AoA Weekly #28 - The paths have split!

Both sides of the main story quest (MSQ) have finally started, and each one has had their introduction finished. As we left off from last week, the player at this point is presented with the World Map, and a choice.

We don't want to be intrusive at all with quest markers, but we want it to be intuitive. There are 'beams of light' that guide the player gently to each 'main objective'. With this, they know where they can advance the story when they'd like to.

As you can see there are two. Let's start with the Archives side to see what was made!

Advancing the Archives story will test the Zulzin's influencing abilities. You start off meeting Kiiwiki, the one whose attunement powers the Tree of Spirits. That's how you were called to Arkar.

Afterward, the player proceeds to their first lesson. This lesson includes removing stray spirits from the world, to see if Zulzin possesses the correct traits of the Influential One.

After a heated lesson (one that didn't go quite as planned), the player is asked to come back tomorrow for the second lesson. This is where the Archives quest 'stalls' until you unlock your bed.

The other side of the MSQ is the 'Truth Seeking' side, which will ask the player to hunt down 5 major bosses and bring their mementos to a Gallery. Once they approach this lone abbey, they are faced with a challenge.

Their instructor appears to be sleeping, and the only way inside is blocked by the Truth's minion. The player must defeat the Truth to unlock entry into what will be their sleeping quarters.

After this encounter, the instructors for this side will relocate to the gallery, and the Player unlocks their lodgings. Here, they can rest and pass a day, which is how the story advances. Expect events to wake you up at night and the story to unfold over these moments.

That was a broad look at where we're at. The player can do these out of order, and they are designed to eventually meet at a single point (so both sides are on the same page), and then branch into separate narratives from there.

Next week will have a strong focus on the Gallery and the actual truth hunt. These mementos are the ones the player must seek out. Good luck collecting them. :)

Both stories advance more next week as we eventually finish the narrative of the demo! Expect great things!

On to what we did this week:

• Started the Archives side

  • The player can now begin the Archives quest, and test their influencing abilities.

  • Added several talks with Xiag, Lanarii, Kiiwiki and Callie

  • A hidden talk where you can listen to the instructors speak about you without knowing you're present

  • Added the ability to remove spirits with Astral Pulse while Astral Projecting

• Started the Truth Seeking side

  • Multiple branching cutscenes based on the order of how you proceed with this side

  • Added some hidden scenes based on player progression

  • Fleshed out Truths dropping their mementos!

• Added Zulzin's bed

  • Once unlocked, the player may now rest when they'd like to to pass a day and advance story moments.

  • Added some hidden scenes if the player tries to sleep immediately after having just slept (Vialianso is not pleased)

• Brand new sprites!

  Alice got more sprites!

  Holden got even more emotes, and a run animation!

  Vialianso got transitional sprites!

  Ceceyita has had a slew of new animation! (This is for the main game, not demo)

  Our resident terrible artist, Quan Quin, received several new emotes/walk cycles!

  Hortz got the necessary emotes.

"About to face his first trial, Zulzin stares down Eulia's Truth."

"At the Archives meeting, where Vialianso is asked to wait outside."

• CorrenBros