*You Are Starbound* (Story Game Series) - "Sky Watcher"

​

Banner by shardival​

Hey there, Starbounders.

This topic is a story game (or as I like to call it: a reading adventure game) that takes place in the Starbound universe. To those who are not aware of how these work, basically, the reader embarks in a story as the main character and is able to make choices that will affect his/her fate, as well as the outcome for other individuals and perhaps the world as a whole. These types of games usually require dice rolling and writing down information (such as your stats/skills), but I’ve decided to keep it simple this time, so all you have to do is read, follow the instructions and perhaps memorise certain data a little bit. J
This is my first in the Starbound universe. Here we go:

--
Sky Watcher

You are a young adult Avian, an acolyte at the Great Golden Temple of Kluex on Volucris, a vibrant jungle planet claimed by your people thousands of moons ago. You were sent from Avos by your family to this exotic land when you were merely a hatchling. The purpose of such event was to have you learn the holy ways of the worship of Kluex, as well as how to properly preach His conducts to the masses, all under the tutorship of High Priest Yaldur. Yaldur has embraced you as if you were his own spawn and treated you fairly ever since you can remember. He was the one who bestowed the name Sky Watcher onto you, a designation received for spending great part of your childhood gazing at the stars. Yaldur’s teachings throughout the years have also been sublime, and you feel that you owe who you are to this man. All was going well on Volucris, until one day, everything changed… – Continue reading on 1.


*1 – You slowly open your eyes. With your head still ringing from the explosion, you difficultly manage to push some rubble from the top of your chest and sit up. You then try to regain memory of what went on: You were merely in the middle of your private daily morning prayers when a loud blast knocked you unconscious. Apparently, whatever happened has also heavily damaged the Great Golden Temple: The room you find yourself in seems to have suffered considerable damage, as you are surrounded by rubble and are able to see the jungle and sky through the cracked walls. You are not aware of the origins of such explosion and decide to unveil the mystery that surrounds it. You wipe the dust from your garments and face, and stand up. – If you would like to take a look around the room, read on 2. If you would rather head to the corridor straight-away, head to 3 instead.


*2 – You decide to examine the room before heading out to the corridor. Most columns seem to have collapsed during the explosion that it is a mystery how the ceiling has not yet caved in on you. Certainly, should anyone put pressure on the floor above, which is the mess hall, such collapse would happen… Kluex’s altar appears to be damaged and most, if not all, pottery around has suffered a similar fate. You continue looking around and realise that the wall cracks are, unfortunately, not large enough for you to fit through. With no other choice, you head to the corridor. – Continue reading on 3.


*3 – You step outside the prayer room into the yellow-bricked corridor. A few candles present are still lit, so you have some level of visibility, though most of the passageway has been engulfed by darkness. You then decide that you are going to traverse it completely until you arrive at the upward stairway on the opposite side, where you will be able to reach the floor above, as there is no passage to the outside on this level. High Priest Yaldur should also be located on the Main Hall above, so you gather your wits and commence walking on the very long crimson rug, avoiding random pieces of rubble and passing by the occasional door… Awhile after, all of a sudden, you hear strange sounds coming from a turn ahead. The noises appear to be mechanical ones and whatever stands in front of you seems to be approaching, as you hear heavy footsteps, more than one set, drawing closer and closer… – If you would like to hide behind a nearby pile of wreckage, read on 4. If you would rather open a nearby door that leads into a small ceremonial chamber and take refuge there instead, read on 5. If you would prefer to simply face whatever is coming, go to 6.


*4 – You find a large pile of rubble and quickly duck behind it. You manage to peek through the debris and see a couple of Glitch carrying laser rifles emerging from the turn. You do not know who they are, but blood splattered on their chassis indicates that they are not very friendly. You hold your breath and try to remain as still as possible… Luckily, they walk by you in a rush and fail to spot you. As soon as they are out of range, you leave your shelter and continue through the passageway. – Read on 7.


*5 – You lean against the stout door and turn its central handle to the right. As soon as there is enough room, you rapidly squeeze into the room and close the entrance behind you. The small ceremonial chamber you find yourself in, even though it has been damaged, is not as wrecked as the initial prayer area. The crimson and golden banners are still in place and several torches keep the location rather bright. To your surprise, on top of Kluex’s embellished altar, near one of the walls, rests a Ceremonial Dagger, a relic strong enough to pierce through metal, certainly a rather efficient tool against a myriad of foes. You walk over to the artefact and take hold of it. – Do not forget that you now have a Ceremonial Dagger in your possession. – Gladly, the individuals in the corridor appear to be in a rush and are headed in the opposite direction you intend to travel. As soon as you hear them moving out of range, you exit the chamber and continue through the passageway. – Read on 7.


*6 – You stand your ground, confident, albeit uncertain of what your eyes will gaze upon. Abruptly, from the turn, a couple of Glitch carrying laser rifles emerge. The moment they see you, one of them shouts a command and you are ripped apart by enemy fire before you have time to do or say anything… Your adventure ends here.


*7 – As you begin approaching the staircase, you are interrupted by a familiar voice calling out your name.
‘Sky Watcher!’ you hear it yet a second time. You recognise the voice as the one of Ilkrith, who is also an Avian acolyte at the Great Temple. The sound seems to be coming from a nearby room, a chamber with a semi-open door. Ilkrith must have seen you as you walked by. You are not sure, however, of what truly lies within. Could he be in need of help? Or is it some sort of trap? – If you would like to take a look inside the room, read on 8. If you would rather keep heading towards the stairway, continue on 9.


*8 – You take a deep breath and look inside the chamber. You notice that there are two dead Avians lying on the stone-cold floor, and, sitting next to a crate, is Ilkrith, fighting through pain as he holds his wounds. A quick peek around reveals nothing suspicious, so you decide to step inside.
‘It is good… good to see you well, brother…’ Ilkrith claims as you approach him. You kneel next to the acolyte and examine the injuries, which appear to have been inflicted by laser weaponry. Unfortunately, the wounds are too many and too deep: Death draws near…
‘I don’t think I’ll… ugh… make it,’ Ilkrith sobs, blood oozing through his fingers. You place your hand on his shoulder. – If you would like to comfort him in his last moments, read on 10. If you would rather ask what he knows about what happened, go to 11.


*9 – A few minutes later, after a few more turns alongside the ruined corridor, the staircase at the end comes within view. To your surprise, there seems to be a Glitch armed with a laser rifle guarding it. There are also a few Avian corpses next to him and they all appear to have perished to laser wounds. – If you would like to approach him and announce that you mean no harm, head to 13. If you prefer to quickly take cover before he sees you, continue on 14.


*10 – You assure Ilkrith that nothing else can harm him now. You reinforce your intentions by telling him that he will soon gain his wings, as he joins Kluex in the great Aether. Hope manifests itself in Ilkrith’s eyes. – Continue on 12


*11 – You ask Ilkrith to tell you whatever he knows about what took place.
‘There was an… explosion,’ he speaks. ‘Many were trapped… some Glitch are here… ugh… They arrived… They are… ugh… killing anyone they find…’ – Continue reading on 12.


*12 – As life begins sipping away from the young acolyte, Ilkrith, infused with sudden conviction, sternly grabs your hand.
‘Don’t trust Laru,’ he says. ‘He is not… is not one of us. Laru told them where we were… is helping them… ugh… somehow…’
And with that, Ilkrith departs this world. You say a quick prayer in memory of your brother and stand up. Laru is another acolyte at the Great Temple, and it would seem that he is not entirely who he claims to be. With the new information in mind, you return to the corridor. – Continue on 9.


*13 – You raise your arms and announce that you do not mean to fight. The Glitch ignores your request, however, and opens fire… You die before you hit the floor. Your adventure ends here.


*14 – You are able to crouch behind some wreckage before the Glitch spots you. The only way you know to reach the level above lies behind the robot, so you will need to devise a way to get through. – If you would like to wait patiently to see if he leaves his post, go to 15. If you would rather consider some type of deception, head to 16.


*15 – You remain still, hoping to see the Glitch leave his post. However, to your dismay, he does not do so. After some time, you hear the mechanical sounds once again, this time coming from behind, certainly more Glitch soldiers approaching. As the sounds draw closer, you find yourself trapped, and, without much of a choice, are forced to enter a nearby sleeping chamber before you are spotted. Head to 17.


*16 – The only plan you can devise at this moment involves luring the Glitch to your location by making some sort of noise and then attempting to overpower him through the aid of whatever means you possess. – If you would like to go forth with the plot, go to 18. If that is not the case, you decide to wait in order to see if he leaves his post. Go to 15.


*17 – You turn the handle and quickly enter the sleeping room. After locking the door behind, as silently as possible, you turn around in order to see what lies inside the chamber. There are several beds, as well as a few wardrobes, chests, and pottery throughout the place. Though the walls are of dark-yellow bricks, a section in one of them appears to be slightly darker than the rest. You also see a single window that leads to the jungle outside, though it is not wide enough for you to slip through. Before you have time to do anything else, you realise that there are Glitch on the corridor attempting to knock the door down. Loud bangs are heard, one after another, as the gate violently shakes under their abuse. It will not be long until they successfully manage to knock it down. – If you would like to surrender the moment they break in, read on 19. If you would rather look around the chests in order to find something to defend yourself with, go to 23. If you would prefer to inspect the darker section on the wall, continue on 24. If you have a Ceremonial Dagger and would like to use it to face them, go to 25.


*18 – You say a quick prayer to Kluex and commence the plan. You close your fist and punch a nearby piece of scrap metal several times. The Glitch, alerted by the sound, begins walking towards you, weapon at hand. You hold your breath and wait until he is quite close to your position… – If you have a Ceremonial Dagger in your possession, go to 20. If you do not, read on 21 instead.


*19 – The Glitch, armed with laser rifles, forcefully manage to tear the door down and step into the room. Even though you have raised your arms up, they do not hesitate to open fire… Your adventure ends here.


*20 – You jump out of your hiding spot and surprise the Glitch. Giving your foe barely any time to react, you ferociously sink the Ceremonial Dagger into his face. The robot appears to malfunction and falls backwards on the floor. Even though your adversary has fallen, he still holds an extremely tight grip over the rifle, so you are unable to acquire it. You are considering using the Ceremonial Dagger to dislodge it when you suddenly realise that the whole rattle has given away your position. The mechanical sounds alongside heavy footsteps can be heard once again, this time coming from behind, certainly more Glitch soldiers approaching. Without much of a choice, you are forced to head up the staircase. – Go to 22.


*21 – You jump out of your hiding spot and surprise the Glitch. You quickly punch his face and attempt to take the rifle from his hands. The robot, however, manages to push you away with a swift kick before you are able to do so. He then aims his weapon at you and opens fire… Your adventure ends here.


*22 – You rapidly go up the yellow-bricked stairway. It is with sadness that you pass by the occasional Avian corpse, all of them victims of laser fire. You are still unaware of the reasons behind such massacre, but are determined to uncover them. Eventually, you reach the floor above and find yourself in the temple’s Main Hall. – Continue reading on 27.


*23 – You quickly investigate a couple of chests, as the door is continuously bashed. You only find garments and books, however, and the moment the Glitch manage to tear the door down, they fire their laser rifles at you… Your adventure ends here.


*24 – You approach the rectangular-shaped section and place your hands on it. Instinctively, you touch the wall all over until you successfully hit a stone that, as it happens to be, is actually a button. The darker section opens sideways and reveals a narrow circular staircase, with a few small lit candles on the sides of every other step, leading to the floor above… Even though you have spent most of your life at the Great Temple, you realise that you do not know all of its secrets. How many more are out there? The moment you step into the secret compartment, the wall closes behind you. With your foes behind, you head up the staircase. – Continue on 26.


*25 – Weapon at hand, you wait for them to tear the door down. The moment they do so, you jump at your foes… Even though you manage to slice open one or two Glitch, the others manage to overpower you. It does not take long until they use their laser rifles to put an end to your life… Your adventure ends here.


*26 – You reach the level above and find yourself in another closed compartment. You search for a new wall button and quickly discover it. As soon as a section of the wall moves sideways, you go through the passage and find yourself in the temple’s Main Hall. – Continue on 27.


*27 – The Main Hall is the most spacious place within the Great Golden Temple. There is a rectangular opening right in the middle of the chamber’s ceiling in order to allow sunlight to directly shine upon Kluex’s main altar. There are numerous crimson banners embroidered with golden symbols attached to the many stone columns, though some of the pillars have fallen due to the explosion and consequences brought forth by the raid. Moreover, there are two gateless entrances on opposite sides of the room. However, there are Glitch, as well as their crates and equipment, pretty much all over the area. Taking cover behind some rubble, you notice that there are a few Avian prisoners in the middle of the chamber being executed one by one by surrounding Glitch soldiers. To your shock, you see that High Priest Yaldur is next in line. There is nothing you can do but watch in silence, as doing anything against countless ruthless attackers would bring you nothing but death… You could swear that Yaldur’s eyes met yours, just before he shouted out loud, ‘Kluex will never forgive you fools for the atrocities I have seen in the Chamber of Preparations!’ Understanding the hint, you nod at your former tutor, as he is put down by enemy fire… Yaldur has been like a father to you, and now his life has been robbed by these ruthless assailants. You cannot contain a tear, as you cautiously head to another staircase, luckily close by, in order to reach the Chamber of Preparations in yet another level above. You do not know what you will find there, but it seems that answers to this butchery may rest in that place. – Continue on 28.


*28 – Still distressed by the death of the High Priest, you manage to avoid being seen by the many Glitch warriors in the Main Hall, and head upstairs through the stairway. The above level would normally allow you to take one of three corridors in order to reach your destination. However, a large amount of wreckage has blocked the middle path, which was the only one with direct access to the Chamber of Preparations, so you now have to choose between the left and the right passageways. You recall that the left way should take you through the temple’s Library, while the right should take you by the Chamber of Offerings instead. – If you want to take the left path, read on 29. If you would rather take the right route, go to 30.


*29 – You decide to head through the Library. On your way there, you walk by a chamber with a semi-open door. You cannot see who is inside, but you hear lots of rummaging-like noises coming from within, as well as the sound of items being destroyed by either being dropped to or thrown at the ground. – If you would like to look inside this room, read on 31. If you would rather proceed with your journey, go to 32.


*30 – You decide to take the right path. You walk through the ruined hallway until you finally reach the gateless entrance into the Chamber of Offerings. A small window allows sunlight to fill the room. Due to that, you are able to see a robust stone table covered by a thick red sheet. On top of it rest several offerings to Kluex, from baskets of fruit to small bronze figurines. There is another passage that leads to your destination on the opposite side from the one you came from. – If you would like to head through the other passage and proceed with your journey, go to 33. If you would rather take a look at the offerings first, as there may be something of use, read on 34.


*31 – You open the door and reveal the contents of the room. You immediately see two Glitch ransacking chests and closets alike. As soon as they see you, they take hold of their weapons. Even though you manage to run down the corridor, you are gunned down by their combined fire… your adventure ends here.


*32 – You reach the Library not too long after. You walk through the gateless passage and find yourself surrounded by the multiple bookshelves of the Great Temple. Surprisingly, this section of the building has not suffered too much damage during the raid. You are amazed that the immense knowledge stored here, under the house of great Kluex, still lives. As you quietly traverse the place, you see an orange-coloured Avian wielding a spear standing in the middle of the room. He appears to be rather jittery, constantly eyeing his surroundings, though he has failed to spot you yet. You are quick to recognise him as Laru, an acolyte like yourself, a man you have come to know over the years. – If you would like to walk up to him, go to 38. If you would rather remain out of sight, go to 39 instead.


*33 – You exit the chamber and proceed alongside the corridor. Continue on 42.


*34 – You quickly inspect the offerings, hoping to find something that may be able to help you somehow. As you rummage through the several gifts, you are surprised when something blunt hits you on the back. You shriek in a combination of shock and pain, as you turn around to face your foe. It is one of the Glitch, though this one is not armed with a laser rifle, but with a baton instead. – If you have a Ceremonial Dagger, read on 35. If that is not the case, go to 36 instead.


*35 – The Glitch takes a couple of steps back the moment he sees you wield the dagger. You decide not to give your adversary any time to recuperate and charge him. The blade finds the robot’s chest and you only cease stabbing once you are sure that this Glitch will rise no longer. – Continue on 37.


*36 – With nothing to properly defend yourself with, the Glitch tosses you onto the floor and ferociously bashes you countless times with his weapon… Your adventure ends here.


*37 – You decide to finish checking the offerings. Among the many platters of food and statuettes, you find a Kluex’s Medallion, a golden winged-emblem in a bronze-coloured chain. – Do not forget that you now have a Kluex’s Medallion. – You place the item around your neck, say a quick prayer to the God of the Aether, and proceed through the other passage towards your destination. Read on 33.


*38 – You greet Laru and approach him.
‘Oh, Sky Watcher…’ he utters. ‘It is… It is good to see you. Are you all right?’
You nod at him, and as you are about to put a question forth, three armed Glitch walk into the Library. Laru slowly steps away, his head down, and the intruders ruthlessly open fire at you… Your adventure ends here.


*39 – You remain still behind a bookshelf. Suddenly, you are surprised when three armed Glitch walk into the Library. They do not see you either, and approach Laru, who seems to be expecting them. The acolyte greets them with a nod, and asks, ‘You’ve summoned me here? What else can I do for you?’
‘Your usefulness has been eradicated, Avian,’ one of the Glitch warriors cold-bloodedly speaks.
‘No, wait!’ Laru begs. His plead is ignored, however, and the robots immediately open fire at him… The Glitch then leave the room as quickly as they entered, gladly in the opposite direction that you are headed to. Still in shock by everything you have witnessed, you emerge from your hiding spot. – If you would like to head to the door on the other side of the Library and continue heading towards the Chamber of Preparations, read on 40. If you would rather approach and examine Laru first, read on 41.


*40 – You exit the Library and proceed through the corridor. Continue on 42.


*41 – You approach Laru. To your surprise, the acolyte is still breathing, though his wounds will claim him rather soon.
‘I’m sorry, brother…’ he mumbles through his final breath. ‘I have… failed Kluex…’
You close your eyes and say a quick prayer. Even though Laru appears to have been working on some level with the hostile Glitch, you hope that he finds forgiveness in the afterlife… Before you leave, you notice that his spear seems to be in a quite good state, a rather efficient tool against many foes, Glitch included. You may bring it with you, if you would like to do so, even if you have another weapon in your possession. – Simply remember that you have a War Spear. – Afterwards, you proceed with your journey. – Continue on 40.


*42 – You finally reach the location where the three corridors merge: the stout door that leads into the Chamber of Preparations. You walk over a pile of rubble and approach it. High Priest Yaldur has guided you here. You do not know what lies inside, but you are ready to face it… Or so you believe… You take a deep breath, open the door, and step inside…
‘I’ll be damned!’ You are surprised by the robotic sounding, yet rather expressive, voice. ‘The old man was right! Come in, and close the door.’
You do as instructed. You then quickly realise that there is a Glitch on the floor. He does not have legs, and also appears to have a more simplistic chassis from all the others you have seen so far. There are a few crates in the room, as well as several electronic devices. You also notice that there is an incapacitated Glitch warrior lying on the floor.
‘I can see confusion in your face,’ the legless robot speaks. ‘Worry not. I mean you no harm. My name is Klaus. I’ve been expecting you, actually.’
You decide to be straight to the point and ask Klaus what is going on.
‘Yaldur said he’d send someone… Someone to uncover the truth,’ the Glitch proceeds. ‘I have all the information he’s requested in this holo-device, before he was captured… Take it to your people’s settlement nearby, before it’s too late... All you have to do is push this button here and-‘
You order Klaus to tell you exactly what is happening.
‘There isn’t much time,’ he says, distress in his voice. ‘I’ve had to reroute a couple of patrols to clear the path for you here. Listen, these Glitch belong to a space-mercenary group known as Iron Hounds. They were hired by one of your people, someone named Valeras, to cause a hell of a mess here.’
You immediately recognise the name, though you have never seen her. Valeras is the High Priestess of the Sunlit Temple, also located on Volucris. If Klaus speaks the truth, you wonder what would be her motives for doing so. What could have possibly led her to betray her own kind?
‘Listen, kid, this is all a ruse,’ the Glitch proceeds. ‘The Iron Hounds are also attacking the Sunlit Temple, but she’s orchestrated the whole thing, both sides of the equation, to successfully repel them there. Once your high council of feathery lords, if you’ll allow the term, recognises that the Golden Temple has fallen to merciless brigands, yet the Sunlit has magnificently survived, she will petition to extend her control over here as well. Get the picture now?’
You feel a knot in your stomach at the mercy of the robot’s words. You then gather your wits and decide to ask how you may know that he can be trusted.
‘I’m not a bad man, okay? I’m not here by my own will,’ he exclaims, pointing at his lack of legs. ‘I’m good with communications, charting terrain, and locating people, so the Iron Hounds have forcefully recruited me into their band at some point. Nothing I can do. They know my family… Anyways, the High Priest here, some fellow named Yaldur, I told him about the whole thing, when we caught a break. He just nodded and said that Kluex had told him about this day. How was it he said? Something like, ‘he who gazes upon the stars shall be the bearer of truth’. I don’t know what he means, but I take you’re it. Take the damned holo-device and get out of here. That contains proof of the whole thing.’
Speechless, you take hold of the holo-device. It seems that such item must be brought to the nearest Avian settlement in order to unveil the entire conspiracy. The burden has been placed upon your shoulders, and you have no other choice but to live up to the task.
‘You should take the ladder down that trapdoor to reach the floor below,’ Klaus suggests. ‘One of the rooms under us has been heavily damaged by the explosion, some chamber just before the Main Hall. There’s a hole in the wall big enough for you to slip through. Don’t go stumbling into the Main Hall itself, though… Hurry up. You don’t want to stay here for much longer…’
You thank the Glitch. Without much of a choice, you quickly open the nearby trapdoor. You nod at Klaus, thanking him once again for his assistance, and climb down the ladder. Go to 43.


*43 – You reach the floor below and find yourself in one of the several food storage rooms. You slowly open the door, and, hearing a Glitch patrol the corridor outside, remain still. After the robot moves away from your position, several seconds later, you leave the pantry. It is time to escape the temple, so you start heading in the direction suggested by Klaus in order to find the breach to the outside in one of the rooms before the Main Hall. Not too long after, however, you notice that the ceiling, as well as part of the walls, have collapsed, blocking your path ahead. You believe you may be able to bypass the obstacle, though, by either entering a ceremonial chamber to your right and exiting on the far side, beyond the rubble; or by entering through a ruined wall to your left, into a sleeping chamber, and exiting through its door, which should also be beyond the wreckage. – If you would like to take the right entrance, read on 44. If you would rather step into the sleeping room through the left-side wall crack, read on 45 instead.


*44 – You turn right, open the door, and step into the ceremonial chamber. You are immediately surprised by what you gaze upon: On the ritual table rests a young yellow-coloured Avian, his hands and feet tied. The moment the fledgling sees you, he begs for help. Standing right beside him is one of the temple’s priests, a man whom you recognise as Wa’kata, holding a ceremonial dagger…
‘Stand back, Sky Watcher,’ Wa’kata commands. ‘Kluex has cast the metal men down from the skies to punish us for our sins. Only a blood offering of our own will encroach on forgiveness…’
Wa’kata seems to be rather unstable, as all of your pleads towards reason and justifications to what has occurred are in vain. Before you have time to show him the holo-device, the priest raises the dagger above his head and commences praying. He is about to sacrifice the young Avian, so you quickly decide to act. Instinctively, you push the delusional man away from the table. Wa’kata trips on some rubble and falls on the floor. – If you would like to free the fledgling now, read on 50. If you would rather keep your focus on Wa’kata, head to 51.


*45 – You turn left, and step into the chamber through the rubble. You have to move some debris out of the way, though, but it is nothing you cannot handle. As soon as you enter, you are surprised by a Glitch looking at you. While the Iron Hound pulls a laser pistol from his holster, you have enough time to throw yourself behind a nearby stone table. Should he have been holding the weapon beforehand, you would have very likely perished by now. The Glitch fires his gun, and you hear several lasers hitting your solid cover, as well as the wall behind. Still crouching, you say a prayer to the Great Kluex to grant you strength. As soon as you hear the Glitch reloading his pistol, you realise it is time to act. – If you do not have any weapon in your possession, read on 46. If you have a Ceremonial Dagger and would like to use it, read on 47. If you have a War Spear and would like to use it instead, go to 48. Should you have both the dagger and the spear, you will have to choose between the one you want to use.


*46 – You jump out of your hiding spot and charge the Glitch. Even though you manage to punch him, as well as kick him, several times, you fail to inflict considerable damage. The Iron Hound manages to grab you by the neck, and snaps it with a tight grip… Your adventure ends here.


*47 – You jump out of your hiding spot and charge the Glitch. With a swift swing, you manage to inflict some serious damage on his wrist, causing the Iron Hound to drop his weapon. Immediately after, you stab the robot’s neck, as well as his chest. You feel overwhelmed by adrenaline the moment his now useless chassis hits the floor. – Continue on 49.


*48 – You rise from your hiding spot and, spear at hand, charge the Glitch. With a ferocious dash, you manage to impale your foe. Even though the Iron Hound struggles, there is not much he can do. You pull the spear from him, and feel overwhelmed by adrenaline the moment the robot’s now useless chassis hits the floor. – Continue on 49.


*49 – By inspecting the Glitch’s pistol, you realise that, not only do you lack the knowledge in how to wield such weapon, but there seems to be some locking system that prevents non-owners from using it. You leave it behind, head towards the other side of the room, and take the passage into the corridor beyond the pile of debris. – Read on 55.


*50 – You quickly approach the young prisoner, and begin untying his restraints.
‘Thank you!’ he exclaims.
Suddenly, you feel a massive sharp pain on your back. As your eyes feel like they will pop out of your skull, you turn around. Wa’kata stands in front of you, breathing heavily, and it is when you see him unarmed that you realise that his Ceremonial Dagger is lodged on your back… Your adventure ends here.


*51 – You approach the fallen Wa’kata, kick his dagger away, and place your foot on his chest.
‘What are you doing, Sky Watcher?!’ he shouts. You realise that Wa’kata is not only a threat to your safety, but also to your entire mission in revealing the truth. – If you would like to put an end to his life, read on 52. If you would rather simply knock him unconscious, go to 53.


*52 – You tell the priest that you pray he finds absolution in the Aether, just before crushing his neck with several mighty stomps. You are not happy with your deed, but you feel you need to do whatever it takes to protect the mission. – Continue on 54.


*53 – You tell the priest that his vile actions will not be forgotten after this is all over, just before grabbing a nearby brick and swiftly hitting him in the head with it. The blow was not strong enough to put an end to his life, but he is passed out for the time being. – Continue on 54.


*54 – You then approach the young prisoner, and untie his restraints.
‘Thank you!’ he exclaims. Before you have time to say anything, he proceeds, ‘Have you seen my sister? She is of green and white plumage.’
You shake your head, and say that you do not know her.
‘We were pilgrims,’ he continues. ‘We were here in worship when we were attacked. She is out there somewhere. I must find her!’
Even though you ask him to wait, the fledgling ignores you. He hastily grabs Wa’kata’s Ceremonial Dagger, and storms out of the room in the direction you came from. – If you would like to follow him, read on 56. If you would rather carry on with your journey, go to 57.


*55 – With the wreckage behind, you are now free to continue your journey. As you proceed through the corridor, you realise that you are not far from escaping. There are three chambers before the Main Hall, and one of them must have the breach that Klaus spoke of. To your left there is the mess hall, the room precisely above the one you were conducting your daily prayers in when the massacre began. To your right, you may find an equipment storing room. Also to your right, further ahead, there is a double door that leads into a sanctuary of the worship of Kluex. – If you would like to enter the mess hall to your left, read on 62. If you prefer to take the door on your right into the equipment storing room, go to 63. If you would rather take double door into the sanctuary, also on your right, though further ahead, continue on 64.


*56 – You head through the previous passage and re-emerge in the corridor, in the area before the wreckage. You fail to see the young Avian, as only a Glitch armed with a laser rifle stands before you. Even though the Iron Hound opens fire on you, you manage to take cover on the threshold of the ceremonial chamber. – If you do not have any weapon in your possession, read on 58. If you have a Ceremonial Dagger and would like to use it, read on 59. If you have a War Spear and would like to use it instead, go to 60. Should you have both the dagger and the spear, you will have to choose between the one you want to use.


*57 – You head towards the other side of the room, and take the passage into the corridor beyond the pile of debris. – Read on 55.


*58 – Without anything to properly defend yourself with, you are overpowered by the Glitch the moment he approaches you… Your adventure ends here.


*59 – The moment the Glitch approaches the threshold, you ferociously pierce his abdominal area with your blade. You take hold of his laser rifle with your other hand, just before slicing his neck open with the dagger. – Continue on 61.


*60 – As the Glitch approaches the threshold, you surprise him by abruptly leaving your position, and impaling the Iron Hound with your War Spear. The robot quickly perishes. – Continue on 61.


*61 – While the Glitch warrior has been slain, there is no sign of the young Avian. He must have slipped through some wall crack. You leave the laser rifle behind, as not only do you lack the knowledge in how to wield such weapon, but there seems to be some locking system that prevents non-owners from using it. You decide to proceed with your quest, and return to the Ceremonial Chamber. – Read on 57.


*62 – You step into the chamber and take a look around. The place is completely covered in rubble, and the many wooden tables in here have been destroyed as well. You also notice that there are several wall and ceiling cracks, but they are not wide enough for you to fit through. Unfortunately, the floor suddenly collapses under your feet. The structure must have been heavily damaged during the explosion… – If you are wearing an Avian Jetpack, read on 67. If that is not the case, continue on 68.


*63 – You step into the equipment room to your right. The chamber has sustained some damage, but you fail to see any breach. However, you are intrigued by a winged-device standing in a corner. It appears to be some sort of vest, with a set of golden wings attached on the back, alongside a rectangular metal compartment that actually appears to be an engine. You realise that this must be one of those apparatuses able to propel the wearer into the air, as well as allow some level of gliding. You remember that these types of devices are typically used by elite Avian soldiers, though it could prove to be useful to you. The gadget appears to be offline, however, and a small gap suggests that some sort of key is missing in order to have it operational. – If you have a Kluex’s Medallion with you, read on 65. If you do not have such item, go to 66.


*64 – As you lean forward to open the sanctuary’s double door, you hear loud mechanical noises. You turn your head in the direction of the Main Hall, where the sounds had come from, and realise that you have been spotted by a Glitch patrol. They open fire on you, as you quickly dive into Kluex’s sanctuary, hastily avoiding being hit. A quick look around the room shows a breach on the top of the right wall, which gladly appears to be wide enough for you to fit through. It should take some time to climb the ornamented wall in order to reach the gap, however… – If you have an Avian Jetpack in your possession, read on 69. If you do not own such device, continue on 70.


*65 – You immediately recognise that the medallion you have around your neck appears to fit the gap perfectly. You take hold of the emblem, and place it within the cavity. You are overwhelmed by joy once you hear the rectangular engine being powered up. You quickly grab the device, and strap it around your back. There is a small panel on one of the straps that allows you to control your new gadget. – Do not forget that you now have an Avian Jetpack in your possession. – You are glad that the controls appear to be rather simple, and return to the corridor. – If you would like to enter the mess hall to your left, read on 62. If you would rather take double door into the sanctuary, also on the right side, though further ahead, continue on 64.


*66 – You do not have the means to power the device, so you decide to leave it behind, as you would be carrying dead weight otherwise. You return to the corridor. – If you would like enter the mess hall to your left, read on 62. If you would rather take the double door into the sanctuary, also on the right side, though further ahead, continue on 64.


*67 – You quickly manage to turn on the winged-device, granting you enough power to propel you up into the air. You then swiftly manage to steer yourself back to the threshold. That was a close-call. Meanwhile, the large amount of rubble lands on the floor below. You take a deep breath, return to the corridor, and take the double door into the sanctuary. – Continue on 64.


*68 – Without being able to save yourself, you helplessly plummet into further debris on the level below. Tragically, the fall proved to be deadly… Your adventure ends here.


*69 – Confidently, you turn on the winged apparatus. As you feel yourself being lifted from the ground, you successfully manage to steer the device towards the breach. You hear the Iron Hounds storming into the room behind you, and they once again open fire. Kluex is with you on this day, though, as no laser finds its target. Even though one of the wings bumps against a piece of rubble, you are able to leave the Great Golden Temple through the cavity. In no time, you feel Volucris’ inspiring breeze on your face, as you are engulfed by the vibrant forest. With the propulsion power declining, you glide yourself into a nearby clearing. All you have to do now is bring the holo-device to the nearest Avian settlement… Congratulations! You have won!


*70 – If you would like to climb the wall towards the breach, read on 71. If you would prefer to find a way to block the door first, continue on 72.


*71 – You rush to the wall, and start climbing it. Ill-fatedly, the Iron Hounds quickly catch up, and before you are able to reach the gap, you are ripped apart by their laser fire… Your adventure ends here.


*72 – You decide that you must block the double gate in order to gain enough time to escape. A quick check confirms that there is no lock on the inside. – If you have a War Spear in your possession, go to 73. If you do not have one, you decide to search the area: If you would like to take a look at a broken column on the left, go to 74. If you would rather check a container on the right side, continue on 75.


*73 – You realise that you are able to use the spear as a door block. You quickly close both gates, and place the weapon over the metal handles. As the Iron Hounds violently begin pounding the double door, you hastily start climbing the wall. Kluex is with you on this day, and you are able to reach the gap before they break in. You go through it, and swiftly jump down from the Great Golden Temple, rushing into Volucris’ vibrant forest afterwards. All you have to do now is bring the holo-device to the nearest Avian settlement… Congratulations! You have won!


*74 – You dash to the wrecked column, and believe that you may be able to have it collapse on the entrance. You take a deep breath, and begin pushing it, just above the crack… Kluex is with you on this day, as the massive stone pillar crashes on top of the double door, causing a large amount of rubble to block the path of the Iron Hounds. You hastily start climbing the wall towards the gap. As soon as you reach it, you go through the breach, swiftly jump down from the Great Golden Temple, and rush into Volucris’ vibrant forest. All you have to do now is bring the holo-device to the nearest Avian settlement… Congratulations! You have won!


*75 – You dash to the container, and quickly pop it open. Unfortunately, you only find clothes, and candles inside. In addition, the chest appears to have been hammered to the ground, so you are unable to move it. Suddenly, the Iron Hounds storm into the room, and you are ripped apart by their laser fire in a matter of seconds… Your adventure ends here.

--
Feedback is appreciated, as well as any questions you may have. I really like making these types of works, so I hope you’ve enjoyed it. ^^

PS: It’s worth noting that this is merely a fan work/fiction – Nothing here is official. However, since this is a game story, I’m not sure that it fits alongside the typical fan fiction literary threads, so I’ve decided to place it in the General section. Should a moderator believe that it belongs elsewhere nonetheless, by all means do what you must. J Thank you!

--

New: "You Are Starbound" Update About us


--

Check out the new "You Are Starbound" right here.

 

I like this alot, too bad I lost on 6..... I always love these, and this is one of the best ones I have seen!

 

Huzzah! Won on the first try! All hail Kluex!

Also, this is awesome man. Kudos to you for writing out this detailed and (I imagine) time-consuming adventure. Amazing post nomination for you!

 

Thank you very much for your kind replies! I'm glad you've enjoyed it. ^^

 

Great thread!!! I love these!!! The first time I read one of these was a goosebumps I found in my attic.

 

Awesome! Props for doing this, it was a lot of fun.
Although, I do have one criticism. I think you should make the numbers more spread out. (e.g. "If you want to open the door go to #96, if not then #23)
This makes it harder to organise, but if you don't do this people can just glance at the part below their's and see if they made the right choice or not.

Other than that, I really enjoyed it. Although I can't say I didn't die (darn jetpack being locked...), it did feel good to finish!

 

Thank you for your replies, both. ^^

Thanks for the feedback! I do have that in mind when creating these, though. However, while I'm not completely opposed to that suggestion, there are a couple of reasons why I chose to produce it this way. The first one, like you said, is that this is easier to organise when creating. Another reason is that people may scroll down at a steady pace, rather than hop back and forth too much, which allows a more friendly way of navigation. Finally, I'm trusting readers not to cheat. Still, even if you lose at some point, I believe it's only natural most of us, myself included, simply go back and select a different option, rather than start the whole thing from scratch. ^^

 

Fair enough. I can see why it's beneficial.

 

That was pretty cool, I won on the first try being all stealthy. I was kind of disappointed that all the glitch weapons that were "dropped" couldn't be used, but I can understand why you did that. I'd like to see a sequel for this, maybe a survival type run through the jungle to deliver the hologram.

Avoid/fight animals, find food/shelter for a night or two, and outrun/outsmart pursuit from the Iron Hounds. Maybe even escape a patrol dispatched by Valeras to intercept you after the IH inform that someone escaped them.

 

I personally think it belongs in the Fanfiction section, as it's still literature; a story. Not to mention the other game threads in the area that are still stories.

 

Hehe, thank you. It was interesting coming up with the reasons why the character was not able to take hold of any ranged weapon. I think it managed to fit the story well, though. ^^

It's a pretty good idea. However, so far, I'm feeling more comfortable leaving this one as it is, sort of like a finished product. I'm honestly already having some ideas for a second story game, also in the Starbound universe, though involving other race, as well as plot. ^^

Well, while it is a fan work, my concern is the fact that it doesn't truly seem to properly fit any of the sub-categories under it, though if I had to choose one it'd be fan fiction. Which was the reason for my expressed easiness regarding this 'issue' earlier on.

 

Won on second try, I could help you make a Glitch version if you want.

 

That was awesome!

How - I'm asking - HOW I didn't found ANY item. I really sucks in this kind of games
But still - that was fun! I hope for more!

 

That was awesome. First go, full survival.
Make more if ya are willin' to .

 

Thanks for the replies. ^^

It doesn't mean you suck at all, shardival! You just didn't make the choices that would grant you items, but that's all right, as there's usually a way to finish the game without them. (Only very likely slightly harder )

Cheers! I'm already formulating a second story game in my mind. ^^

 

...I also died in almost every possible moment

Thanks for making it!

 

Greetings, everyone! I bring you rather huge news on this day.

Basically, what took place was the fact that shardival and I have joined forces. After seeing his fantastic artistic skills, I've asked him if he would be willing to produce some artwork for my story. I'm happy to say that shardival was glad to accept! ^^ What followed was the decision to start producing more of these story games together under the label of 'You Are Starbound' text-based adventure series. ^^ Long story short, I write, he draws/illustrates.

Here's our current banner, made by the one and only shardival:

​

And some artwork for Sky Watcher, also by him (more will be added soon ):

Ceremonial Dagger

Also, here's a link to Shardival's deviantART Gallery, should you like to pay him a visit. n_n

I'm currently producing a second story game, and once shard is done developing drawings for the Sky Watcher game, he will start conceiving artwork for the new one. That means that the next adventure will already have some very nice drawings alongside it. In order to prevent people from seeing illustrations that do not belong to their progress, each chapter/section will be placed under spoiler tags in further productions. (Of course you can always open them all in order to fish out the goodies )

That's all for now. Thank you for your attention. :alien:

 

Awesome! You rock, shard!

 

Haha, it's really nice to hear!