Rootborn

Rootborn | MSPFA Mirror

4/8/2017Show

Rootborn is an adventure-comic I've been working on for the last 3 years on the MSPA Forums, up until the MSPA Forums went down over a year ago. After spending most of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 working on relaunching Rootborn, it's finally back. I plan on going over the first 38 Pages and revising them one more time before mirroring Rootborn to MSPFA and possibly OmegaUpdate, after which I will begin working on new updates.

4/20/16Show

Rootborn is an adventure-comic I've been working on for the last 3 years on the MSPA Forums. It's not a Homestuck fanventure in that it does not take place in the Homestuck multiverse, nor does it involve Sburb/Sgrub in any way. It is however, supposed to be much in the same vein of Homestuck and Andrew Hussie's other MS Paint Adventures.

With the recent and extended loss of the MSPA Forums, perhaps permanently (though I pray to the gods that isn't the case!), I have decided to make a sort of replacement page in the interim, but as I have no access to the majority of the narrative text or formatting, only the DiaLog text and the images, I really hope this doesn't have to serve as a full re-launch. But it might just come to that. I've done what digging around I know how to do and tried to contact the MSPAF Admins and the What Pumpkin staff (who are apparently not the same), and asked if they could fill me in on the scope of the situation. And from the few sources who replied to either my or someone elses questions about it, (namely Brian Gefrich via twitter, IPGD, Toastyhat and everywhere via tumblr, or via reddit (kudos to all those who replied!), no one on any side seems to know who would be in charge or is even aware of any measures taken to resolve it. This is of course worrying for several reasons, but at least is seemingly reassuring in that the forums weren't taken down because the Admins or WP felt ill will towards them. Though whether or not the forums were taken down by hackers, or whether or not they've been totally been wiped, is still unclear.

The forums went down just two days before Rootborn's 3rd anniversary, and I was planning on mirroring it this summer. That might no longer be a possibility. At least, not in any ideal way. But I'm going to do what I can to excercise my patience and try to roll with this pretty devasting haymaker. For now, that means making a sort of (hopefully temporary) thread on these forums to explain where things are on my end. Later, if worse comes to worse and the MSPA forums are truly gone, I will try to reconstruct Rootborn, either here, on another forum, or the usual fanventure mirror site, or even make a proper Rootborn dedicated site.

For now, my plan is to rebuild Rootborn with what I've managed to piece back together here on Eagletime and possibly MSPAFA if the admins get back to me, and use the OmegaUpdate forums for new Rootborn updates. Once I've managed to get caught back up to where we left off, I'll adjust the plan accordingly.

---

Rootborn



Tutorial: Precede commands with what you are commanding, followed by a colon.
If you do not specify your target, it will most likely be interpreted (parsed) as the character or
system befitting the Point of View (POV). Characters and functions may be parsed by initials,
abbreviations, monikers, and at Game Master (GM) discretion. For example, command the system
by entering the "SYS: Start Adventure" command to begin Rootborn.

<<SYS: Start adventure>>

DiaLog:Show

You have been jolted out of your nightly trance, head throbbing in a sudden haze of pain and shock,
from both the first registered impact at the back of your head and the following impact of your
body hitting the hardwood floor. Dazed and confused, you instinctively deduce your
IDENTITY and SITUATION, then proceed to SURVEY YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

<<Secure your roots>>



Let's start with the basics. You recently completed your lengthy DRUID TRAINING, thus finally
becoming a fully distinguished DRUID. You are a professional ADVENTURER, sating your
voracious curiosity and wanderlust, and exercising your GEOMANTIC PROWESS.
Among other things, your passions include the MUSICAL BOON you received from the KEEPER OF THE
GROVE, the arts of SWORDPLAY and STORYTELLING, and of course you often quiver in awe at the
majestic wonder of MAGIC and NATURE. Games of competition are a hobby of yours, as is
gardening, which has culminated in your love of the game HERBRAWLOGY. You are also quite
fond of relaxation and revelry, and have a predisposition to do what others refer
to as "rambling". You prefer the term "esoteric rigmarole". Currently, you are alone in your
room and are presently quite lucid, despite the fogging pain.

You juggle your memories for a quick overview of the major attributes. NAME, AGE, SPECIES,
CALLING, PROFESSION, RANK, and SCAFFOLD.

• AIDEN FOLEY
  
• 20 YEARS OLD
  
• HUMAN
  
• DRUID
  
• JOURNEYMAN ADVENTURER
  
• SCAFFOLD 3
  

---

<<Observe enlarged mushroom.>>
<<Get some leaves!!!!>>
<<Summon a treant for a rousing game of HERBRAWLOGY!!!!>>
<<Suddenly be accosted by your parental unit which you still leaf live with even though your a legal adult.>>
<<Parental Unit: Be an elf or fairy which partook in a changeling trade with a human, both of whom voluntarily of course.>>

<<Review Herbrawlogy collection>>

Your Herbrawlogy assets must be assessed before adventuring, and whatnot.

Get ye pouch.
Go on an adventure outside.
Never return to the house.

<<Observe enlarged mushroom.>>



This is a MUSHROOM LAMP. You use it to illuminate you room without causing a fire hazard.
You seem to have left it on during your MEDITATION last night.

<<Browse Herbrawlogy collection>>



Ah yes, your illustrious HERBRAWLOGY MATERIAL COLLECTION and ESSENTIAL GEAR.
Herbrawlogy is a friendly yet competitive game based around using your standard issue
GROVE OF ENDOWED GROWTH or G.E.G. to accelerate and manipulate the growth of
special plants which you use to to fight the plants of your opponent(s).

<<Summon a treant for a rousing game of HERBRAWLOGY!!!!>>



Hold on just a moment, before expending your finite collection of VARIABLE GROWING
FACTORS, you should at the very least understand how to customize your Battleplants!
You can decide the type of SEED(S), SOIL(S), and FERTILIZER(S) from what you have
in your Material Collection by placing a jar with the desired amount of the material
atop one of the vents of the G.E.G. The knobs and buttons allow you to affect other variables
such as light exposure, heat, and water access. Then the G.E.G. will produce a magically
endowed seed based on the variables you gave the G.E.G. to work with.

Two HERBRAWLOGISTS then place five of their magically endowed seeds onto the FIELD OF
STRUGGLE, where the magic will hyper-accelerate the growth of the seed creating a floral
monstrosity. The plants will then proceed to struggle for survival in a controlled hostile
environment. After a time all the plants will be killed by the hyper-accelerated growth, leaving
behind a small amount of the materials which combined to make it. This is the end of the battle.
Whichever Herbrawlogist's team of plants was most prosperous during the battle collects all
leftover materials, while the loser walks away.

As of right now, you have several types of soils, seeds, and fertilizers. All of which were
collected in your short but hopefully ongoing adventuring career.

---

<<Examine intruding projectile upon the floor. Investigate outside area with caution.>>

Lets address the flying rock, shall we?

<<Examine unidentified stone missle>>



The mineral missle that knocked you out of your Meditation appears to be no more than a
generic rock. Positively sure that you are alone in your room, you pick up the rock with perhaps
unnecessary caution. Your hypothesis was correct. It's a rock. Prolly metamorphic.

---

Congrats, Sherlock. Lets move past whatthe missile is and into who cast it.
<<Cautiously peek outside window for unknown assailant>>

<<Cautiously peek outside window for unknown assailant>>



You peer out of the AIMEND PORTAL unsure of what you will find.

<<...>>



Nothing. You see no sign of the one who threw this rock. You can see your yard, newly planted
garden, and sacrificial altar from here. Beyond that the clearing which you call home ends, and
the FOREST OF ÁCRUAN begins. The forest is full of resources and the land is bountiful, if
occasionally hostile.

---

<< Prepare for combat>>
The assailant has clearly become that shrub.

<<Aggress shrub: It defies it's master by throwing rocks at you, make him see who is the boss.>>
<<Walk to the sacrificial altar.>>
<<Insult rock, you have lived a sheltered life okay.>>

<<Aggress Shrub>>



You are practically certain that neither your BURCA BERRY BUSH, nor your CONTROLLED FUNGI
FARMING STONE are the cause of your recent injury. You also consider walking to the altar,
which is situated just outside the hilltop clearing you have settled down in. The walk would be
short, but you have no reason to go there anytime soon since you have no ritualistic needs which
require a sacrifice as of yet. So you decide against it.

---

<<Stay alert. That bush is playing you. Just go about your adventuring business non-chalantly, but board up that aimend portal until youre sure its safe.>>
Well, youve got an invisible enemy. Better keep your ears open.

<<No, you don't need a sacrifice.....yet... but it wouldn't hurt pleasing the forest god's once in a while wouldn't it?>>

SpoilerShow

I just think how all of us are paranoid with the most inconcous objects is so hilarious and reminds me of Problem Sleuth.

Start a fire by rubbing two sticks together.

<<Sacrifice two sticks to the gods>>



You could burn two sticks by rubbing them together on the altar. But you've already been
showing your zealous gratitude to the gods. That's part of the point of your nightly Meditation.
To reconnect to the Geomantic energies driving Nature and COMMUNE WITH THE GODS. But the fine
line between reverence and brown nosing is one you'd much prefer to stray from crossing.

Besides, why rub the two sticks together with the vague hope that it won't result in silly
shenanigans when you can just set them ablaze with your FIRE DOMAIN MAGIC? As a Druid,
you have access to all of the PRIME ELEMENTAL DOMAINS already. Not to mention the plethora
of other abilities being an ally of nature affords you.

Furthermore, boarding up the Aimend Portal would remove your rooms only point of VITAL SOLAR
CONTACT! That would mean your SOLAR POWERED devices would not be charged. You
disregard boarding it up as a silly notion.

---

<<Gather adventuring supplies quickly. The enemy knows your location.>>
You are under attack, man! Show some initiative!

<<Gather adventuring supplies>>



You decide it can't hurt to get ready to face what the day may throw at you. Even
if it is another rock. You pack up your trusty YEW WAND, snag your POCKET BARD
and accompanying NOISE BUDS, collect a FAMILIAR PAPER NOTE, and retrieve your
SCRY STONE.

<<Put on backpack>>



Your BASIC BACKPACK can carry up to 25 ITEM UNITS (IUs). Your current belongings count for 1
IU each. This means you have room for 20 more IUs of equipment! Isn't that splendid?

---

Splendid indeed! But you'll need more then that for adventuring, as you know. I doubt you have enough power to make food and water at all times, so
<<Prepare/catalog necessary survival items: Food, water, rope, emergency explosives, extra weapon, and change of clothing.>>
Adventuring can be MURDER on ones clothing. Don't wanna wander back into town with only your necessaries covered.

Wait...how many units does a single leather bag contain?
<<Pack more supplies.>>
<<Cast an anti theft spell on your bag, preferably the deadly poison that no one really know the full name of the plant where it came from kind. Which you are immune.>>
<< Be the druid, travel the town.>>

<<Pack more supplies>>



Silly, if you fill your pack before venturing out, you'll have no room for
your plunder on the way back. You zone out and stare at your BARDIC WALL
HANGINGS while you remind yourself of this very basic adventuring lesson.

<<View entire room>>



You take a quick look around your room.

---

Whelp, there's the first page's worth of the re-launch. I'll probably post the rest in a similar way until the re-launch is caught up.

Also, happy 4/20!