More meditation occurs ...

 

---

Story:
You settle into a calm position beside the elemental mechanism and close your eyes. This time, you focus not on the power of the tide—but on the stillness between waves, the quiet presence of life within. You reach inward, searching for the thread of Spirit that weaves through all elements.

The Orb of Purity hums faintly at your side, amplifying your intention. For a moment, you feel something awaken—a subtle pulse, like a heartbeat in the flow of magic. Though faint, the connection is there. The water surrounding you no longer feels separate; it listens.

You feel your affinity for Spirit begin to grow.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 2
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8)
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
Through meditation, your connection to Spirit has begun to grow. You now possess Spirit Level 2, opening the door to deeper magical resonance.

---

Next Choices:

1. Attempt to activate the elemental mechanism using Water and Spirit together.
2. Continue meditating to further increase Spirit strength.
3. Explore the Flow Path now that Spirit is awakened.
4. Investigate the Orb of Purity for hidden spiritual properties.
5. Leave the mechanism and save your progress for later.

Edited March 29Mar 29 by Ithillian Turambar

4?

Will something bad happen if we try 1 and it is not enough? It told us straight out last time that we didn't have the ability. Does that mean we do now? There doesn't seem to be any downsides to continuing to meditate or any option like that. Or am I naive for suggesting that will continue? 

continuing to meditate is good too

1 is fine too, i'm sure we have enough to give it a try

I'm suspicious that all the options would be positive... But I'll vote meditate. And of course others can disagree, we don't all have to vote alike. 

We are going full zen

 

---

Story:
You sit once more before the elemental mechanism, closing your eyes and breathing deeply. Rather than focus on the tides themselves, you focus inward—on intuition, memory, and unseen connection. Spirit is not a force of matter but of meaning.

Time slows.

Your relics respond. The Orb of Purity emits a soft pulse that vibrates in your chest. You feel an emotional clarity, like fog lifting from your mind. The stream of energy that binds you to all life strengthens, and for a brief moment, you sense distant presences—echoes of past elemental champions.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 3
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8 )
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You’ve increased your Spirit elemental strength to Level 3, deepening your awareness and unlocking stronger resonance with magical and emotional forces.

---

Next Choices:

1. Attempt to activate the elemental mechanism using Water and Spirit together.
2. Continue meditating to push Spirit further.
3. Explore the Flow Path now with enhanced Spirit.
4. Investigate the Orb of Purity for latent spiritual powers.
5. Leave the mechanism and focus on a different area.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by Ithillian Turambar

I'm sorry, I'm making us meditate so much, but since this is a puzzle that's about timing and emotional stillness...

 

Edited to add:

Wait, wasn't the last vote for meditation?

Edited March 30Mar 30 by Aarenis

Oh dear. I think I forgot to check the right one. Let me see if I can back it up

Ok I did a wobbly wobbly timey wimey thing and I have chosen the real voted choice on the last update.

 

So sorry about that.

 

Feel free to erase any mention of puzzles... definitely no puzzles to look at here lol

 

And check your current choice 🙂

 

 

Edited March 30Mar 30 by Ithillian Turambar

15 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

Ok I did a wobbly wobbly timey wimey thing and I have chosen the real voted choice on the last update.

No worries, thank you so much for managing this, would've gone with the result either way! I'm probably gonna pick the Orb of Purity result because I think Heavy will riot if we meditate again, and I'm hoping we can get a spell or at least something that ain't Water out of it 😛 

I probably should have waited to have a coffee before trying to update anything lol

Meditating is working, I'd say we keep that up. 

 

But we could riot, that sounds like fun. 

 

 

 

 

1 minute ago, HeavyHalfMoonBlade said:

Meditating is working, I'd say we keep that up. 

 

I'm down lol. It may not be exciting but it's honest work 😔

Spoiler

 

Am just gonna change the background music to this

 

 

8 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

Am just gonna change the background music to this

 

 

Ooph, oldskool Ithi 🙂 back when the kids were rocking to Gregorian chants. 

Oh my word, it is from 1990. I think u would have said older... Though thinking about it I only went to secondary school in 1989, so maybe I'm just forgetting when things happened. I suppose that is what you have to expect at this age. 

6 minutes ago, HeavyHalfMoonBlade said:

Ooph, oldskool Ithi 🙂 back when the kids were rocking to Gregorian chants. 

I was rocking to Era quite a few years later so I guess it comes back into fashion! 😂

 

Also some actually Gregorian Te Deums but I blame that on having done English Lit and the play specifically asking for it...

I am old school. These are the tunes of my reckless youth lol

 

But all the chanting works

 

---

Story:
Remaining in stillness, you slow your breath and let the hum of magic guide your thoughts inward once more. The air feels thick with unseen presence. You sense echoes of emotion—courage, sorrow, love, sacrifice—all carried through the flow of Spirit.

The Orb of Purity pulses again, syncing with your heartbeat. You feel a sudden pull, like something awakening in your core. The threads connecting you to the world grow more tangible, more alive. You are no longer just wielding Spirit—you are beginning to embody it.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 4
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8 )
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You’ve reached Spirit Level 4, growing even more attuned to the unseen energies of the world. Your connection to spiritual forces now resonates naturally through your relics.

---

Next Choices:

1. Attempt to activate the elemental mechanism using Water and Spirit together.
2. Continue meditating to reach a deeper mastery of Spirit.
3. Explore the Flow Path while in this heightened state.
4. Attempt to commune with any spirits that might reside in the Temple.
5. Use your Spirit connection to examine the magical carvings further.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by Ithillian Turambar

Every time I have to edit that level 8 so it doesn't turn into sunglasses lol

 

Proof that this site is more old school than me

 

8 ) = 😎 if you don't have a space

 

2 minutes ago, Ithillian Turambar said:

Every time I have to edit that level 8 so it doesn't turn into sunglasses lol

I remember when this used to be a big problem on MSN 😛

 

Cards on the table everyone: I'm considering just meditating until we hit 9 in Spirit as well and then try to activate the mech or examine the carvings. Then Flow Path. But tbvh I think we probably don't need 9 in Spirit for it so we could just try too (I'm maybe too cautious for my own good 😛 )

I'm OK with the meditation. I do kinda wanna recheck the carvings now that we are more spiritual beings. 

Smash everything and everyone 

We smash everyth...... erm I mean we meditate some more

 

---

Story:
You go deeper.

Your body feels light, almost insubstantial, as if the boundary between flesh and magic has thinned. Your relics—especially the Orb of Purity—vibrate with power. You stop trying to control the Spirit around you and instead allow it to flow through you.

In this moment of surrender, you become a conduit. Visions flash through your mind: ancient elemental temples, champions long forgotten, the gentle hand of a healer and the fierce will of a protector. One voice whispers softly: “The soul is the bridge.”

When your eyes open, the world looks sharper, quieter—and somehow more alive.

---

Updated Stats:

• HP: 20 / 20
• EP: 10 / 10
• Elemental Strengths:
  • Air: 1
  • Water: 9
  • Fire: 1
  • Earth: 1
  • Spirit: 5
• Inventory:
  • Basic Adventurer Kit
  • Rations (3 packs)
  • Magical Revive Stones (3)
  • Orb of Purity
  • Adept’s Charm
  • Shimmering Amulet
  • Small pouch of coins (10 copper)
  • Fully Deciphered Scroll (Water Barrier)
• Spell Book:
  • Aqua Surge (Level 8)
  • Water Barrier (Level 1)

---

Outcome of the Choice:
You’ve reached Spirit Level 5, unlocking a deep and balanced resonance with this element. You are now spiritually attuned enough to influence higher-order elemental constructs and devices.

---

Next Choices:

1. Attempt to activate the elemental mechanism using Water and Spirit together.
2. Explore the Flow Path with this refined spiritual perception.
3. Attempt to unlock a spiritual spell using the Orb of Purity as a focus.
4. Seek echoes of the past champions within the temple’s walls.
5. Save your progress and rest briefly to reflect.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by Ithillian Turambar

I'm voting for the spiritual spell just so we can finally get something that's not Water, but looks like after this, it's moving on? We going with flow path or hitting the elemental mech?