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The Radiant Forest

The first step into the surreal landscape that is Embersteel's Fulcrum begins in The Radiant Forest. A hauntingly beautiful landscape, this forest is anything but ordinary. As the gateway between Quark Laboratories and the world beyond, The Radiant Forest holds the key to understanding the loop and escaping its confines. This is where your story begins. Where (and when) it ends is up to you to decide.

The Radiant Forest Wallpaper

info

Type: Level 01​

Radiant_Forest
{
  "name": "The Radiant Forest",
  "level_01": "The Radiant Forest",
  "short_description": "The Ends of Our Beginning",
  "description": "A hauntingly beautiful landscape, The Radiant Forest serves as both a starting point for Cassius Flint's journey and the gateway between Quark Laboratories and Embersteel's expansive universe.",
  "features": {
    "Terrain": "Dense Foliage - Obstructs vision and movement",
    "Challenges": "Mystical Barriers - Require relics or puzzles to be solved to pass",
    "Anomalies": "Temporal Anomalies - Can speed up, slow down, stop, or reverse time momentarily"
  }
}
caution

Objectives​

  1. Discover the Path: Navigate through the dense forest, uncovering hidden routes and shortcuts.
  2. Gather Relics: Search for forgotten relics that enhance abilities and provide insights into Embersteel's mysteries.
  3. Reach the Fulcrum's Safe Point: The primary goal is to escape the loop and reach a place of safety, paving the way for future levels and challenges.
danger

Enemy Spawns​

  • Cogs: Cogs seem to have reached Quark Laboratories, a haven nestled in The Radiant Forest's sacred grove. Who knows what sort of machines lie in wait. Who knows what sort of rituals and magic lay bare for those of this Fulcrum to exploit and overcome. Only Elias and Cassius can seek the truth. But why? Find out as you participate in the glorious carnage of cogs and truth in an attempt to break the first cycle and escape The Radiant Forest.
  • Temporal Shadows: Antagonists and supporting characters who are time phantoms that manipulate continuity by sometimes breaking the loop (on purpose by accident), making them unpredictable across runs and repeated encounters.
  • Forest Guardians: Protectors of the forest's secrets, challenging intruders and those who seek what they should not lay eyes unto.
tip

"The Radiant Forest is not just a level but a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Every tree, every glade holds a piece of the puzzle. As Cassius embarks on this journey, guided by Elias's wisdom, he is not just confronting enemies but also the mysteries of time, existence, and purpose. It's a place where the line between ally and foe blurs, where time plays tricks, and where relics await to be discovered. Tread with caution, for while the forest is radiant, it is also treacherous."

The Radiant Forest Wallpaper

Level Features​

  • The Radiant Forest: The overworld of The Radiant Forest is dark and treacherous, but the luminous glow of the irradiated biobark gives you just enough of an eerie glow to guide your path through hordes of machines machines that lurk the glades and hollow the trees for radiant energy.
  • Dense Undergrowth: Sections that slow down movement but can be used to hide from enemies.
  • Temporal Springs: Small ponds that can either speed up or reverse time momentarily when interacted with.

Points of Interest​

  • Quark Labratories: A safe haven and lab outpost built by Elias Quark, filled with clues and gear that seem to change every time you revisit it within the loop.
  • The Radiant Forest: Sites of ancient rituals are scattered across The Radiant Forest for you to discover, each unraveling a smaller portion of the story. Uncover truths buried beneath Radiance, each mystery a puzzle or fight that unlocks new areas, items, characters, or encounters. Unroot the truths of the rituals to seek clues to the next level.

Level Dynamics​

  • Dynamic Time Shift: As you progress, you will experience opportunities to manipulate time shifts, making each playthrough unique with different items and characters to discover that persist beyond the loop.
  • Relic-Dependent Progression: Certain areas can only be accessed by discovering and using specific relics, unlocking secret areas or portions of the map you may not have seen on the previous run.
  • Hidden Pathways: Exploration is rewarded by uncovering shortcuts and hidden treasures.

The Radiant Forest Wallpaper