It’s been a couple of games since I've had this much fun exploring a game's map. This game certainly had some additional progression paths, but with it being early access still one can only hope those get fine-tuned a bit.
There I was, just awakened in a chamber without even a shirt on my back. A fresh world and many horrors I could not imagine lurking not that far away. I was in some kind of temple, and I'd shortly find out others were as well. Individuals who I'd need to build in power and crafting ability.
I had a simple goal that I needed to build a flame to fight off the corruption that was slowly consuming this world into a shroud. My only real haven would be around such flame alters as the one I was instructed to build.
As I exited the chamber, I found myself in I was in aww of the view. I was on top of a mountain overlooking the valley below me. There was no direct way down. Just an entry into what looked like a rather dark mineshaft.
Inside, I found a book giving not much in detail about things going on. Some explosives to clear a path. Along with a glowing silver chest that had a weapon inside. Such chests in the future, I'd grow in excitement at the very thought of them anytime I’d spot one from a distance.
There came a point in this dimly lit and foggy cave that I had to take a leap of faith and jump down from a small cliff I was residing on. I could see off into the distance something moving on the rocky bottom of that cave. I could see a shadow of something dancing from the blue light being emitted by some rather strange-looking plant. Knowing there was danger waiting for me down below, I hesitated to want to leap. I, however, had no other choice.
Down below, I ran into some creatures. The axe I had in my hand from the silver chest was just enough to defeat them. From there, I gathered some basic resources and made myself a sword. A rather dull sword at that, where I was not even sure if it could tab something with its rather lackluster point.
After crawling along in the darkness for a short amount of time. I noticed some outside light pouring into the cave I was in. There was a road that led me somewhere. The sides of it were covered in busy, overgrown grass, the kind that sticks to you and makes you itch if you brush up against it. Not having any shoes on, I attempted to remain in the middle of the stone road. Hoping that I did not step on any sharp rocks that it was made out of.
I ended up coming out to a clearing that just, for some reason, felt right to place a flame altar. To the left of me, I could see further down a path a village. One that seemed to be enshrouded in some kind of mist. While perhaps I could have found elsewhere to set up camp and put down a flame altar. I did not know when or if I'd get another reasonable place to put one down in the short term. The day was also starting to slowly fade into darkness, where your fears get the best of you, dancing in the shadows. It was now or never.
The flame from my first altar washed the darkness that had been resting in my soul for the untold amount of time I lay sleeping, entrapped in the place I escaped from. Something of its light flickering made me feel I could trust it. I could have sworn it also spoke to me. It was, however, getting late, and I was so tired I must have been hearing things. It just left me with this impression that I needed to find a blacksmith. That one was trapped like I was, and I could rescue that person and provide them with a place to stay.
With the remaining light of the day and what little strength I could find within me. I ventured just a few steps from the flame altar and started to chop down trees, pick up rocks, and collect other materials I could find in the dirt.
I wanted to have some kind of shack to spend the night in. It was hard work, but just having somewhere to sleep gave me the reassurance that no matter what, I found between having a flame alter up and somewhere to stay out of the rain. That I could face almost any challenge, even if I was a long way from being able to defend myself properly.
The next day, I found a rather nasty-looking decaying village about a hundred steps from where I had set up my encampment. It looked far too dangerous to want to venture in there alone. So I skipped it and found the road after cutting through the forest. This would be a place I decided I'd save for another time.
What would not be for another time was this small camp I found along the road down a hill. It even had a bed in it and some things to loot. I found some food and some materials that I could use for building as well. The thought that it would have been a far better evening if I had slept here instead.
Since there was still a lot of sunlight left, I went further on. There was a bridge that had collapsed that I could not cross. Down below looked to be quite a dark valley filled with a mist that sucked the warmth out of my soul and made me shiver at the very thought of it again.
There was a voice I could have sworn I heard again, that I needed to get around the broken bridge. That something rather important to my survival was beyond it. That the road that went into the mist would not betray me as long as I stayed on it. I would come out the other side alive.
I should have stayed on that road and never left its safety. Greed, however, got the better of me. I could have sworn there were some barrels and possibly a chest in a decaying building just a few steps off the path.
I ended up finding myself in a bit of an ambush. The creatures down here were much harder than what I had fought in the cave. The creature was also horrific. It was covered in this purple puss and reeked of something that had been decaying for hundreds of years. While I survived, it was by pure luck then anything else. The loot acquired was more than likely not worth the risk.
What was worth the risk was this strange hourglass I had found that was glowing. It caught my eye rather quickly. You see, the area I was in would be known as an enshrouded area. It feeds off your soul till it kills you. You can only survive in enshrouded areas for a short amount of time. The strange hourglass somehow gave me back some of that energy my soul had lost.
I should have headed for the warning and dangers of the shroud. Despite being given a little more time down there. I just assumed I could forever remain. That ended up not being the case. I’d learn the hard way and not for the last time either that pressing your luck in enshrouded covered areas was never a good idea.
Thankfully, I had that single flame alter down in what felt like a long distance away from this deadly place. I awoke the next day missing anything that I was carrying. Somehow, the flame brought me back to life. While I feared I’d have to go back through the enshrouded area again. I now knew not to wander off the road.
Screenshots were taken, and content was written by @Enjar about Enshrouded.
Disclosure: A review copy of the game was received for free.
Disclosure: This content was written during early access.
