Littlebeast 2016/08/24(Wed)00:53 No. 744167 ID: aa1908
File 147202519963.png - (39.38KB , 800x800 , sketchy panel 1.png )

You awaken in a box in an otherwise featureless white room. The walls of the room are lined with doors, each with an LCD banner above them. All but two are unlit; of those two, one reads "MIDWESTERN CANOPY", and the other "RANGOR NESTS".
>_

Go through the canopy door.

Ooh, head to the nests! I want to know what Rangors are.

It's never too late to learn what exactly a rangor is.

A Littlebeast 2016/08/24(Wed)15:13 No. 744227 ID: 8a1723
File 147207682659.png - (122.16KB , 800x800 , jungle .png )

Bear with the art style shifts please, I'm still figuring out how to get a balance of speed and looking good

>>744169

You step out through the canopy door and find yourself on a large branch, far above the ground. So far above, in fact, that you can't even see it. Frightened, you turn back, but the door has disappeared; all you see is the trunk of the tree.
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/08/24(Wed)15:14 No. 744228 ID: 8a1723
File 147207687259.png - (590.85KB , 800x800 , desert .png )

>>744170
>>744172

You proceed through the door labeled "Rangor Nests", but on the other side you see nothing that looks nest-like. Looking all around reveals nothing of interest; you see only sand dunes all around you. It seems you will have to wait to discover what a Rangor is.
>_

----

>You awaken in a box in an otherwise featureless white room. The walls of the room are lined with doors, each with an LCD banner above them. All but two are unlit; of those two, one reads "MIDWESTERN CANOPY", and the other "RANGOR NESTS".
>_

...well, this is interesting. Seems we're in a superposition state of every decision at once.

>>744227
What about upwards? Climb up.

>>744228
Head towards the mountains!

>>744228
Wait to see if the doors change.

>>744167
You should really examine that thing on your wrist.

>>744227
>>744228
That has somehow disappeared.

A Littlebeast 2016/08/24(Wed)18:50 No. 744248 ID: e984de
File 147208983180.png - (3.02MB , 2400x800 , artflow_201608241823.png )

>>744244
Disappearing bracer in >>744227 is an art error. Oops.

>>744229

Undaunted by the heights, you decide to climb even higher. The rough bark and plentiful vines make it easy going, and you reach the top before you know it.

(Panoramic)

B Littlebeast 2016/08/24(Wed)18:51 No. 744249 ID: e984de
File 147208991618.png - (577.35KB , 800x800 , stepped in it .png )

>>744229

The mountains in the distance catch your eye, and you decide to head towards them, seeing nothing of interest closer. As you climb one of the nearby dunes, however, it gives way and your foot slips inside with a loud crunching.

...It looks like you found the nests.

C Littlebeast 2016/08/24(Wed)18:52 No. 744250 ID: e984de
File 147208996456.png - (44.45KB , 800x800 , wrist thingy.png )

>>744229
>>744244

You wait for any change in the doors, but none seems to occur. In fact, nothing in this entire room seems to be changing, or doing anything, except for you. Having little else to do, you decide to examine the strange device on your wrist. It appears to have a screen, which enigmatically reads "QLINK 100%", and a single button.

I'm not going to list any more already-taken prompts at the end of posts, but that doesn't mean you can't go back to them.

>>744250
Push button!

>>744249
Om nom delicious egg.

C Littlebeast 2016/08/25(Thu)03:29 No. 744287 ID: e984de
File 147212094634.png - (52.88KB , 800x800 , artflow_201608250310.png )

>>744251

You push the little red button, which immediately responds with an aggravating buzz.

{[invalid operation: cannot be used in hub]}
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/08/25(Thu)03:30 No. 744288 ID: e984de
File 147212101862.png - (39.13KB , 800x800 , how do I perspective.png )

>>744262

Deciding not to waste this opportunity, you - wait, seriously? That's disgusting. You do know that's fertilized, right? Not to mention raw. You're basically eating-

Oh thank god. You're interrupted by a piercing screech. Looking up you see an enormous flying... That's a dragon. Well, it's small for a dragon I guess, maybe a wyvern or some such... Whatever. It's bigger than you and it's angry.
>_

----

>Undaunted by the heights, you decide to climb even higher. The rough bark and plentiful vines make it easy going, and you reach the top before you know it.
>_

>>744288
>It's bigger than you and it's angry.
Push the button on your bracelet.

>canopy
Push the button.

B Littlebeast 2016/08/26(Fri)01:50 No. 744517 ID: e984de
File 147220142987.png - (83.30KB , 800x800 , Rangor strike.png )

>>744351

Having little idea of how to deal with a dragon or whatever, you decide to try a hail Mary in pushing the button on your bracer. Unfortunately it responds with a negatory buzzing.

{[invalid operation: too close to other link]}

Meanwhile, the flying reptile circles behind you, then pulls into a dive!

A Littlebeast 2016/08/26(Fri)01:51 No. 744518 ID: e984de
File 147220149668.png - (60.71KB , 800x800 , link formed.png )

>>744351

You attempt pressing the button; it subverts your expectation by responding with a pleasant chime, and decreasing the percentage shown somewhat. No further indication is given of its function, however

C Littlebeast 2016/08/26(Fri)01:52 No. 744519 ID: e984de
File 147220156001.png - (44.53KB , 800x800 , mjc .png )

A chime catches your attention, and when you look up, you find that one of the previously-unlabeled doors now bears the name "MIDWESTERN JUNGLE - CANOPY". Looking back to the previous "MIDWESTERN CANOPY" door, you find it has changed to "MIDWESTERN JUNGLE - UNDERSTORY".

get in the door

>>744517
Doooooodge!

>You do know that's fertilized, right?
How can you tell?

Rangors must not lay unfertilized eggs.

I actually don't know the mechanics behind whether an egg layer will only lay after mating or not. I bet theres a rule for it.

C 1/2 Littlebeast 2016/08/27(Sat)01:45 No. 744684 ID: e984de
File 147228751178.png - (114.92KB , 800x800 , falling.png )

>>744525
Excited for the new door, you immediately proceed through it. Unfortunately, in your haste you fail to realize that what lies on the other side is far from stable ground; you fall off the small branch almost immediately. Catching at vines and branches along the way you are able to slow, but not stop, your descent, but eventually you hit your head on a branch and are knocked unconscious.

C 2/2 Littlebeast 2016/08/27(Sat)01:45 No. 744685 ID: e984de
File 147228755541.png - (109.60KB , 800x800 , medbay.png )

You slowly awaken to the sound of voices.
"Leina. We need to leave, before it's too late," says one which sounds like a little boy's in pitch, but not demeanor.
"You're asking me to abandon my patient-" another responds in a higher, more feminine tone.
"Forget her! For all we know, she's the cause of all this!"
"And would you have me forget the Sartia as well?" the feminine voice asks sharply.
"Don't act as though that's my fault!" the first rebukes. "What will happen to them is tragic and I would lend them any help I could. But it will do no good at all for us to die with them!"
You open your eyes at last and spot the two arguing creatures. They seem not to have noticed you.
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/08/27(Sat)01:46 No. 744686 ID: e984de
File 147228759702.png - (43.76KB , 800x800 , ouchies.png )

>>744570

You barely manage to dive out of the way of the brunt of the attack. However, the creature rakes you with its back claws, leaving a deep gouge in your shoulder. It lands between you and the destroyed egg, screeching threateningly.

>>744577
Really? I have to justify this to you now? Okay, how about, it's got little veins across the yolk. Or maybe the fact it was incubating in a nest could have been a hint. Or how do you like I'm the narrator and it's my job to know things about the world. That good enough for you?
>_

----
>You attempt pressing the button; it subverts your expectation by responding with a pleasant chime, and decreasing the percentage shown somewhat. No further indication is given of its function, however.
>_

Due to the narrator getting all sassy, I feel obliged to note that I'm writing them as a character (for some reason) and am not, in fact, offended by people doubting their assertions.

>>744685
Well first off push button to save this location, as we definitely don't want to have to jump off the tree again to reach this place. Say hello, and ask who they are. What problem are they having?

>>744686
Back away and see if you can take a more indirect route towards the mountains. Watch your step this time.

...wait, do our timelines share memories consciously, or are they learning subconsciously?

>>744685
Um, hello? Sorry I caused whatever is upsetting you. (Oh no, you lost your shirt!).

>>744518
So did you hear something go crashing through the canopy just a minute ago?

>>744686
Try backing away. See if it will let you leave. It might not pursue, opting instead to protect the remaining eggs. (I sure hope there are more eggs).

>>744519
So you stood there and didn't take any of the three doors, right?

C Littlebeast 2016/08/29(Mon)21:27 No. 745284 ID: e984de
File 147253123310.png - (242.58KB , 800x800 , tough talk.png )

sorry about the delay, was visiting a friend over the weekend, and kinda sick today

>>744688
>>744727

You attempt to speak in the moment of silence, but pain in your lungs turns it to a groan.
"Oh! You're awake!" your doctor notes. "-No, don't try to move!" But you ignore her and press the button anyway, though the pain makes you wince. They do not seem to hear the chime as it registers the location.
Meanwhile, the other mutters "Of all possible times to wake up... You couldn't stay unconscious five more minutes?"
"Barry! Be nice. She's a victim here."
"Unless he's right." you respond darkly. "Maybe I did cause... Um... What is it that's going on anyway?"
Leina looks away in guilt and worry, leaving Barry to respond. "The ground is falling," he tells you gruffly. "And anyone who's still on it when it hits the surface is most likely dead." Leina flinches, but he doesn't pause. "Which I'm guessing will include you, since despite the legends, you don't look like you can fly. So tell me again why we're wasting time we could be getting farther past the shockwave?
"Barry!" This time Leina actually slaps him. "We can at least show some basic decency." She turns to you. "I'm Leina and this is Barry, although you probably got that. And you are?"
>_

D Littlebeast 2016/08/29(Mon)21:28 No. 745286 ID: e984de
File 147253129310.png - (39.18KB , 800x800 , gv sign.png )

>>744727
You did, indeed, resolutely ignore all three of the doors; I simply felt it was not worth comment. What is worth note, however, is another chime signaling the enabling of a door reading "GUALA VILLAGE".
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/08/29(Mon)21:29 No. 745287 ID: e984de
File 147253135970.png - (198.47KB , 800x800 , mud view.png )

>>744688
>>744727

You back off, being careful not to climb over any of the nests behind you. The Rangor follows you at a distance, continuing to screech, but eventually flies away when you get far enough. You notice it is still staying within sight, though. Turning to the side, you attempt to circumnavigate the area around the nest.

You ponder as you wander on the nature of your existence. You are aware (and somewhat jealous) of several other versions of you which made different choices. You know exactly what they are doing now and remember what they have done before, though you're not sure exactly how. You are also aware that more time seems to have passed for some than for others, which you're not sure how to explain. You come up with no valid hypotheses, though, and elect to drop the matter for now.

After several hours, you finally leave the sandy region, finding yourself instead in an area of dried mud. You haven't seen the watchful parent for some time, taking one worry off your mind, but you are hungry and very thirsty. The mountains, though closer than before, still look quite distant.

There are several regions of interest nearer, however. To the northwest (based on the direction of the sun's movement) you can see a jungle, which you would guess is probably the same one your other self is sitting atop a tree in. Directly west, and closest, is a river that flows out of the jungle, and which, to the southwest, forms a large lake between you and the mountains.
>_

A Littlebeast 2016/08/29(Mon)21:29 No. 745288 ID: e984de
File 147253139551.png - (70.37KB , 800x800 , artflow_201608292125.png )

>>744727

You think back and manage to find the spot from which you tumbled as another self. It is quite nearby, and you're confident you would have noticed the commotion of your accident had it occurred while you were here to witness it. Therefore, you conclude that it did not. You concede you might have missed it if it occurred while you were climbing, though, which would line up with the respective amount of time passed as these two selves.

You think maybe you should work on your terminology regarding other selves, as your thoughts are getting confusing.

Also, you think it might be time to consider climbing somewhere else.
>_

>>745284
Yeah that doesn't sound like your fault, but you also can't remember anything before you woke up in the box and started splitting into multiple timelines. Yes, go ahead and tell them you're a multibodied time-traveling existence. Maybe they know something about how that happened, or a way you can take advantage of that aside from covering more ground than should be physically possible.

>>745286
Time to test and see if the timelines intersect at all. Go into the village door.

>>745287
Check out the lake!

>>745288
Try climbing down now.

>>745284
>And you are?
Charlie. (Explained below).

>the ground is falling
Um. How long to we have until we hit?

And no, to my knowledge, I didn't do anything to knock this area down. Wait, how big is the area falling?

>>745286
Enter Guala village. Let's see if you meet up with Charlie, or if you enter an alternate instance of the village. (Maybe one that isn't falling)?

If you see Leina and Barry, greet them by name.

>>745286
Continue resolutely ignoring doors.

>>745287
Equidistant from several points of interest seems a good place to drop a marker, so alternate yous can check them out.

Let's head for the lake, for now.

>>745288
>You think maybe you should work on your terminology regarding other selves
Assign labels based on the order you came into existence and the phonetic alphabet. You're Alpha, Bravo's in the desert, Charlie fell into the village. The next person to enter a door will be Delta. http://www.osric.com/chris/phonetic.html

The one who always stays behind and never takes a door, who you all branch from, can be Root.

We might have an issue when you run out of alphabet, but until you find a way to recharge your Q-link, you can only create 20 doors anyways at 5% each.

>>745345
>how big
They're probably talking about the entire island we're on. An interesting question would be to ask when it STARTED falling.

C Littlebeast 2016/09/09(Fri)21:53 No. 747222 ID: e984de
File 147348322657.png - (55.29KB , 800x800 , corner punch!.png )

>>745292
>>745345
>>745348

"Uh, I can't... remember my name. Or much of... anything, really. Call me... Charlie, I guess." You seem to be lacking the lung capacity to say a whole sentence at once.
"Oh dear, amnesia. That is something that comes up with head injuries... I hadn't thought..."
"Oh, no, it's not... not from that. I just can't remember... anything from before... waking up in that box."
"Box? We found you in the jungle but I didn't see a box anywhere nearby."
"Yeah, I, uh... This is going to... sound crazy but... Well I woke up in... a box in a room... full of doors... that all lead different places... like halfway across... the island... and then I somehow split... and took them all-"
THUNK. Barry plants his fist into the wall. "I'm leaving. When you're done with your insane mythical creature meet me at the diving ledge." Without waiting for a response he climbs out the window and jumps.

"... I'm sure he's just stressed. Though you were right, it does sound pretty crazy."
"It's true though... I just split..."
"Oh, I believe you," Leina interrupts."... I think. It's still a lot to swallow. But... The Sartia had a story like that. And if humans are real..."

In this introspective moment, a rumble shakes the building, reminding you both of the crisis still occurring.

"Right, I should probably go soon, much as I hate to abandon you... If you have any more questions, ask them now."
"Yeah, about that... How long do... we have?"
Not realizing you were about to ask another question, Leina answers immediately, "Probably about half a day until impact. For us to get past the shockwave, though... Who knows.
"And how long... has it been... falling?"
"The first rumble was last night, so... also about half a day. And before you ask, you've been here since yesterday morning.
"So... probably not... my fault."
"No. You ask me, it's probably those surface explorers.
"Explorers?"
"Oh yeah, they've been here, what, a month now? Whole ship of 'em, and they all seem to have... problems, in the head. Sure hope all surfacers aren't like that.
You file this away for later. "And is it... the whole island?"
"Yeah.
"... I should go. If you have more questions, try to find the Sartia. I wouldn't normally recommend moving in your state, but I suppose it won't matter for long anyway." She looks away for a second to compose herself. "They live in a village to the southwest. It's on the only big path out of town, you can't miss it." And she, too, jumps out the window.
>_

D Littlebeast 2016/09/09(Fri)21:54 No. 747223 ID: e984de
File 147348327416.png - (120.03KB , 800x800 , guala village.png )

>>745292
>>745345

You enter the village door, wondering how you will be able to tell if the island is falling. However, this question is answered when you see a creature (guala? Or is that just the village's name?) emerge from one of the tree-buildings and wander off without a care in the world.
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/09/09(Fri)21:55 No. 747224 ID: e984de
File 147348332999.png - (196.04KB , 800x800 , all the lake plants.png )

>>745292
>>745345

You consider creating a new door where you are; however, you realize that although you are roughly equally distant from all three features, you're still far enough from all that a door on the lake shore would be closer to all of them.

You then continue toward the lake.

Approximately an hour later, you reach the shore. You immediately drop to your knees and partake of blessed water. It's a little dirty, being lake water, but at this point you really don't care.

Your thirst slaked, you consider doing something about your hunger. This being a lake, there probably are fish, though you're not really sure how to catch them. There are also various water plants, though you're not sure if they're edible. You could also probably go a while longer without eating if you need to.

While thinking, you elect to create the door you considered earlier.
>_

¤ Littlebeast 2016/09/09(Fri)21:57 No. 747226 ID: e984de
File 147348343763.png - (38.62KB , 800x800 , les door (honh honh honh).png )

You continue to ignore the doors. You ignore them so hard in fact that you feel like you never need to be told to again. Like that door that just chimed and reads "LAKE - EASTERN SHORE"? Totally ignoring it.
>_

A Littlebeast 2016/09/09(Fri)21:57 No. 747227 ID: e984de
File 147348346671.png - (67.17KB , 800x800 , oops it broke.png )

>>745292
You manage to climb down about twice as far as you climbed up, although it's a little harder than it was getting up (going down always is). As you descend you hear more wildlife sounds, but aside from an occasional flit you don't see any.

As you go farther down, it becomes harder to climb, as the bark becomes looser. After a scare where a large piece breaks off underfoot, you decide to rest on a branch and perhaps find another way down.
>_

Looks like the bracelet doesn't deposit you to the exact same location.
Charlie: wander outside, so that you know where the house is in relation to the rest of the village. That way Delta can find you, or where you will be. See if you can find out what time it is.
Delta: I'm torn between:
1) waiting around for Charlie/finding where they are already
2) immediately going southwest to find the Sartia.
Whatever the case, find out what time it is then go to the location Charlie is/was/willbe.
...I guess we can go for 1. Unless there's a maximum number of forks (I really hope not) we should be able to find out what happens when two bodies are in the same place and time, then go acquire information from Sartia, at which point a fork at an earlier point in time or a more convenient location can make use of that information. Also you can use this time to talk to a villager and find out where you can get some food.

Beta: How close are you to the jungle? Can you see any fruit trees? Have other forks noticed any fruit? What kind of sticks and stones are nearby? Any stone types you can knap with? It's possible to make a spear and spear a fish.

Alpha: What's that discolored part on the trunk? An opening? Other possibilities are to go out on the branches and look for vines to climb down on, or see if there are any intended paths down.

>>747222
>If you have more questions, try to find the Sartia.
>They live in a village to the southwest. It's on the only big path out of town, you can't miss it.
Well, to exploit your branching nature, it probably won't be you who finds those guys for questioning, Charlie. Your movement speed is kind of limited, unfortunately.

How much does it hurt to move? Your options for the moment boil down to resting if you need to, or exploring the room or maybe the village for more information. If the inhabitants ran away, that does give you the freedom to snoop in their homes unopposed.

>>747223
Call out a greeting, and go talk to them, Delta.

Hard to know if that's Barry or Leina from behind, but I think it might be someone new. Neither of them had a grey collar in their fur collation.

>you will be able to tell if the island is falling. However, this question is answered when you see a creature (guala? Or is that just the village's name?) emerge from one of the tree-buildings and wander off without a care in the world.
Well, if the island isn't falling in all realities, that's somewhat of a relief. You, as a collective, aren't in immediate peril, even if some of your members are.

Although that suggests the island's fall is in some way connected to your own actions, since logically you should be the only thing different between branches. And it doesn't make much sense Charlie might have triggered the end of the world by falling out of a tree.

...unless you're not synced up in time? Charlie is older than you. If the doors always place you at the same starting point in time, the island might just have not started falling yet.

Everyone: look at the sky. How high is the sun? Let's see if it's the same time for everyone.

>>747226
You said the room is featureless, before. What about the box? Can you find any detail or anything on it?

If you had anything to write with, I'd suggest making a map of where your other selves have explored.

Although, really, you can't do much. Anything that could injure or tire you is pretty much out, since that would carry over to future forks.

>>747224
Hmm. You could try spear fishing if there are sticks to sharpen, but that takes skill. You could fish with a net, but that's slower and you'd need to invest the time to make a net.

How deep / large is this body of water?

...you might find frogs closer to shore than fish, and they might be easier to catch.

>>747227
Alpha, is travel between trees possible? Are the branches large enough and close enough you could travel overland in the canopy?

Do you see any vines or climbing plants on the trees? Those might make for more secure footing.

Do you see any evidence of the natives? Charlie fell from the top of this same tree and was (will be?) found, so they must be somewhere close, or they travel past your location.

C Littlebeast 2016/09/22(Thu)00:29 No. 749018 ID: e984de
File 147452937699.png - (48.64KB , 800x800 , sideways stairs.png )

>>747231
>>747284
>wander outside
>attempt to determine time
>how much does it hurt
>look for sun to determine time

You get up with only a minor groan of pain. It definitely feels like you shouldn't be moving around, but you can stand it for a few hours. And after that, like Leina said, it won't matter anyway, right?

Now that you're standing, you notice a pretty significant tilt. It wouldn't be a problem normally, but in your state it's a little hard to keep your balance.

You check out the window first, but like you expected, it's pretty high off the ground. The foliage is too thick to really see the sun, so you haven't got much chance of determining time that way. You can't make out much in the way of shadows, either; what light there is seems more or less ambient.

The window being of no aid, you attempt the only other exit available. It leads to a small landing on a precarious-looking staircase. Maybe you should just stay where you are?
>_

D Littlebeast 2016/09/22(Thu)00:30 No. 749019 ID: e984de
File 147452943734.png - (113.94KB , 800x800 , y hello there.png )

>>747231
>>747284

>wait for/find Charlie
>call out to creature
>look for sun to determine time

Again you're unable to locate the sun through the foliage, nor discern shadows. You wonder idly how the plants down here survive with so little sunlight.

You haven't any idea how to find Charlie besides "stay in the village", at the moment, so you go ahead and log that as a longer-term goal. For now you call a friendly "Hello!" to the native.

"Well, hallo!" it she responds cheerily as she turns around. "And - what are you? -Who, I mean!" she corrects her slip.
>_

E Littlebeast 2016/09/22(Thu)00:31 No. 749020 ID: e984de
File 147452949974.png - (724.56KB , 800x800 , the catman cometh.png )

>>747231
>>747284

>immediately go southwest to find the Sartia
>look for sun to determine time

Deciding not to waste any more time in the village, you look for the path Leina told you about. As promised, it's not hard to determine which path is correct, and you're out without so much as seeing another of the natives (you really need to confirm their species name).

The path leads out of the jungle before long and you're able to find the sun. It seems pretty high in the sky - midday sometime, you guess.

About an hour down the path, you see a catlike creature following it in the other direction. When it sees you, it warily pauses.
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/09/22(Thu)00:32 No. 749021 ID: e984de
File 147452954826.png - (34.00KB , 800x800 , Frog escape.png )

>>747231
>>747284

>how far is jungle
>fruit?
>spear fishing?
>look at sun to determine time
>net fishing?
>how big is lake
>frogs?

The jungle is still a good hour's walk away, and you'd rather not take such a term without being sure of its fruitfulness. Literally, in this case. The only fruit trees you saw were in the village, which means they might not even be native for all you know.

By comparison, the lake would be about an hour and half to walk across, if you could walk on water. Which you can't. If you were wondering.

As far as time, based on the changes in shadows while you were walking here you'd say it's... Early/mid afternoon. Ish.

Anyway, food. Spear fishing sounds great, but there's no sticks around here sturdy enough for spear-making purposes. Nor are there any rocks, just mud everywhere. The plants by the river looked a little more compatible with that, though, and river beds always have stones, right? So there's that.

Net fishing sounds a little easier around here; those wavy plants look perfect for net making. You'd just need to figure out how to cut them, first.

Or there's the frogs. There do seem to be a few about, but after some attempts you're not at all sure that they're easier to catch. They're pretty small, too, so you'd need to catch a fair number of them. And some of them are bright enough green you think they might be poisonous. Not all of them. But some.
>_

[Qlink overtaxed; dropping to 83%]

A Littlebeast 2016/09/22(Thu)00:33 No. 749022 ID: e984de
File 147452960510.png - (52.98KB , 800x800 , uhh, bark bark bark, woof, bark.png )

>>747231
>>747284

>what's that discolored spot
That's where you knocked the loose bark off the tree, revealing the wood underneath.

>look for vines/climbing plants
>look for paths
>look for sun to determine time
>travel between trees?
>evidence of natives

Unfortunately, the thick vines that were so plentiful higher up don't seem to grow down here. Well, the stalks do, but those look smooth and hard and are rarely anywhere near the branches. Not great for climbing.

There is some kind of a creeping plant young through the bark of a nearby tree, but it looks thin and like it's mostly supported by the bark; you wouldn't trust it to hold your weight.

You're also pretty sure there are no developed paths around here, unless they're through hidden doors on the inside of the trees. Just in case, you try prying open the bark near the top of the branch, but as expected, you discover only wood beneath.

As with Charlie and Delta, you are too deep in the jungle to see the sun most of the time. You manage to find a rare ray though, and after a bit estimate it to be about 30 degrees off vertical.

Back to the matter at hand, though; there are still enough branches here that traveling between trees is feasible, but if you're to do that you'd prefer to do it up higher, where the branches are denser and there's thick vines to assist.

And you see no evidence of the natives, despite knowing you must be very close above where Charlie was discovered. (Technically, she fell from that tree over there, not this one, but still very close.)
>_

[Qlink overtaxed; dropping to 81%]

¤ Littlebeast 2016/09/22(Thu)00:34 No. 749023 ID: e984de
File 147452967974.png - (46.04KB , 800x800 , artflow_201609220027.png )

>>747284

You examine the box more closely, hoping to find some clue to... Wait, that's... Uh... That's a drain plug. It's a bathtub. The only feature in the room is a bathtub. You feel somehow embarrassed.

As you wish you had some paper to map with, a spotlight comes on over a section of wall, illuminating... Okay, that definitely wasn't there before. A map has appeared. Apparently. There's something weird about this room.

Acting on a hunch, you pinch yourself hard. Like in a dream, it doesn't seem to hurt.
>_

[No Qlink strain for hub]

>>749018
Stay put and recover your balance before going anywhere.

>>749019
Introduce yourself as Delta, ask what time it is. Also ask what you should do if you encounter a large cat on the road.

>>749020
Whoa we found a new way to split! Also it's obvious now that the timelines are separate. I suppose that means you will either stop the island from falling with all your bodies at the same time somehow(or will it retroactively stop for every timeline?), or many of them will die. Or maybe there's a way to force the timelines to merge?

Anyway, follow whatever advice Delta receives.

>>749021
See if you can will the bracelet to give you a weapon.

>>749022
I wonder if you can give up on this timeline and merge back?

>>749023
See if you can request a damage report of the island. Or just a general information readout.

>pretty high in the sky
>early mid morning-ish
Okay, well that pretty much confirms time isn't synced between the reference frames. Bad news is that means non-Charlie instances can probably reasonably expect the sky to fall later, unless we find a way to prevent that event.

>>749018
>Maybe you should just stay where you are?
If that's what you want, Charlie. You don't need to kill yourself.

>Qlink overtaxed
Also if there's not much you can do, might as well give the link a break.

>>749019
>Introduce yourself as Delta, ask what time it is. Also ask what you should do if you encounter a large cat on the road.
That's good. I would also laugh and say it's okay to ask what you are. I'm human. What are you?

>>749021
You could sharpen two rocks against teach other. Or dig in the mud for a shell?

>>749022
Try calling out? Maybe one of them is nearby and will hear?

>>749023
Request a timeline.

>>749021
Wait a minute we're trying too hard here. If we can end this timeline or just leave it inactive, we can replace this body with a fresh one from the hub since we have a waypoint set here.

>>749295
We don't know that we can abandon positions, yet. And even if we can, if that doesn't restore energy to the q-link, we have to be careful doing that.

D Littlebeast 2016/09/23(Fri)19:54 No. 749451 ID: e984de
File 147468566696.png - (71.42KB , 800x800 , whatcha mean.png )

>>749137
>>749251

You laugh reassuringly. "Both questions are fine! I'm human, call me Delta. Who and what are you?"

"Mah name's Emma, I'm a Guala... Did you say human? As in, the creators?" she asks in a southern drawl.

"Um... Yes? I guess? Well I'm human anyway, don't know what you mean by creators."

"Really? That's a sahprise. Well the Sartia say that everythin', the whole island an' us to boot, was created by humans. Coahse no one's seen any in livin' memory, an' that's pretty long fah them. Ah think we all kinda thought you was just myths. Damn. A real human."

You take a moment to process this before moving on.
"So quick question. What'd be your advice for what to do if I see a big cat on the road?"

"On the road? Why would theah be... Wait, you mean the Sartia?" You can only shrug. "Four ears, kind of a lump on theah head?"

"Uh... Yeah. That's a Sartia?"

"Yah really are new around heah aren't you? Yeah, that's a Sartia. So, yah know, introduce yahself or whatevah. Or just walk on by. Just don't get too close to theah head." She thinks a moment. "Oah call them a cat. Some of 'em might get offended. Like callin' us squahhels."
>_

B Littlebeast 2016/09/23(Fri)19:54 No. 749453 ID: e984de
File 147468569685.png - (57.08KB , 800x800 , molluscs ho.png )

>>749137
>>749251

You attempt to mentally ask with the bracelet to give you a weapon, despite all prior interaction being through physical buttons.

[Function unavailable: No unlocked weapons.]

...Huh. Well that still does no good at the moment. Nor does sharpening rocks since, as already stated, there are none to be found hereabouts.

Shellfish, though, sounds like an idea. A bit of digging in the mud at the water's edge turns some shells up surprisingly quickly. They even still have molluscs in them. Which means your food problem is solved! ... except you probably need to cook them first. Why is this survival stuff so hard?

>or you could just leave this timeline inactive and make a new one with that door

You suppose that's true... But... You're hungry here and now.
>_

A Littlebeast 2016/09/23(Fri)19:55 No. 749454 ID: e984de
File 147468572996.png - (75.67KB , 800x800 , helloooooo_ .png )

>>749137
>>749251

You try calling out to potential natives, Guala or otherwise, but hear nothing in response.

[Tip: While a Qthread cannot be terminated except by death or disconnection from the Qbrace, an inactive Qthread will not put strain on the Qlink. Simply enter no commands and the thread will be inactivated.]

In the distance, you hear an ominous thumping.
>_

¤ Littlebeast 2016/09/23(Fri)19:56 No. 749455 ID: e984de
File 147468576124.png - (49.49KB , 800x800 , now with timelines!.png )

>>749137
>>749251

In an attempt to take advantage of this new feature, you promptly wish up some other useful displays.

[Cannot display island status: information inaccessible. Connect to island server to gain access.]

The timeline works though. It's questionably useful, but it works.
>_

>>749451
Ask what the easiest way to get down from the canopy is. Also, if they have any weapons in the village. Explain that your bracelet has the potential to "unlock" weapons for your use and it's possible that it needs an example to copy off of. Specifically, do they have anything that can create fire?

>>749455
Ask for a list of commands or description of the bracelet's functions.

>>749451
Thank Emma for the advice.

So humans supposedly created this place, huh? You have no idea how to make flying islands. Or people. Is there more to these creation myths you could here? Or has anyone discovered anything more than myths?

>>749453
Gather wood for the fire, and kindling to start it with.

Then... you might be able to get sparks by smacking a rock on your bracelet, if we're sure the wraparound is just casing and not protecting electronics. Or there's making a friction fire, but that takes a certain amount of skill and will take you a while to trail and error.

>>749020
Wave and say hello at a distance, I suppose.

>>749454
Brace yourself as best you can in a spot where you won't fall easy, and wait to see what's making all that noise.

>>749455
>The timeline works though. It's questionably useful, but it works.
Too bad it doesn't show the projected cutoff when the island falls and everyone dies.