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TUNIC Narrative Guide - Act 3, Part 1: A World Sundered
Summary: Join the Ruin Seeker (that's our protagonist fox!) on his journey through a strange and vaguely familiar land. His inner thoughts are laid bare as we explore the unknown. Each step brings new mysteries to solve, new challenges to face. - This story is intended as a companion piece to the video game TUNIC, but can also function as a guide if you are stuck or a teaser to get you interested.
We have entered the third act of the game, and the game has now taken a big tonal shift. If you plan to experience the game for yourself, please use Act 1 as your teaser, and only read through if you have experience with the game or need help getting past something you are stuck on. TUNIC is a game of discovery, and I would hate to take that joy away from anyone.
I awake feeling refreshed, the relaxing sounds of thunder rumbling around me. My fur feels a cool breeze running through it. Stretching and opening my eyes, I find myself experiencing a sense of déjà vu. The spot I have awoken at holds significance within my first memories of this place.
It's night time now, which is odd because I can't remember it being night, no matter how much I rested. As I look around me, I focus on the tip of my muzzle and realize with shock that I'm ghostly, just like how I existed in that other realm. The power I previously claimed across my journey has left me, my connection to the goddess feels severed.
That betrayal. How could she strike me down? And while crying about it, no less! Was her kindness all a facade? Did she resent me for my lust for treasure? I grab a shell from along the sands and hurl it into the water. Standing, I begin to explore anew. Something feels different, and not just the fact I'm ephemeral.
New Goal: Find out what happened.
I have all of my items, my magical tools, etcetera. The only thing missing is my inflated strength. I step onto the golden square and find that my prayers still serve to stir it into function. On the other side, the site appears angry. Space itself is wounded by huge tears, voidmatter accumulating at the seams. Something catastrophic has happened. Perhaps the goddess was never meant to be freed.
I cannot find the causality here with my limited perspective. I exit the corrupted space and run along the long bridge, reminiscing of my early journey as I run. The first thing I did was enter a house and steal a stick. To my surprise, someone now stands outside that very house. It's a fox of close relation to myself. Right now, we're even both blue and ghostly. He regards me with curious eyes.
I attempt to speak to the soul, but in response I only hear fuzz. I can tell I'm being asked something, and his tone is very friendly but also concerned. I give him a shrug and he frowns and continues to watch me quietly. If there are people here now, perhaps I should go into town. I need information.
Climbing the stairs, I attempt to reach the nearest crossing. The earliest point across is by the edge of one of the staircases, next to a chest. When I reach that point, the wooden bridge across is missing. I can see a fox next to the well on the other side, but I see no way to reach him. Going further up, I try to cross to the roof of the Old House. That bridge is also gone. Around by the Dark Tomb. Gone.
Discovery: In the night world, all the wood crossings are gone.
Inside the passage where I found the shield I'm met with yet another gap, the wooden bridge used to traverse it nowhere to be found. Within the pit here is the telltale glow of the pure energy I saw in the Ziggurat. I kick the nearby skull into the abyss and it plops into the liquid. Something is very wrong.
I rest at the checkpoint and notice for the first time that the back of the structure is very similar to the altars deep underground. It's almost as though the goddess was placed atop them to make them seem less imposing and cold. Did she order that done or was it something done out of reverence?
At the entrance to the Sealed Temple, another fox stands outside with a look of worry. While most of what she says makes my mind buzz, I realize that she's remarking about something bad happening. It seems that, even for these ghosts, what's happening is a new occurrence. I run inside and down the pond-lined corridor.
After passing the statue of three, I come to the prison seal. The three foxes here, are they the ghosts of the three on the statue? The first fox I come to, he is bemoaning the fate of what's become of the land. Among his mutterances, he remarks of a 4th key. Is there a fourth key to be found or is it simply wishful thinking that one existed? I wish I could understand their words, maybe we could help each other.
The one on the steps, sitting next to the red key, makes a complaint about the Siege Engine. On the other side, the lady stares upwards to where the prison seal once danced about. Her disbelief is accompanied by a dichotomous statement about heroes and fools. From what I can gather, these three are unhappy with what took place.
I start to wonder if what I caused, what I did, was something that should have been done. Am I a hero or am I a fool? Regardless, the goddess seems to be at fault just as much as I! The Heir. She must be defeated.
New Goal: Defeat The Heir.
Around the corner, I find a metal ladder that did not randomly disappear. Perhaps I'll be able to reach the village with this path. I wind my way around only to recall that there was once a drawbridge up here that I had lowered. Disappointed, I sprint back down the ladder and out the Sealed Temple. There has to be a place to cross over.
I climb a stone ladder by the altar and spot a pair of metal poles. Lashing across, I find they lead nowhere. To the east are even more dead ends, but the shocking thing is the corruption seeping out of the area of the Eastern Vault. The sky is lit up with the radiating edge of the dark void energy. I try donning my Scavenger's Mask, but it offers me no protection against the blight. Swapping back to my Anklet, I once again continue my search for... anything really. I'm still quite lost!
Further ahead I see the skull cave, a place I never could reach. I see where a bridge once stood that led to East Forest. I also see a chest on a ledge below with a path leading through the rock. Near the wall, I spot a collection of flowers grouped near the wall. Remembering what I learned about in the Quarry, thanks to the antics of the Scavengers, I try tossing a Boom Bomb at the flowers.
The wall crumbles away, and I am quite pleased with myself for noticing it. I walk through the tiny tunnel and claim the contents of the chest. They are uninspired, but they are mine now. I circle around further and spot a fox resting in the forested, grassy path. I approach her and wave hello. Her words ring of awe, and within them a hint stirs a recollection. The swamp. The graveyard. I never did find the place, but now that I am a ghost...
Through the shrubberies, I come to another fox. He's staring at the pathway, decayed ruins patched together with shimmering light and forming a bridge across the gap. All of the wood walkways may have vanished, but it seems that a few things have appeared in their place. I ask him what he's looking at, be he doesn't understand me.
What he does speak buzzes of chastisement, but the words I can understand don't lend me to understand why he's upset. He speaks of the Cathedral and of ghosts. With a shrug, I touch my toes against the moonlit bridge. They find purchase and I dash across to the outstretched obelisk. To one side, I see a page of the booklet on a stray column. There is no moonlight that reaches to it, but the page itself does feel similar, like it comes from the stars themselves.
I kneel at the obelisk, wondering if I can still activate them with my prayers. As with the telepads, the obelisk reacts as expected. It sinks into the ground and out pop some pieces of mana. The conduit comes to life with purple light and I dash off following it.
Passing under a random chest, I come to a fox woman scanning the horizon. Amidst the familiar buzz, I make out the words Cathedral and Moonlight. In the waters nearby, I spot another piece of gold tablet, carved with zigzags. It holds my interest for about two seconds and I turn to the other fox as he sits and stares at a hole in the ground. He seems... dazed, confused. A big fight, but what and where?
The hole now draws my gaze. The Librarian's wires cap the conduit, allowing the energy to continue from one end to the next. It appears this hole is from where he stole away with the telepad. While it is frustrating that he took it away, I'm appreciative that he didn't leave the machinery here inoperable. I find myself able to understand his desires. The ache to learn more, to decipher how things work.
Just past, I see a fallen Garden Knight in the swampy ground ahead. I instantly tense up, recalling how challenging it was to face early in my journeys. I sincerely hope that, in my weakened state, I don't encounter another. To my right, a tall watchtower. I catch a glint in the water at its base, and with a bit of snooping I stumble onto a chest in the center of the ruined column. It holds a modicum of treasure which I greedily pocket.
At the top, a spyglass. Looking through it, I see that Cathedral stretching into the sky in the distance. I should make an effort to reach that place. A bit closer, a glowing bridgeway, and a bit closer than that, the glow of the conduit and an altar along its path. I also see a small building, a mausoleum, it should be worth checking inside. I climb back down and continue to look around for any and all treasure. A new area deserves a thorough plundering.
New Goal: Reach the Cathedral.
In the dingy swamp waters, I meet with my first Fleemer since my visit to Dark Tomb. It rises from underneath a skull, light in its eyes shining out to greet me. Before it can even ready itself, I've already hacked it mostly to pieces. At the edge of the fenced area, I spot a chest and within, a card. This one is called the Dagger Strap and likely makes the Magic Dagger easier to use, or perhaps less costly.
I pass by a well, and I check if I have any coins to toss in. I find one, and it plops into the bottom with a splash of light. That was my seventh, and I need three more to receive another gift. I come to the goddess altar and take a short rest. In the event of trouble, I want to return close by. The gate appears closed, so I continue my search of the area.
On the west side, I find a chest under an archway, on a little mossy island. Mana berries is all it holds. At this point, I have nowhere left to check, so I go inside the mausoleum. It has a giant skull atop the doorway, a fitting decoration.
Inside it's dark. Especially dark. Ah, right, it's a shop. I look up at the giant shopkeeper. His long neck reminds me of the void beasts, and I try to ask him who he is. No response, of course, aside from continuing to gesture towards the items on display. I inspect the potion bottle I was never able to afford, but this time I can pay. I clip the potion to my belt alongside the others.
Once outside, I move to more closely inspect the large gate barring my way. When I approach it, it swings open to grant me passage. I shrug and cross through. On the other side, I immediately turn to my right and spot a ladder, but I pass it by and check for any secret pathways. "Secrets are everywhere" holds true, and I find a long dark corridor leading through the hillside. At the end, some Boom Bombs await their claim.
Above me, I see many Fleemers awaiting destruction. I climb the ladder and claim the important looking chest. Another new card! This one looks like it has plants on it, and it's called "Perfume." With a shrug, I add it to my pile. I'm now only missing the one without a name.
I realize I cannot reach the other nearby chest, so I continue forward and easily dispatch the two Fleemers. My confidence is mildly shaken when a skull with red eyes comes to life wielding a cross shield. He's larger than the other Fleemers, and his sword has impressive reach. With a block to his attack, I move in and break away his joints. His little buddy's, too.
I spot a large grave, partially sunken into the earth near a very large, very dead looking tree. On the other side, I see a pair of chests. Moving to investigate, I hear a groaning noise from the shadows. I reflexively swing out my sword and a dark colored ghost fox, colors inverted from my own, appears from nowhere.
My sword leaves her stunned, and with consecutive blows I prevent any action from this startling foe. The booklet says this is a Lost Echo. I wonder how many of these are lurking in wait for a good little ghost like me to come through. Not that they stand a chance. I collect the remnants of its soul and am disappointed that I can reach neither chest nearby.
The path goes downhill and I hear another groan from the grass. I immediately stab in its direction. He materializes, and I hack away at his ghostly mass until, after pushing him into a hidden pathway, he disintegrates. At the end of that pathway, a chest of treasure. Along another side path, more treasure. The dead apparently took their wealth with them in this land.
A trio of Fleemers now, I work my way through them with the added aid of my shield. I take only a small hit, and find yet-more shinies further down the way. I circle around and spot several red skulls that catch my eye. Someone has painted them, as though they hold a significance. One is even placed atop a grave, which I playfully knock off into a puddle of water. It sinks down out of sight, the hole apparently being deeper than I realized. Oh well.
I spot another chest next to a large skull and a massive grave. I run across to claim the chest's contents as my own when suddenly the skull springs to life. A huge monstrosity pulls itself up from the earth wielding a massive club of woven-together skulls. To make matters worse, another Fleemer rises up from the water nearby. I work quickly to damage my sudden foe, and it slams down upon me with its war hammer.
I block with my shield which takes every ounce of my stamina. As I struggle to my feet, he follows his smash with a wide slash. This slash takes out the smaller Fleemer, but it also nearly shatters my own body. Can I even die like this? How does a ghost die? Maybe I should be being more careful. ... Nah.
Still, I do run, or well, I stumble away. Once out of its range, I sip a potion. It barely heals anything in my depowered state, so I drink a second. The giant lumbers after me, and when my breath returns, I dash in under his feet and continue to hack away at his leg bones.
I block a swing, a slightly less harsh strike than his smash, and return to hacking. He reaches inside of himself and it's at this point I notice his chest cavity is filled with dozens of tiny skulls. He pulls a handful out and throws them to the ground. Phrends. With newfound urgency I set out to crush this great behemoth before I'm overwhelmed.
It manages to sneak in a smash, leaving me once again near defeat, knocking me back against a gravestone. A swipe follows immediately, narrowly missing smashing my head in. On the bright side, it did smash in four other heads. Bye bye Phrends. As I race to vanquish it, its last action is to spawn another round of floating skulls before falling to my blade. Great, now I have to deal with them.
As they begin to surround me, I run back towards the chest, turning to slash at them as they follow me. It works well and I avoid any damage from their antics. Inside the chest, a great prize. A new Golden Coin. I wish I could afford the two that the shopkeep had for sale.
Nothing left for me down here, so I climb back to the top of the mound and work my way towards the glowing conduit. Along the way, I spot another red skull that I had overlooked before. Feeling impish, I kick the skull of the edge and I watch it fall and roll along the grass, straight into the pool the other one sank into. I clap for the skull, happy it found its friend.
Down the ladder, around the corner. I work my way up the left side and hear a growl from by the water. I run over to where I heard the noise and strike out. While I'm vanquishing the Lost Echo, I hear another growl in the distance. There's another one around, but I've lost track of it. I hold out my shield and begin slashing wildly into the air, unsure of from where it will strike.
The moment I turn my back, something collides into me. I feel its claws sink into my fur and scrape through my ethereal essence. I strike, and she materializes. Stab stab, stab stab. Another one stirs on the other side of the conduit. It floats around me, I can hear it, but only vaguely. Then, with a streak of light, it lunges from the side, breezing past me with a screeching pain.
I quickly quaff a potion, and then raise my shield in the direction the vengeful spirit dashed. Now that I have my bearings against this foe, I feel safe again. I block the next lunge and turn around with my sword swinging. He materializes, only to be quickly felled, his essence mine. Perhaps I should be making use of my Fire Rod.
In the middle of the woods, a platform with a half-sunken obelisk. I activate it and return to exploring. I turn in the opposite direction to the conduit path in a hunt for more treasure. Following the water's edge, I come to the wall. Along the wall, another secret path. Under a ledge, I find a chest with a second Golden Coin.
With only one more, I can acquire that new card slot. I doubt I'll find another in this area, but maybe I can get enough treasure to just buy one. Along the wall, a path leads upwards. I decide to stick to the ground level for now and walk along the rest of the cliff's edge. Passing by another Lost Echo, I find myself appreciating the Muffling Bell yet again. It affords me a great advantage against these invisible menaces, as they only react when I'm practically atop them. A quick slice of my sword is all it takes to materialize their presence, making them easy to track and dispatch.
One more harasses me, and I cut her down. I'm under a ruined bridge now, and I spot a chest on a ledge. Inside, potion fragments. I haven't found any in a while. I pocket it, careful to wrap them for my protection.
I trace the conduit, only to see it turn and head upwards to the bridge above. Following underneath, I find more treasure. There's a Hero's Grave just above me, and it radiates with an inviting swirl. Am I a hero or am I a fool? Obviously I'm a hero. If only I can find a way up there. I'm not sure it's important, though.
My way forward is blocked, I'll have to climb up the cliffside. Before I do, I finish checking this lower area. There's just so much treasure here, it's addicting. Each box is a new mystery, a new reward. I spot another chest on the other side of a wall. I can't locate a way through the wall, though. Eventually, I try trudging through the swamp, eww, but that manages to get me there. It's an effigy. Never did figure out what they're good for but there's no enemies around so why bother?
Looping back to the entrance gate, I feel comfortable in concluding my exploration of the ground level. I walk across to the cliffside, stirring one last Lost Echo along the way. At the top I head to the right, away from the ruined bridge. A chest sits near the edge, and within is something I would not have expected. It's a third Golden Coin! Pocketing it, I race back down the cliff with excitement.
I throw the trio of coins, each adorned with my own visage, into the well. Actually, it's likely the Hero's face on them, not mine. Good for him, getting his face on some coins. I wonder how old they are? I am gifted with a new slot and I choose the Bracer to fit into it. I've been remembering to use my shield more since becoming a vulnerable and weak ghost, and the fight with the giant Fleemer showed me how quickly that stamina can vanish.
I avoid resting despite only having two potions left in order to prevent a resurgence of Lost Echoes. They are easy to handle, but still annoying. Up the cliff again, I fight my way through several shield-carrying Fleemers. Two at once proves to be a tough fight, but it wasn't only raw strength I gained since coming here. I've also honed my skill. I'm more capable, more adept.
Of course, I say that, but I still am now without any potions. What's worse is that I see another giant skull. The last thing I want right now is a fight with another massive war hammer carrying Fleemer. I hug the wall and circle around. Some treasure is found by the cliff's edge along the way.
Once past the intimidating skull, I spot yet another chest. As I walk down towards it, I decide to take out one of the two Hushers. These are tainted with void energies, and will likely drain my life in addition to wounding me. I lash the closer of the two with the tentacle of my Magic Orb and score a full combo against it.
To my dismay, this knocks it back towards its friend, and now I have two flying foes wanting to peck my soul-juices, plus I'm trapped on this narrow ledge. I back out of range of their dual dash, score a few hits, and then run up the ramp. I roll one time too many and wind myself. Panting, I back away along the path I came from. To my horror, I catch myself stumbling right past the giant skull.
With a heavy sigh of relief, the skull is just a skull. No large creature bursts forth and smashes me with a war club. I return my attention to the Hushers, eager to not be bested. I pull one in with a snatch, and stab it until it stops moving. The other circles around me and I hold out my shield. It dives at me, and my shield holds. Face to face, I slash, and it gets knocked away just before I finish it off. I hold out my shield again and then mentally slap myself. With a flick of my wrist, I send out a fire bolt and it falls to the ground below. My prize? A mere two health fruits.
Before I continue along the bridge, I give the giant skull a firm kick. I was certain it was going to come alive and now I feel like a fool for being so careful around it. At the midway point of the bridge, a Husher stalks the ground below. I dispatch it easily, and further down, across the glowing moonlight bridge, there's a hefty metal ladder. I suppose it wouldn't be wood, would it?
I knock it down and visit the goddess altar. Now that I have a shortcut, it won't matter if my foes return. With a short rest, I once again have my potions and my energy. I sneak by the Husher and follow the conduit. A staircase leads up to another obelisk, a black-metal door shimmers and fades away. The four fox statues greet me as I walk up to it.
On the side of the entrance, I stumble onto a hidden ladder. One last chest of shinybits to claim. With that, I head inside the Cathedral, excited to discover what's hiding within. "Legend says, wearing this allows you to do something extraordinary." Yes, please.
New Goal: Claim the legendary item.
Current Goals
✔Reach the Cathedral.
★ Find out what happened.
★ Claim the legendary item.
★ Defeat The Heir.
★ Obtain the great treasure?
Author's Notes: And now we're proper dead. However you want to explain it, our body has been turned ghostly, and the Overworld is filled with ghost-foxes we can't understand.
For the next few parts, the path you can take is very linear. You've been weakened, and you have to quest into the Cathedral in order to be able to explore. The game cuts you off from all other locations, and nudges you into the Swamp and then the Cathedral.
Once it opens up, I'm going to be a very narrow-minded revenge-driven Ruin Seeker. I plan to really play up this impatience and bloodlust. Now, keep in mind, this is but one path we can take, but I find it interesting to reflect on how much destruction is left in my wake. Here I am, completely clueless of the land before me, and I'm running around beating people up and stealing their treasure. I can't even understand anyone around me! I simply do things because I can.
Now, if you ask me, that doesn't sound very hero-like. Many of the world's altercations come from our inability to understand each other, language barriers, cultural differences. It's important to, from time to time, think about whether what we think is right is truly right, or at least why it is right.
Not all questions of TUNIC can be easily answered. Sometimes, all we can do is ask a question. I think that's a positive for this game, and it really does seem like the creator spent a lot of time considering the various perspectives we might have as we travel the land.
Thumbnail created using the press kit's wallpaper and logo. The custom text contains a secret.
Search Tags: Zelda Link mystery mysteries explore exploring exploration guide gameguide walkthrough help steam psychology psychological island ruin ruins ruination "the heir" vixen foxy foxes offering offerings secret secrets quest adventure magic magical betrayal revenge
We have entered the third act of the game, and the game has now taken a big tonal shift. If you plan to experience the game for yourself, please use Act 1 as your teaser, and only read through if you have experience with the game or need help getting past something you are stuck on. TUNIC is a game of discovery, and I would hate to take that joy away from anyone.
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TUNIC: A Narrative Guide
Act 3, Part 1 - A World Sundered
I awake feeling refreshed, the relaxing sounds of thunder rumbling around me. My fur feels a cool breeze running through it. Stretching and opening my eyes, I find myself experiencing a sense of déjà vu. The spot I have awoken at holds significance within my first memories of this place.
It's night time now, which is odd because I can't remember it being night, no matter how much I rested. As I look around me, I focus on the tip of my muzzle and realize with shock that I'm ghostly, just like how I existed in that other realm. The power I previously claimed across my journey has left me, my connection to the goddess feels severed.
That betrayal. How could she strike me down? And while crying about it, no less! Was her kindness all a facade? Did she resent me for my lust for treasure? I grab a shell from along the sands and hurl it into the water. Standing, I begin to explore anew. Something feels different, and not just the fact I'm ephemeral.
New Goal: Find out what happened.
I have all of my items, my magical tools, etcetera. The only thing missing is my inflated strength. I step onto the golden square and find that my prayers still serve to stir it into function. On the other side, the site appears angry. Space itself is wounded by huge tears, voidmatter accumulating at the seams. Something catastrophic has happened. Perhaps the goddess was never meant to be freed.
I cannot find the causality here with my limited perspective. I exit the corrupted space and run along the long bridge, reminiscing of my early journey as I run. The first thing I did was enter a house and steal a stick. To my surprise, someone now stands outside that very house. It's a fox of close relation to myself. Right now, we're even both blue and ghostly. He regards me with curious eyes.
I attempt to speak to the soul, but in response I only hear fuzz. I can tell I'm being asked something, and his tone is very friendly but also concerned. I give him a shrug and he frowns and continues to watch me quietly. If there are people here now, perhaps I should go into town. I need information.
Climbing the stairs, I attempt to reach the nearest crossing. The earliest point across is by the edge of one of the staircases, next to a chest. When I reach that point, the wooden bridge across is missing. I can see a fox next to the well on the other side, but I see no way to reach him. Going further up, I try to cross to the roof of the Old House. That bridge is also gone. Around by the Dark Tomb. Gone.
Discovery: In the night world, all the wood crossings are gone.
Inside the passage where I found the shield I'm met with yet another gap, the wooden bridge used to traverse it nowhere to be found. Within the pit here is the telltale glow of the pure energy I saw in the Ziggurat. I kick the nearby skull into the abyss and it plops into the liquid. Something is very wrong.
I rest at the checkpoint and notice for the first time that the back of the structure is very similar to the altars deep underground. It's almost as though the goddess was placed atop them to make them seem less imposing and cold. Did she order that done or was it something done out of reverence?
At the entrance to the Sealed Temple, another fox stands outside with a look of worry. While most of what she says makes my mind buzz, I realize that she's remarking about something bad happening. It seems that, even for these ghosts, what's happening is a new occurrence. I run inside and down the pond-lined corridor.
After passing the statue of three, I come to the prison seal. The three foxes here, are they the ghosts of the three on the statue? The first fox I come to, he is bemoaning the fate of what's become of the land. Among his mutterances, he remarks of a 4th key. Is there a fourth key to be found or is it simply wishful thinking that one existed? I wish I could understand their words, maybe we could help each other.
The one on the steps, sitting next to the red key, makes a complaint about the Siege Engine. On the other side, the lady stares upwards to where the prison seal once danced about. Her disbelief is accompanied by a dichotomous statement about heroes and fools. From what I can gather, these three are unhappy with what took place.
I start to wonder if what I caused, what I did, was something that should have been done. Am I a hero or am I a fool? Regardless, the goddess seems to be at fault just as much as I! The Heir. She must be defeated.
New Goal: Defeat The Heir.
Around the corner, I find a metal ladder that did not randomly disappear. Perhaps I'll be able to reach the village with this path. I wind my way around only to recall that there was once a drawbridge up here that I had lowered. Disappointed, I sprint back down the ladder and out the Sealed Temple. There has to be a place to cross over.
I climb a stone ladder by the altar and spot a pair of metal poles. Lashing across, I find they lead nowhere. To the east are even more dead ends, but the shocking thing is the corruption seeping out of the area of the Eastern Vault. The sky is lit up with the radiating edge of the dark void energy. I try donning my Scavenger's Mask, but it offers me no protection against the blight. Swapping back to my Anklet, I once again continue my search for... anything really. I'm still quite lost!
Further ahead I see the skull cave, a place I never could reach. I see where a bridge once stood that led to East Forest. I also see a chest on a ledge below with a path leading through the rock. Near the wall, I spot a collection of flowers grouped near the wall. Remembering what I learned about in the Quarry, thanks to the antics of the Scavengers, I try tossing a Boom Bomb at the flowers.
The wall crumbles away, and I am quite pleased with myself for noticing it. I walk through the tiny tunnel and claim the contents of the chest. They are uninspired, but they are mine now. I circle around further and spot a fox resting in the forested, grassy path. I approach her and wave hello. Her words ring of awe, and within them a hint stirs a recollection. The swamp. The graveyard. I never did find the place, but now that I am a ghost...
Through the shrubberies, I come to another fox. He's staring at the pathway, decayed ruins patched together with shimmering light and forming a bridge across the gap. All of the wood walkways may have vanished, but it seems that a few things have appeared in their place. I ask him what he's looking at, be he doesn't understand me.
What he does speak buzzes of chastisement, but the words I can understand don't lend me to understand why he's upset. He speaks of the Cathedral and of ghosts. With a shrug, I touch my toes against the moonlit bridge. They find purchase and I dash across to the outstretched obelisk. To one side, I see a page of the booklet on a stray column. There is no moonlight that reaches to it, but the page itself does feel similar, like it comes from the stars themselves.
I kneel at the obelisk, wondering if I can still activate them with my prayers. As with the telepads, the obelisk reacts as expected. It sinks into the ground and out pop some pieces of mana. The conduit comes to life with purple light and I dash off following it.
Passing under a random chest, I come to a fox woman scanning the horizon. Amidst the familiar buzz, I make out the words Cathedral and Moonlight. In the waters nearby, I spot another piece of gold tablet, carved with zigzags. It holds my interest for about two seconds and I turn to the other fox as he sits and stares at a hole in the ground. He seems... dazed, confused. A big fight, but what and where?
The hole now draws my gaze. The Librarian's wires cap the conduit, allowing the energy to continue from one end to the next. It appears this hole is from where he stole away with the telepad. While it is frustrating that he took it away, I'm appreciative that he didn't leave the machinery here inoperable. I find myself able to understand his desires. The ache to learn more, to decipher how things work.
Just past, I see a fallen Garden Knight in the swampy ground ahead. I instantly tense up, recalling how challenging it was to face early in my journeys. I sincerely hope that, in my weakened state, I don't encounter another. To my right, a tall watchtower. I catch a glint in the water at its base, and with a bit of snooping I stumble onto a chest in the center of the ruined column. It holds a modicum of treasure which I greedily pocket.
At the top, a spyglass. Looking through it, I see that Cathedral stretching into the sky in the distance. I should make an effort to reach that place. A bit closer, a glowing bridgeway, and a bit closer than that, the glow of the conduit and an altar along its path. I also see a small building, a mausoleum, it should be worth checking inside. I climb back down and continue to look around for any and all treasure. A new area deserves a thorough plundering.
New Goal: Reach the Cathedral.
In the dingy swamp waters, I meet with my first Fleemer since my visit to Dark Tomb. It rises from underneath a skull, light in its eyes shining out to greet me. Before it can even ready itself, I've already hacked it mostly to pieces. At the edge of the fenced area, I spot a chest and within, a card. This one is called the Dagger Strap and likely makes the Magic Dagger easier to use, or perhaps less costly.
New Item: Card #13 - Dagger StrapI pass by a well, and I check if I have any coins to toss in. I find one, and it plops into the bottom with a splash of light. That was my seventh, and I need three more to receive another gift. I come to the goddess altar and take a short rest. In the event of trouble, I want to return close by. The gate appears closed, so I continue my search of the area.
On the west side, I find a chest under an archway, on a little mossy island. Mana berries is all it holds. At this point, I have nowhere left to check, so I go inside the mausoleum. It has a giant skull atop the doorway, a fitting decoration.
Inside it's dark. Especially dark. Ah, right, it's a shop. I look up at the giant shopkeeper. His long neck reminds me of the void beasts, and I try to ask him who he is. No response, of course, aside from continuing to gesture towards the items on display. I inspect the potion bottle I was never able to afford, but this time I can pay. I clip the potion to my belt alongside the others.
New Item: Potion #5Once outside, I move to more closely inspect the large gate barring my way. When I approach it, it swings open to grant me passage. I shrug and cross through. On the other side, I immediately turn to my right and spot a ladder, but I pass it by and check for any secret pathways. "Secrets are everywhere" holds true, and I find a long dark corridor leading through the hillside. At the end, some Boom Bombs await their claim.
Above me, I see many Fleemers awaiting destruction. I climb the ladder and claim the important looking chest. Another new card! This one looks like it has plants on it, and it's called "Perfume." With a shrug, I add it to my pile. I'm now only missing the one without a name.
New Item: Card #14 - PerfumeI realize I cannot reach the other nearby chest, so I continue forward and easily dispatch the two Fleemers. My confidence is mildly shaken when a skull with red eyes comes to life wielding a cross shield. He's larger than the other Fleemers, and his sword has impressive reach. With a block to his attack, I move in and break away his joints. His little buddy's, too.
I spot a large grave, partially sunken into the earth near a very large, very dead looking tree. On the other side, I see a pair of chests. Moving to investigate, I hear a groaning noise from the shadows. I reflexively swing out my sword and a dark colored ghost fox, colors inverted from my own, appears from nowhere.
My sword leaves her stunned, and with consecutive blows I prevent any action from this startling foe. The booklet says this is a Lost Echo. I wonder how many of these are lurking in wait for a good little ghost like me to come through. Not that they stand a chance. I collect the remnants of its soul and am disappointed that I can reach neither chest nearby.
The path goes downhill and I hear another groan from the grass. I immediately stab in its direction. He materializes, and I hack away at his ghostly mass until, after pushing him into a hidden pathway, he disintegrates. At the end of that pathway, a chest of treasure. Along another side path, more treasure. The dead apparently took their wealth with them in this land.
A trio of Fleemers now, I work my way through them with the added aid of my shield. I take only a small hit, and find yet-more shinies further down the way. I circle around and spot several red skulls that catch my eye. Someone has painted them, as though they hold a significance. One is even placed atop a grave, which I playfully knock off into a puddle of water. It sinks down out of sight, the hole apparently being deeper than I realized. Oh well.
I spot another chest next to a large skull and a massive grave. I run across to claim the chest's contents as my own when suddenly the skull springs to life. A huge monstrosity pulls itself up from the earth wielding a massive club of woven-together skulls. To make matters worse, another Fleemer rises up from the water nearby. I work quickly to damage my sudden foe, and it slams down upon me with its war hammer.
I block with my shield which takes every ounce of my stamina. As I struggle to my feet, he follows his smash with a wide slash. This slash takes out the smaller Fleemer, but it also nearly shatters my own body. Can I even die like this? How does a ghost die? Maybe I should be being more careful. ... Nah.
Still, I do run, or well, I stumble away. Once out of its range, I sip a potion. It barely heals anything in my depowered state, so I drink a second. The giant lumbers after me, and when my breath returns, I dash in under his feet and continue to hack away at his leg bones.
I block a swing, a slightly less harsh strike than his smash, and return to hacking. He reaches inside of himself and it's at this point I notice his chest cavity is filled with dozens of tiny skulls. He pulls a handful out and throws them to the ground. Phrends. With newfound urgency I set out to crush this great behemoth before I'm overwhelmed.
It manages to sneak in a smash, leaving me once again near defeat, knocking me back against a gravestone. A swipe follows immediately, narrowly missing smashing my head in. On the bright side, it did smash in four other heads. Bye bye Phrends. As I race to vanquish it, its last action is to spawn another round of floating skulls before falling to my blade. Great, now I have to deal with them.
As they begin to surround me, I run back towards the chest, turning to slash at them as they follow me. It works well and I avoid any damage from their antics. Inside the chest, a great prize. A new Golden Coin. I wish I could afford the two that the shopkeep had for sale.
New Item: Golden Coin #8Nothing left for me down here, so I climb back to the top of the mound and work my way towards the glowing conduit. Along the way, I spot another red skull that I had overlooked before. Feeling impish, I kick the skull of the edge and I watch it fall and roll along the grass, straight into the pool the other one sank into. I clap for the skull, happy it found its friend.
Down the ladder, around the corner. I work my way up the left side and hear a growl from by the water. I run over to where I heard the noise and strike out. While I'm vanquishing the Lost Echo, I hear another growl in the distance. There's another one around, but I've lost track of it. I hold out my shield and begin slashing wildly into the air, unsure of from where it will strike.
The moment I turn my back, something collides into me. I feel its claws sink into my fur and scrape through my ethereal essence. I strike, and she materializes. Stab stab, stab stab. Another one stirs on the other side of the conduit. It floats around me, I can hear it, but only vaguely. Then, with a streak of light, it lunges from the side, breezing past me with a screeching pain.
I quickly quaff a potion, and then raise my shield in the direction the vengeful spirit dashed. Now that I have my bearings against this foe, I feel safe again. I block the next lunge and turn around with my sword swinging. He materializes, only to be quickly felled, his essence mine. Perhaps I should be making use of my Fire Rod.
In the middle of the woods, a platform with a half-sunken obelisk. I activate it and return to exploring. I turn in the opposite direction to the conduit path in a hunt for more treasure. Following the water's edge, I come to the wall. Along the wall, another secret path. Under a ledge, I find a chest with a second Golden Coin.
New Item: Golden Coin #9With only one more, I can acquire that new card slot. I doubt I'll find another in this area, but maybe I can get enough treasure to just buy one. Along the wall, a path leads upwards. I decide to stick to the ground level for now and walk along the rest of the cliff's edge. Passing by another Lost Echo, I find myself appreciating the Muffling Bell yet again. It affords me a great advantage against these invisible menaces, as they only react when I'm practically atop them. A quick slice of my sword is all it takes to materialize their presence, making them easy to track and dispatch.
One more harasses me, and I cut her down. I'm under a ruined bridge now, and I spot a chest on a ledge. Inside, potion fragments. I haven't found any in a while. I pocket it, careful to wrap them for my protection.
New Item: Potion Fragment #10I trace the conduit, only to see it turn and head upwards to the bridge above. Following underneath, I find more treasure. There's a Hero's Grave just above me, and it radiates with an inviting swirl. Am I a hero or am I a fool? Obviously I'm a hero. If only I can find a way up there. I'm not sure it's important, though.
My way forward is blocked, I'll have to climb up the cliffside. Before I do, I finish checking this lower area. There's just so much treasure here, it's addicting. Each box is a new mystery, a new reward. I spot another chest on the other side of a wall. I can't locate a way through the wall, though. Eventually, I try trudging through the swamp, eww, but that manages to get me there. It's an effigy. Never did figure out what they're good for but there's no enemies around so why bother?
Looping back to the entrance gate, I feel comfortable in concluding my exploration of the ground level. I walk across to the cliffside, stirring one last Lost Echo along the way. At the top I head to the right, away from the ruined bridge. A chest sits near the edge, and within is something I would not have expected. It's a third Golden Coin! Pocketing it, I race back down the cliff with excitement.
New Item: Golden Coin #10I throw the trio of coins, each adorned with my own visage, into the well. Actually, it's likely the Hero's face on them, not mine. Good for him, getting his face on some coins. I wonder how old they are? I am gifted with a new slot and I choose the Bracer to fit into it. I've been remembering to use my shield more since becoming a vulnerable and weak ghost, and the fight with the giant Fleemer showed me how quickly that stamina can vanish.
I avoid resting despite only having two potions left in order to prevent a resurgence of Lost Echoes. They are easy to handle, but still annoying. Up the cliff again, I fight my way through several shield-carrying Fleemers. Two at once proves to be a tough fight, but it wasn't only raw strength I gained since coming here. I've also honed my skill. I'm more capable, more adept.
Of course, I say that, but I still am now without any potions. What's worse is that I see another giant skull. The last thing I want right now is a fight with another massive war hammer carrying Fleemer. I hug the wall and circle around. Some treasure is found by the cliff's edge along the way.
Once past the intimidating skull, I spot yet another chest. As I walk down towards it, I decide to take out one of the two Hushers. These are tainted with void energies, and will likely drain my life in addition to wounding me. I lash the closer of the two with the tentacle of my Magic Orb and score a full combo against it.
To my dismay, this knocks it back towards its friend, and now I have two flying foes wanting to peck my soul-juices, plus I'm trapped on this narrow ledge. I back out of range of their dual dash, score a few hits, and then run up the ramp. I roll one time too many and wind myself. Panting, I back away along the path I came from. To my horror, I catch myself stumbling right past the giant skull.
With a heavy sigh of relief, the skull is just a skull. No large creature bursts forth and smashes me with a war club. I return my attention to the Hushers, eager to not be bested. I pull one in with a snatch, and stab it until it stops moving. The other circles around me and I hold out my shield. It dives at me, and my shield holds. Face to face, I slash, and it gets knocked away just before I finish it off. I hold out my shield again and then mentally slap myself. With a flick of my wrist, I send out a fire bolt and it falls to the ground below. My prize? A mere two health fruits.
Before I continue along the bridge, I give the giant skull a firm kick. I was certain it was going to come alive and now I feel like a fool for being so careful around it. At the midway point of the bridge, a Husher stalks the ground below. I dispatch it easily, and further down, across the glowing moonlight bridge, there's a hefty metal ladder. I suppose it wouldn't be wood, would it?
I knock it down and visit the goddess altar. Now that I have a shortcut, it won't matter if my foes return. With a short rest, I once again have my potions and my energy. I sneak by the Husher and follow the conduit. A staircase leads up to another obelisk, a black-metal door shimmers and fades away. The four fox statues greet me as I walk up to it.
On the side of the entrance, I stumble onto a hidden ladder. One last chest of shinybits to claim. With that, I head inside the Cathedral, excited to discover what's hiding within. "Legend says, wearing this allows you to do something extraordinary." Yes, please.
New Goal: Claim the legendary item.
Current Goals
✔
★ Find out what happened.
★ Claim the legendary item.
★ Defeat The Heir.
★ Obtain the great treasure?
|| >> Start Here << || <<< Previous Part | Next Part >>> ||
Author's Notes: And now we're proper dead. However you want to explain it, our body has been turned ghostly, and the Overworld is filled with ghost-foxes we can't understand.
For the next few parts, the path you can take is very linear. You've been weakened, and you have to quest into the Cathedral in order to be able to explore. The game cuts you off from all other locations, and nudges you into the Swamp and then the Cathedral.
Once it opens up, I'm going to be a very narrow-minded revenge-driven Ruin Seeker. I plan to really play up this impatience and bloodlust. Now, keep in mind, this is but one path we can take, but I find it interesting to reflect on how much destruction is left in my wake. Here I am, completely clueless of the land before me, and I'm running around beating people up and stealing their treasure. I can't even understand anyone around me! I simply do things because I can.
Now, if you ask me, that doesn't sound very hero-like. Many of the world's altercations come from our inability to understand each other, language barriers, cultural differences. It's important to, from time to time, think about whether what we think is right is truly right, or at least why it is right.
Not all questions of TUNIC can be easily answered. Sometimes, all we can do is ask a question. I think that's a positive for this game, and it really does seem like the creator spent a lot of time considering the various perspectives we might have as we travel the land.
Thumbnail created using the press kit's wallpaper and logo. The custom text contains a secret.
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Category Story / Tutorials
Species Red Fox
Size 1280 x 640px
File Size 203.3 kB
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