#quest poll

Re-roll!

Soooo! I have a headache and a cold, but lucky for me y’all ended up giving me a tie so I gotta ask you to revoke between the winners anyway. (Yeah I know I said I wouldn’t do this much. But tie+sick=me lazy and this is pretty much me taking a sick day lol)

Sweeps and Cloud are sitting on the edge of that little river, in between the meadow and forest. And the two options that tied arrrre…

I won’t spoil too much like I did last time I did one of these. I’ll just tell you that both are valid answers. Just depends on how proactive ya wanna be.

I am kinda making notes on how y’all pick your answers. Picking more violent/provocatively will get me to write Sweeps more jumpy and alert, vs picking peaceful/“rest for a minute” type answers will make Sweeps more laid back. Just a lil note!

As for the other answers, I’ll tell you where they would’ve lead if they had won.

Walk back to the cabin: Pretty much the way to pick another path to follow. Still a valid option. Would’ve had Sweeps have a “oooo why am I hereee” thing cause there’s not really much there? But yeah. Mostly set up for “you wanna go a different path?”

There’s a light in the forest, the owner might help us: ok… I don’t mean this judgmentally but… who picked this one and do you know what fairy lights are? If not please look them up, because that’s one of the most nasty monsters in most fantasy things. Ok I’m a cheater, I found out about those things from the Hobbit at age… oh, idk. 5 I think? They were elves in that one, but same principle. Yeah. Don’t go towards random lights in the woods if you’re in a magical fantasy forest. That usually equals a really really bad death. From what I’ve heard. This one was the “let the author pick” choice. Hehe. (Which if you picked it thinking that? WOW you’re smart! :O/gen)

Which is better? As a new author I genuinely don’t know XD

Coin: heads

You jerk away from the strange lady, making a loud “SQU3333KZZRK zzzzzzzzzzztst” as you do so. Cloud also let out a loud “BAAAA!” and went scurrying to a bush, but that seemed to be from your reaction and not the stranger. It took you a few seconds to regain your footing, after this big outburst, and you finished off with a long stare at the stranger seeing what her move is.

“Woah. You were asleep? Huh. Welp, I’ll re-ask my question then since you got that out of your system. What are you doing here?”

You keep staring at her, still not sure if her query shows hostility or just casual curiosity. The stranger returns your gaze, blinking slowly and obviously unbothered, leaning on her broom handle and her eyes glittering with amusement. Her short pitch dark hair peeked out from under her deep purple witch’s hat, it didn’t ease your concern at all since witches used to attack peaceful travelers. Her blue dress stopped about mid-thigh, it would have been scandalous if it wasn’t for the fact she was wearing well worn cargo pants underneath it. A pack was slung across her back, with all kinds of plants and funguses sticking out of it. Her outfit was finished off with smart purple boots that matched her hat, and added three inches to her height. She was a very imposing lady, all her attention aimed at you. That really didn’t ease your concern

“I аmmm jzzzzzt pa55!иg thKSHHHZT- thr0uGн,” you stammer.

The lady cocks her head to one side, reminding you of a dog, as she looks at you in confusion.

“Didn’t quite catch that, I don’t speak robot-latin,” she replied lazily, running her finger in her ear as if to get something out of it so she could hear you better, “You wanna run that by me again?”

You break you gaze from the stranger for the first time, looking to the bush where Cloud is just emerging, or a least its head is, but your vision darts back to the witch quickly. You still aren’t sure if she would eat Cloud like those lions would, and you don’t think angering a possible magic user would be a good idea. Unfortunately, that small glance didn’t go unnoticed by the sharp eyed stranger, and she casually turned to look at the bush.

“Oh, your little sheep friend. Don’t worry, I’m out here collecting plant stuffs, not meat. Your buddy is fine. Well, mostly. Looks and sounds like both of y’all kinda went through a gantlet recently. ‘S’at what your here for? Help? I’m not really known for that, but you also don’t really look like the type to be knowing things,” the last remark came with a smile as her eyes went back to you, and you felt indignation rising inside you boiler at the remark.

“P4яяяяd0n uzzz mA’ammm KSHHHZZZT ьuT wㅌ’77 b33333-”

Her raised hand stopped you mid-sentence, “Save it sweetie, I can’t understand a word anyway,”

She took a step back, looking between you and Cloud, then nodded to herself as if she’d made up her mind.

“Alright, you weird goobers can follow me and I’ll get you fixed up, then you can tell me what you’re doing on my land. How ‘bout that?” She finished this statement with a triumphant stamp of her broom on the grass.

You shake your head and step backwards, but doing that sends you into the small stream with a big splash, sending water everywhere. Cloud ducks back into the bush with a yet another startled cry, and the witch is sent into a fit of laughter.

“Now, now,” she says in between chuckles, “I ain’t gonna take no for an answer. You might as well come with me before you rust into an immovable- whatever you are.”

You know you can’t leave the sheep there, it will get eaten by other predators. So you tentatively reach towards the little creature, with your overgrown arm.

It cowers away from you, deeper into the scorched grass. But as it sees the sun glittering off a leaf growing from your finger, it leans forward, eyes never waving your visual sensors, and sniffs it. Apparently the leaf smelled irresistible, because the lamb finished its sniff test and tore its eyes away from you, and focused only on the leaf. Eventually taking a big bite out of it, followed by another, and a third taking part of the branch. You reach forward and gently pat the small lamb’s head, and it “Baa”s softly. You pick it up with great care, wrapping your strong robot arms around it, then look around yourself. Wind blows across the meadow, grass flowing like a sea. Nothing you can use directly at hand, you will have to walk. So you start.

Moving in the same way as you were before, you trudge your same slow yet steady gait, making sure to not jostle your new companion. The sheep bleats softly every so often, and nuzzles into you. You worry it might be hungry, so you feed it a few more leaves from your arm plant and some grass you pulled up.

After thirty minutes, you see a forest in the distance. You try to quicken your pace, but the rust inhibits you from doing so, thus it still takes another ten minutes to reach the trees. But as you approached, you hear the sound of a stream. Right off the path, as it runs parallel to the forest and meadow, is a small stream. You kneel down beside it with your precious parcel.

Working diligently with knowledge you aren’t sure how you know, you wash the lamb’s wounds, and tend to its burn. Making a small splint out of two branches and some long grass, to help the worse off leg. The lions seemed to have broken it with their play, before your accident caused any additional harm.

The lamb waits patiently through all of this. Bleating occasionally when it is in pain. When you are done, it lays beside you, licking your hand. Its thanks written all over its relaxed behavior. You pull up some more grass and offer it to your new friend, who happily munches it.

Modern day style choose your own adventure story. I don’t have any plans, just winging this.

The wizard is based off me. Hometown country girl, she kicks butt. But isn’t that good in the city.

Skater bro warrior is really good on the street? But he’s a bit of a twink.

And steam punk bot doesn’t have any modifications, because it was made long ago. It just woke up again recently. Having to deal with a new, confusing, modern world.

A burst of what you can only assume is adrenaline, moves you into action. You have to save the lamb, but being so far away means you need a ranged attack.

As if on instinct you raise your left, non-plant covered, arm as it turns into a canon. And with barely a thought to aiming, you fire at the lions.

A massive red laser blasts across the meadow, large enough in diameter to scorch the grass and dirt. It’s heat evident from the how grass a bit away also looks scorched. When the torrent ends, there are no lions to be seen. Only a very dazed little lamb.

You make your way over to it, quicker than you had been walking, though still very slow. The lamb just sits in the grass and watches you, getting more nervous and cowering lower and lower as you approach. You wonder why it doesn’t run away, until you reach the small creature and bend down. Then you have a sudden sinking feeling.

The lamb’s front right leg was caught in your blast, not close enough to fully disintegrate it as the lions were, but it was harshly burned none the less. The rest of the poor animal was covered in scratches from the lions’ toying, and the lamb was in no shape to run. Explaining why it was now lying in the grass at your feet.

You wonder how you managed to hurt the lamb. In the past, VB bots could take the hair off an attackers head without harming him, if their employers so desired. They were programmed to protect above all else. You shouldn’t have been able to do this, it was against your programming.

The lamb made a feeble bleat that brought you back to the matter at hand. If you wanted to save this poor creature, it’d need help. You were out in the middle of nowhere, but water and a town were the best options. Left alone, the lamb would surely be attacked by some other predator.

You dig through memory banks locked with the corrosion of time, looking for anything that might help you. Most are so corrupted, not even a bit is left for you to decipher. But finally, you come to one that is still in working order. A core memory, you wouldn’t be here without it. Tentatively, you open the file.

Sweeps.

That was your name, Sweeps. Given to you by the lady of your long gone household, for keeping their mansion so tidy and clean. You hadn’t known emotions then, so you didn’t know the joy in being freed by getting your own name. You hardly remember you family’s name… it drifts in and out of your grasp. But that name doesn’t matter to you now anymore. You are free from its bind.

But normally, getting your own name didn’t get you stuck in a broken down warlock’s cabin. So mysteries still abound.

Raising your heavy metal body is a massive effort, some roots have grown through the cabin’s dirt floor, and have wound their way through your mechanisms. You snap then with ease, even the ones as big as a human child’s wrist. Though it leaves some of the twisting invaders in your right arm, where you don’t have a hope of getting them out. Brushing that thought aside for now, you check yourself over.

Your big brass colored outer shell is tarnished, and the once bright iron emblems have all but rusted away. It saddens you to see, that you have fallen into such neglect. VB bots always had to keep themselves buffed to a shine, to impress guests. Now what would everyone think of you. You shudder as you think of the scrap yards.

Slowly, very slowly, you walk out of the house. All the oil that usually helped you run smoothly, long since run away. As you walk down the path, you ponder your emotions. You’ve never had anything like this before. You wonder if this was the warlock’s plan, if you were supposed to be at the warlock’s, if this is unseemly for a bot like yourself.

You ponder all of these things for so long, that you have walked your way to a star shaped fork in the road. You look back and the dilapidated cabin is small and distant behind you, and the sun has moved what seems to be two hours time.

Turning back to the paths, you see that there is no sign, save for one pointing back the way you came. “Gamdrale’s Magic Shop” it reads, but Gamdrale is long gone, so this isn’t of much use to you now. The other four paths go each of the cardinal directions, and seem to have their own issues.

Re-roll!

Ok, since the last poll was badly worded? And I was writing it with derp brain… and it ended in a weird tie.

Imma do it again. This time? Better worded. Hopefully… still got derp brain.

I’ll try not to do this that often, since it’s really cheating. And takes up lot of time.

Ok, and since I’m still being derpy brained? I’ll explain the options where I don’t have a text limit. Cause that + derp = I crash and burn XD

Call for help: You haven’t tried to make sounds yet. So far Sweeps has been a silent protagonist, and you aren’t even sure anyone is around. So this option has a lot of risk, but possibly a high reward? But will the person who helps be good? And will the lamb last long enough?

Scoop the lamp up and continue on your way: Pick up the small sheep, and keep walking down the path. Maybe you’ll find a river and a town? Or maybe you’ll get ambushed? Who knows really. But you can’t stay there.

Go back to the cabin to check for supplies: thiiiis one is a trap. Yeah sorry. I’m evil. This means you leave the lamb in the meadow, and walk back. But Sweeps took a few hours to get to where they are even now. So it’d be double that getting here and back. Meanwhile the lamb is defenseless, and injured. Sweeps might come back to find it not even there, taken by another predator. This world isn’t a nice one, unfortunately.

Go back to the cabin, but bring the lamb: this one is the nicer version of the one above? But I’ll rat on myself. There’s nothing in the cabin. It’s been busted for years. If y’all wanna look around in there, I can make other opportunities to do that! But right now, if y’all wanna lil sheep friend you’re gonna have to focus on that. It’s more the option to bring the sheep on a different path with you. But idk if the others will have the supplies you need. (Ok I do but I already tattled enough. Lol)

Walk away and try not to think about this: “Look at what I made! … I gave it depression!” Cause I like that joke. Yeah Sweeps will be devastating over harming the sheep, and not be able to cope with anything. Then run down the path. Well, as much as a big robot whose all rusted and overgrown can. But yeah, probably don’t wanna pick this one. I do tend to throw in joke options or “LOL! I gave it depression” options as a “let the author pick” kinda route. That’s what this is.

Ok that’s all of them. Sorry about the exposition dump. Derp brain is a killer, man. I’ll only do these when I get ties, and usually just between the two tied options. But since this is the first I figured I’d do them all. To give y’all an insight behind the curtain.

And again, I’m gonna do this as little as possible. Cause it’s definitely cheating on my part. This story is me learning how to write, just get things out there. Cause I can’t edit polls? It adds a level of finality to it. And I know I’m not the best, but hopefully I’m alright at least.