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Ari's ninth birthday was last week, and the last of his baby teeth finally came out. (Mama said she'd have to yank it out herself if it didn't get with the program. He wriggled in exaggerated fear.) And she let him come pixie-hunting with her! They didn't catch many, but it was a lot of fun. He hopes she lets him do it again soon.
They're walking through the brush of Shallow Winter, and Mama's telling him about ley lines. He listens intently.
So intently that he doesn't notice the quiet growling coming out of the ground.
It abruptly falls away, and he's swallowed into the earth.
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sonofsnow
sonofsnow
Ari gets up and makes chairs, tables, and torches at the workbench, then outfits the shelter appropriately. He casts another sawdust dowsing, this one revealing fewer sources over a larger area, and slings his pack over his shoulder.
"I'm going out to get platinum. Have fun."
"If you see a pot, be sure to smash it open. They contain all sorts of useful supplies."
sonofsnow
"Thanks."
Ari goes out for platinum. (On the way, he stops to eat some blueberries and a mushroom (which he checks for toxins first using a basic ritual). Both are delicious.
It's possible that he's lost track of time. There's a lot of platinum around.
Ari goes out for platinum. (On the way, he stops to eat some blueberries and a mushroom (which he checks for toxins first using a basic ritual). Both are delicious.
It's possible that he's lost track of time. There's a lot of platinum around.
The sun sets.
A flying eyeball descends from the sky and attempts to punch him to death with its cornea.
A flying eyeball descends from the sky and attempts to punch him to death with its cornea.
sonofsnow
"Gah! What the hell!"
Ari grabs it by the nerve and whacks it against a tree repeatedly until it dies.
Ari grabs it by the nerve and whacks it against a tree repeatedly until it dies.
It explodes, showering him with eyeball chunks, copper coins, and a remarkably pristine lens.
sonofsnow
"Great."
Ari has noted the evaporating quality of monster goo. He saves the lens; maybe he can make something cool out of it. Anticipating the probability of more eyeballs, he takes out his bow and a stack of arrows he made yesterday. He starts on his way home.
Ari has noted the evaporating quality of monster goo. He saves the lens; maybe he can make something cool out of it. Anticipating the probability of more eyeballs, he takes out his bow and a stack of arrows he made yesterday. He starts on his way home.
More flying eyeballs. Also, walking corpses.
Also a tiny glowy sparkly star whizzing down out of the sky. It destroys an eyeball without slowing down, bounces gently off the grass without harming it at all, and sits there scintillating.
Also a tiny glowy sparkly star whizzing down out of the sky. It destroys an eyeball without slowing down, bounces gently off the grass without harming it at all, and sits there scintillating.
sonofsnow
The zombies, Ari just gravity-hammers. It's quite satisfying.
He approaches the star cautiously. Noting the undamaged grass, he tentatively picks it up.
He approaches the star cautiously. Noting the undamaged grass, he tentatively picks it up.
It makes a soft pleasant sound that is like the auditory version of sparkling, and feels slightly fizzy to the touch.
Along the way, he encounters several more falling stars and a considerable number of zombies and eyeballs.
When he reaches the house, Wyatt is standing outside of it with the door open, smiling blankly while a zombie tries to beat him to death.
When he reaches the house, Wyatt is standing outside of it with the door open, smiling blankly while a zombie tries to beat him to death.
sonofsnow
"What the- Hey! Shoo!" Ari pulverizes the zombies.
"Wyatt, dude. You have to be a little more proactive, okay? Just say no."
"Wyatt, dude. You have to be a little more proactive, okay? Just say no."
"There are many different ways you can attract people to move in to our town. They will of course need a home to live in," says Wyatt, font of wisdom that he is.
sonofsnow
"Let's get you inside." Ari manhandles Wyatt through the door and into the shelter, then closes the door firmly behind him. He sets up a stone block to keep the door closed, for safety's sake.
"What can I do with fallen stars?"
"What can I do with fallen stars?"
"If you gather 5 fallen stars, they can be combined to create an item that will increase your magic capacity."
sonofsnow
"Yeah, that one I got. But, like, I'm already good at magic. You saw me with the zombies."
"Underground are crystal hearts that can be used to increase your max life. You can smash them with a pickaxe."
sonofsnow
Ari just shakes his head.
The stars seem pretty common, so he doesn't see much harm in making the crystal. He pops it in his mouth experimentally.
"Wow. That is... new and different."
The stars seem pretty common, so he doesn't see much harm in making the crystal. He pops it in his mouth experimentally.
"Wow. That is... new and different."
"Stars fall all over the world at night. They can be used for all sorts of useful things. If you see one, be sure to grab it because they disappear after sunrise," recommends Wyatt.
"There is treasure hidden all over the world. Some amazing things can be found deep underground!"
sonofsnow
A few days pass. Ari plunders caves of their treasures, and builds up enough of a housing complex to hold a few more meatbots. (He refuses to let the hairdresser at his head. He likes his hair just fine the way it is. Away, harridan.) He fills out his magic and health capacity along the way, because it's not like it's hard.
He decides arbitrarily one day to explore to the east. "Take care of them for me, Wyatt," he says.
"Make sure to explore the dungeon thoroughly. There may be prisoners held deep within," says Wyatt.
sonofsnow
"...I'll see what I can do."
He sets off. Initially, he uses his shiny new diamond stave as a walking stick. Then he stops doing that, because it's way too short and he's also way too short and he's pretty sure he looks like a tool.
He sets off. Initially, he uses his shiny new diamond stave as a walking stick. Then he stops doing that, because it's way too short and he's also way too short and he's pretty sure he looks like a tool.