djayh t1_jd12sh6 wrote on March 21, 2023 at 1:36 AM

Reply to comment by Daedal75 in [WP] Everyone loves the brooding Adventurer who took a liking to your village. For weeks, they have been quietly enjoying your peaceful ways and helping around. The Hero's secret is that this is only delaying the inevitable. Once they go back to advancing the Main Quest, the village will be doomed. by Daedal75

So, I'll admit to "cheating" a little bit, due to the "game world" nature of the prompt. I was heavily inspired by Final Fantasy XIV, where the community affectionately refers to new players as "Sprouts"; including "borrowing" location names wholesale.

>!The events Sprout talks about happening are an actual story beat in-game, to introduce one of the major antagonists going forward.!<

But while there is an NPC named Ranulf, you don't interact with him outside of a few unrelated quests.

Daedal75 OP t1_jd144ml wrote on March 21, 2023 at 1:46 AM

Love the bit of extra lore lol, I had no idea about this. No worries though, the fondness really comes from the character and her way of dealing with the looming tragedy, and the world is beautifully fleshed out, so again, really loved the read!

Taolan13 t1_jd2ddhb wrote on March 21, 2023 at 10:24 AM

Reading this and seeing "Sprout" i couldnt help but think of XIV.

I kind of wish I could go back to those days, go back to being a Sprout. Seeing everything with fresh eyes, experiencing it all for the first time...

I am very guilty of doing exactly what Sprout did here. Clearing the entire notice board before moving on. Learning and experiencing everything every area had to offer.

Heck, I even get a little nostalgic for 1.0 sometimes, as gobshite of an experience as it was. Just because it was new back then, and so little feels new now...

djayh t1_jd2uz45 wrote on March 21, 2023 at 1:20 PM

You're not the only one. I started the game fully spoiled through the end of Shadowbringers. The number of times I've stalled out because I'm dreading what happens next... is honestly a little embarrassing. Like, I just got done leveling WHM 0-70 so I could putting off meeting with Alisaie and >!Gabu!< outside of the Maelstrom (after which I basically speed-ran through to >!Amh Araeng to get her back!<).