>>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
File 171390086850.png - (546.25KB , 900x750 , 042324_FromNothing67_DiggyDiggyHole.png )

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
File 171417471691.png - (174.89KB , 900x750 , 042624_FromNothing69_FEESH.png )

>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
File 171435264454.png - (191.39KB , 900x750 , 042824_FromNothing72_Flyfishing.png )

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
File 171459095501.png - (201.90KB , 900x750 , 050124_FromNothing73_.png )

>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
File 171459098595.png - (303.63KB , 900x750 , 050124_FromNothing74_LifeRune.png )

>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
File 171459100741.png - (135.86KB , 900x750 , 050124_FromNothing75_.png )

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.