Epilogue v2

In lighting the brazier with his own light, light begins to radiate from seemingly everywhere. Crystals of corruption around the cavern light up before shattering. The corruption is being pushed back as the cavern glows with a bright, warm, white light. The corruption was demolished by the light that emanated from the lit brazier. The fingers of corruption disappear, freeing the world from it's grasp. Fireflies that had been trapped were freed as new ones manifest where Poe's body had been.



The fireflies float upwards, weaving their ways through the cracks in the crystal and rock until they escape the cave. They continue upwards until they speckle the sky with their lights.

Level 8 - (Corruption) Sacrifice v2

Without his companions, the world felt so much darker than ever before. Poe almost had to force himself to keep moving forward. Before long, he found himself standing at the entrance of a dark cave. Something about it was foeboding, as if the cave itself were made of the corruption. Swallowing his fear, Poe moved into the mouth of the cave, the memory of his friends and their sacrifices driving him on.

Down and down and down he went, traveling deeper and deeper into the heart of the cave. The gloom of the cave ate at Poe, causing him to go slower and slower on his descent. He could feel the floor of the cave growing steeper and steeper until, finally, it falls away. Poe found himself in a free fall through the narrowing corridor.

Eventually, the cave opened into a massive crystalline cavern. Poe hit the ground with a dull thud. The only way to go was the left. Poe pushed forward, slower than he'd ever felt before. He knew he had to be close now, close to the heart of it all, close to destroying the corruption that had taken his friends. After what felt like forever, Poe finally saw the brazier hidden amongst the finger-like spikes of the corruption.

By now, the darkness was pressing against Poe, slowing him almost to a halt. He was so close. He could touch the brazier if he could just...take...one more...step...

Poe collapsed at the foot of the brazier, the last of his fireflies disappearing and his lantern dimming to darkness.

The corruption had won. A sinister laugh seemed to fill the cavern.

A bright light emanated, beginning to pulse, from Poe's collapsed body. His spirit rose, glowing vibrantly. Poe looked down at his body then up at the brazier before him. This was his chance to prove himself, to save everything his friends had given their lives for.

Moving forward, much faster than before, Poe kept his eyes set on the brazier. Jumping up, Poe walked right into the center of the brazier. Using his own light, he brings the brazier to life.

Level 7 - Alone v2

Poe and Skitzo are all that's left-- all that stand between the corruption and the rest of the world. The two companions move through the dark slowly, the pressure of the darkness making it nearly impossible to do otherwise. The number of fireflies has diminished, feeling as though it is continuing to decrease rapidly, making the dark that much worse.

Before long, the only visible fireflies are avoiding the lantern-- and Poe-- like the plague. Every now and then, a firefly could be seen hiding amongst the branches of the trees-- fireflies Lanky could have collected easily. Rocks that almost certainly have fireflies trapped within litter the path. They are reminders of the friends the companions have lost on their journey.

Skitzo chases the fireflies back and forth, capturing two of them before something that looks almost like a hand grabs for him, squashing him in its fist before dropping him. Falling to the ground, Skitzo practically imitates a dead leaf. As his fireflies scatter, Skitzo lies on the ground, deflated somehow, his light growing dimmer and dimmer until, finally, it goes out.

Alone again, Poe must go on without his companions.

Level 6 - Loss v2

The forest had grown dark and foreboding.  Before, it had been friendly, in a way, and welcoming despite the corruption looming over them. Now, though, it was more than a little dismal.

Poe led his companions -- his friends-- through the trees that seemed to be reaching out, trying desperately to grab them, to restrain them, to keep them from their goal. The way Lanky shook whenever Poe wasn't near appeared to indicate his uneasiness. It was almost certain that he was shaking more and more with each step forward. He was frightened, as he very well should be. The world around them was growing darker, more dangerous and hostile-- they could all see it, plain as day. Even the fireflies seemed to be a little dimmer than before, yet they still managed to keep the darkness at bay as the group of companions collected them. Each one of them knew the fireflies were necessary to drive away the darkness, even if they didn't say it.

As the dark pressed in on the companions, they struggled to proceed through the trees, to the next brazier. With each step they took, they needed more and more fireflies to keep the dark from smothering them all. The lantern on Poe's back was growing dim. The weight of the dark was hindering their progress, slowing them nearly to a stop.

Finally, a group of fireflies came into view. They looked as though they were hiding in the branches of the trees. Only Lanky would be able to reach them. Climbing into the dead tree, Lanky moved closer to the floating lights. Just as he reached them, the tree crumbled beneath him as fingers of the corruption overtook Lanky.

The corruption appeared to be strangling  Lanky as it stole the light from him, killing him with agonizing slowness.

At first, they were shocked, able only to stand and stare. It couldn't have happened-- Lanky couldn't actually be dead. It had to be a trick of the darkness, something to stop them from progressing, from destroying the corruption.

But it wasn't. Their friend was gone.

Poe knew they had to move on. If they sat there, mourning the loss of their friend, the corruption would win. Poe moved forward, Skitzo followed almost as if he didn't know the Lanky had just died. Grumpy, on the other hand, was all too aware of his new-found friend's death. Skitzo scurried off and brought back some fireflies to his friends. They made it to the brazier, but only just.

The companions trudged along, the darkness and the loss of their friend weighing down on all of them. Once again, Poe needed his friends  to help him keep the light alive. There is no other option-- no fireflies are visible, but there is a rock that Grumpy can break to free the trapped ones. Despite the fear of losing another friend to the corruption, Poe sent Grumpy to break the rock and retrieve the trapped fireflies.

Grumpy pushes forward, still upset over losing his friend. He breaks the rock with the trapped fireflies, releasing them into the air. Before he can grab them and return with them to Poe, boulders that had been resting on the now-broken rock collapse, crushing Grumpy into non-existence.

Poe and Skitzo look on in horror as the freed fireflies float off into the darkness. Poe knows he needs to lead the way forward, and the only way to go is over the fallen rocks-- and his fallen companion. There is no choice but to press on, so with a heavy heart and Skitzo trailing behind, Poe continued, determined to annihilate the corruption.

Epilogue

A light comes to life between the  hands of the corruption. It glows, brighter and brighter until the light is beaming through the fingers. The hands almost seem to pulse with light. Finally, the light explodes, filling the whole of the world with brightness, destroying the corruption completely. The sacrifices of Poe and his companions saved the world.

Level 8 - Corruption

Alone again. Poe must keep going-- he cannot let his friends have died for nothing. Down, down, down the cave leads him. The lantern on his back and the smattering of fireflies are the only light.  Finally, the cave levels out and opens into what could only be the heart of the corruption. Facing the corruption means certain death, but so does running away. A pair of hands seems to materialize from the could of corruption before Poe. Poe walks towards the hands, his lantern seeming to glow brighter with every step. He wonders if it's really worth it-- if his sacrifice will actually mean anything. This is not the time for doubt  or cowardice. He cannot abandon the world the way he abandoned his village. Poe steps into the hands as they close over him. Poe is lost.

Level 7 - Alone

Skitzo is only one left with Poe on their adventure to save the world from corruption. The way Skitzo acts, it almost seems as though he's forgotten just how serious this all is. Poe, on the other hand, is grim and solemn. The world around them has grown so much darker, making it difficult to forget the corruption they are going to face. The shadows are settling in; even the fireflies seem scarce. They used to be a symbol of hope. Together, Poe and Skitzo make their way through the darkness. Through the shadows of the corruption, Poe can see the entrance to a cave. The corruption lurking between the two companions and the cave seems bigger and somehow darker than any they have faced before. With no brazier nearby, Skitzo must hold it back while Poe escapes. Behind lies only destruction, corruption. Poe must continue on if the deaths of his friends Lanky and Grumpy are to mean anything. Poe almost seems to hesitate, but Skitzo knows what has to be done. The ball of energy rushes forward, glowing brighter than he ever has before. Poe cannot let another of his friends die for nothing-- he rushes forward into the mouth of the cave, leaving Skitzo to the corruption and Poe alone.

Level 6 - Loss

Poe leads the group of companions forward, into the dangers that await. They are as prepared as they will ever be to fight the corruption that is ravaging their homes. The world is more dangerous than any of them remember. Grumpy pushes ahead of Poe, determined to reclaim his desert home. Lanky shivers with the fear that is constantly coursing through his body. As the group moves on, they realize that it's getting darker. A brazier lies ahead, waiting inside a shadow. Skitzo pushes the shadow back just long enough for Poe to light the brazier. A cliff looms ahead. There seems to be a path under the cliff, but Poe is too tall to fit through it, as is Lanky. Grumpy rushes for it, though, breaking the rock that blocks the path and stepping into the tunnel. Lanky steps forward as a shadow begins to encroach on them from where they had just been. Lanky crouches, forcing Poe up. As he stands, Poe find he can jump to the edge of the cliff. Skitzo follows Poe, circling his head. Lanky has no way to make it up the side of the cliff. Skitzo lingers for a moment as if to say goodbye to Lanky or perhaps to thank him for his bravery and sacrifice. With the shadow creeping in on them, Poe and Skitzo move on. Grumpy does the same in the tunnel below. Eventually, Poe and Skitzo reach the end of the cliff, a slope back down to the valley floor. It is clear now that there is no exit from the tunnel Grumpy entered. Poe and Skitzo are alone.

Level 5 - Friendship

Poe and his companions are at peace. Nothing has felt so right since the corruption began to spread over the world. Imminent destruction of the world aside, nothing seems wrong. It is the calm before the storm. Together, the four companions prepare for the final battle they know is coming-- them against the corruption. They will fight to save the world. For now, they rest, but soon, it will be dawn, and they will resume their journey.

Level 4 - Scaredy-cat

The small band of companions find their way out of the cave and in the midst of a forest. Ahead of them, something moves between the trees. It's almost as if it's watching them. Skitzo, the ball of light they found in the cave, dashes forward, then back. Something is exciting it. As Skitzo nears the creature hiding behind the trees, the creature scurries away, trying desperately to hide where it can't be seen. Every time Poe and his companions get close, the tall creature runs to hide again. That is, until the tall creature finds itself stuck in a shadow, trapped. Without a brazier nearby, Poe can't fight back the shadow. With Skitzo's help, though, they drive off the shadow long enough for all of them to make it past and into safety. The tall creature feels safer with the group of companions and decides to stick with them, following Poe and his friends.

Level 3 - Darkness

Poe and his new companion, Grumpy, have fallen into a dark, underground cavern. The way they fell made the lantern go out, and there are no fireflies nearby to relight it that Poe can see. Grumpy charges ahead, breaking all the rocks he can find. As Poe moves forward after his companion, he can see something glowing off in the distance. Perhaps another lantern. Poe catches up to Grumpy only to find a hyperactive ball of light circling Grumpy's head. As Poe nears the two, the ball of light seems to go into a frenzy, greeting Poe with enthusiasm and excitement. The ball of light circles around Poe's head for a short while. Upon noticing the darkened lantern, the ball of light gets closer, glowing brighter and brighter. Somehow, the ball of light managed to reignite the lantern on Poe's back. With a new friend circling their heads enthusiastically, Poe and Grumpy make their way through the cave working together.

Level 2 - Wanderer

After leaving home, Poe finds himself in a vast, seemingly empty desert. Ahead, Poe can see a few fireflies. Upon catching them, the lantern glows brighter. Poe can see, in the distance, a shadow of the corruption eating away at the world, destroying what was once beautiful.  Moving towards the shadow, Poe finds an ancient brazier nearby. Using the lantern attached to his back, Poe  lights the brazier. In doing so, the shadow of corruption is driven back, away into the darkness it came from. Poe moves on, finding remnants of broken rocks in his path. Eventually, Poe comes to another shadow. Another brazier sits nearby, but there's something different about this shadow. This one has a creature of some sort stuck inside of it, and it seems to be fighting against the corruption. Poe lights the brazier, forcing the shadow away and freeing the creature. The creature seems to run away at first, but as Poe continues on, he finds that the creature is breaking rocks ahead of him. Upon reaching another shadow block, the creature comes back to Poe's side. After lighting the brazier, Poe and his new companion continue on together, eventually falling through a sand trap into an underground cavern.

Level 1 - Lonely

Poe sits inside a cave, alone. A storm of corruption drove him here in the first place. The winds have seemed to died down. Poe stands and walks towards the exit of the cave. Upon leaving, he finds a village-- his village-- destroyed by the corruption, some of the shadow still lingering. The world is dark and unwelcoming as Poe wanders through the remains of the once warm and friendly village.  From a distance, Poe can see a light and moves towards it. After passing a number of broken lanterns, Poe comes to the last glowing one and picks it up. It will be a reminder.