, try fusing it with one of the runes you just found. Like when you fuse two runes. Or maybe try physically pushing the rune into it ?
Silv quickly leaves the crater with the Toxcite chunk in hand, before the gas can condense again. After making some distance, she sets the Toxcite chunk down, and thinks about what to do.
“Hmm, I’ve only found two runes on this trip so far, so I’m only going to experiment with 1 rune. Let's try a Stream Rune.”
Silv takes a Stream rune, and tries to push it into the Toxcite chunk. She feels like it could do something, but doesn’t seem like she knows how to accomplish it. Perhaps for experience is needed?
“That didn’t work. I felt like I could do something, but I don’t know what.”

2/3 Silv 2024/04/26(Fri)16:38 No. 1089770 ID: 1effd3
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>An automobile is a form of conveyance. Entirely useless now
“Good to know.”

>Investigate the creatures in the gas.
Approaching one of the nearby swamps, Silv looks around at the dark shapes darting below the water. Several jump out of the water and swim in the air when she approaches, allowing her to Identify them!

Swimmer Voidling
One of many variants of Voidling. Swimmers are much faster than previously encountered voidlings, and move through the air as if it were fluid.

“Aww, these guys are kinda cute! Doesn’t seem like the water and gas bothers them.”
Something on the water catches your eye, and you direct Silv’s attention towards it.
“Huh? What’s that?”

3/3 Silv 2024/04/26(Fri)16:39 No. 1089771 ID: 1effd3
File 171417474218.png - (579.96KB , 900x750 , 042624_FromNothing70_swaaamp.png )

...It’s a new rune!

...In the middle of the swamp where the Toxcite is.

There appears to be several runes in the swamp water. Do you and Silv risk it?

>>1089770
the council is in agreement: those are cute

>>1089771
can you use Breeze to get them to you without going in? Otherwise, tame one of those swimmer voidlings and get them to bring them to you.

>>1089775
Yeah, let's try a creative workaround. Wading in potentially-toxic water seems like a bad idea. Blowing the runes towards shore should work? We could also try making a rock bridge.

Okay, see if those voidlings like toxic fruit, or whatever rations you've brought. If you can tame one, you can get them to push the runes to you and then bring them to your pond.

well there's a lot of junk laying around the island, can you just find some stuff to make a bridge or use your rock spell to make yourself stepping stones towards the runes?

Tremor lets you lift rocks, how much control do you get? could you use a rock to push the runes out to you?

If that doesn't work then a nice stone step bridge should, plenty of ground to work with

>>1089809
This is an excellent idea.
The former then the latter.

No contact with the water.
At all.

Oh, and keep one antennae on those frankly adorable voidling swimmers.
Cute is not mutually exclusive with danger.

1/2 Silv 2024/04/28(Sun)18:03 No. 1089942 ID: 1effd3
File 171435263037.png - (268.34KB , 900x750 , 042824_FromNothing71_.png )

>the council is in agreement: those are cute
”Yes they’re cute, but not the main point right now!”

>can you use Breeze to get them to you without going in? Otherwise, tame one of those swimmer voidlings and get them to bring them to you.
>Yeah, let's try a creative workaround. Wading in potentially-toxic water seems like a bad idea. Blowing the runes towards shore should work? We could also try making a rock bridge.
>Okay, see if those voidlings like toxic fruit, or whatever rations you've brought. If you can tame one, you can get them to push the runes to you and then bring them to your pond.
>well there's a lot of junk laying around the island, can you just find some stuff to make a bridge or use your rock spell to make yourself stepping stones towards the runes?
>Tremor lets you lift rocks, how much control do you get? could you use a rock to push the runes out to you? If that doesn't work then a nice stone step bridge should, plenty of ground to work with
>This is an excellent idea. The former then the latter. No contact with the water. At all. Oh, and keep one antennae on those frankly adorable voidling swimmers. Cute is not mutually exclusive with danger.
”Breeze won’t work. Those runes are stuck in the swamp muck. Tremor is a good idea, but I can only affect rocks within reach of me, and I don’t know how deep the swamp is, so a pathway might not work. Best option is to try to tame a Swimmer voidling.”

2/2 Silv 2024/04/28(Sun)18:04 No. 1089943 ID: 1effd3
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Silv grabs some nearby Toxigrowth fruit, and tries to tame one of the voidlings. After a couple of failed attempts, she manages to tame a swimmer voidling.

Unfortunately, this voidling doesn’t seem to understand the concept of “directions” very well. After much wasted time, Silv manages to make the voidling understand what she wants it to do, and retrieves as many runes from this swamp.
x6 runes obtained.
Harm rune obtained!

“Harm… makes sense I guess? But look at all these runes we got! I don’t have much more room in my bag, so we should leave soon. Maybe bring more Toxigrowth fruits? Also, any name ideas for this voidling?”

SUGGEST NAMES FOR THE VOIDLING

Yes! We asked for one son, and now we have an entire family! We are very pleased with this. Soon we shall become the Mithra family, greater than the greatest emnpires that existed in the old world! And thus it is only logical for us to give even greater names to our children. We shall give this one the honorary title of DON JUAN SANTIAGO HERMOSO DE LA MANCHA RUBRA CALIENTE III JUNIOR. All caps.

well they got you the harm rune so, how about Harmony?

See if they can tow you back home.

>name for voidling
Ghoti (pronounced as fish)

>>1089960
I like this as long as we dont have to explain it to silv

Spathiwag (The Inheritor)

Grab any metal tools you can find on the way back.

>>1089960
I vote for Ghoti, but pronounced "ghoti"

>>1089943
btw, do invert that rune. Might be nice to have a heal spell.

>>1089966
"Spathiwag" somehow sounds correct.
Though, I'd also accept Harmony.

It is good to be concsious of the limits of your carrying capacity, Runelearner, but think also on how you might harness that capacity you have more fully: combine the runes, and free space for more metal and crystal.

We have already remarked upon the Swimmer's attractive appearance; in the spirit of giving it a name both honorable and fitting, I suggest "Siren" or "Naiad."

>>1089969
+1 for ghoti

>>1089969

In particular, do not apply the rune to your own island without first inverting it. I don't want to imagine what any rune combo involving a "harm" rune would produce...

...unless you're into that, Silv?

1/3 Silv 2024/05/01(Wed)12:15 No. 1090083 ID: 1effd3
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>DON JUAN SAN-
”No.”
>Harmony, Ghoti (pronounced as fish), Ghoti (pronounced as Ghoti), Spathiwag, Siren, Naiad.
“I like Ghoti and Naiad the most, but I think I’m leaning more towards Naiad. Your name is now Naiad!”

COMPANION RECRUITED

— — —
Name: Naiad

Race: Swimmer Voidling
Natrualborn of the Void, they consume and recycle all that exists. Smaller voidlings can only eat matter that breaks down into the most basic of runes.

Abilities:
Breakdown:Voidlings consume any matter for sustenance, and convert it into runes. It is not a fast or efficient process.
Fluid Efficiency:Can generate runes from fluid matter more efficiently.
— — —

2/3 Silv 2024/05/01(Wed)12:16 No. 1090084 ID: 1effd3
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>btw, do invert that rune. Might be nice to have a heal spell.
“Normally I’d wait till we are home to invert runes, but it seems like a good idea if you’re correct Tetsi.”

Life rune obtained! Silv learned Recovery!

“It did give me a healing spell! I’m not hurt, but it’ll be helpful later, I’m sure. Let’s collect some more stuff then head home.”
“Flyff!”

>In particular, do not apply the rune to your own island without first inverting it.
“I don’t plan on it.”

After spending some more time on the Toxcite island, Silv begins to head home with Naiad in tow. The total amount of things Silv collected here is:
x7 Toxifruit.
x10 Metal Scrap.
Pick-Shovel.
x8 runes.

3/3 Silv 2024/05/01(Wed)12:16 No. 1090085 ID: 1effd3
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After an uneventful return trip, Silv arrives home to greet her other voidling companions. Naiad dives into the pond, and Silv investigates any changes to the island.
Voidlings tried to get into Silv’s stash, but were unsuccessful.
Glow Mushroom patch has grown x1 new mushrooms.
x2 runes obtained.

“Ok, I want to make a plan! It’s getting a little crowded here, and I think giving us a bit more to stand on would be helpful. We have 12 runes available to us, and I’d like to use 3 to expand the island, and one to make the pond bigger. I want to keep 4 runes spare, so that leaves us with 4 runes to combine with. So what runes should we combine this time?”

I think Nature + Life is a given!

I'm curious about Eldritch + Nature. Have you combined runes with their direct inverse before?

Maybe Life + Blast could be cool!

Blast + Harm is certainly... The most direct route to violence if you feel you need it, I'd think...

Also, the description of the toxifruit mentioned they were toxic because they absorbed the Poison around them.

If you plant them somewhere clean will they grow as something edible?

If you plant them somewhere with a strong runic influence will they absorb that instead?

>>1090087
>Also, the description of the toxifruit mentioned they were toxic because they absorbed the Poison around them.
>If you plant them somewhere clean will they grow as something edible?
>If you plant them somewhere with a strong runic influence will they absorb that instead?
if we put an area of Life in the island and plant them there, would they grow into Goodberries?

>>1090089
...
You're a genius!

Let's try to turn that pond into some kind of hot spring or healing spring !
If combining Flare and Life gives a result, you could try adding it to the pond. If it doesn't, try to add either Life or Flare to it.

As for what other runes to use for expansion, I'd say Life, Nature and Breeze. But that's playing it very safe, so I'm not against trying Eldritch or Harm instead of Breeze to see what it does.

And for the combinations, I like Eldritch + Fire and Life + Breeze. Eldritch + Life is very tempting too, as is Eldritch + Eldritch. Or Eldritch + Anything, really, it's just such an intriguing rune...
A somewhat less dangerous-sounding option is Life + Blast, although we don't really need a wide area Recovery.
And remember to invert the result when possible !

Unrelated to the task at hand, you should pet your voidlings and tell them they are good voidlings. Maybe play with them.

>>1090085
Good ideas aleeady for combinations.

The lifezone, toxberry seeds to make goodberries is a particular flash of genius.

Id only add, if you have time, see if voidlings are capable of obedience training.
Got to see if theres a better way of keeping them out of the stash.

I'm interested what land we can get from a wind rune. one combined with life or nature might make something that helps spread growth.

A couple of straight forward earth runes to expand around your shack. give yourself some room to build.