[SPOILER] Two Sprouts, Twelve Brackets

[Evan]

Spoilers:

After going going from right to left across the Farm Arrays, over the long sections with the grabby plants by riding on the moose thing, and crossing through the Karma Gate into the Subterranean region, I went into a room and encountered something:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=897433968

The screen went completely white, I unlocked the Two Sprouts, Twelve Brackets achievement, and my karma level (which was at max) went up two more levels, I am now at karma level 7.Their symbols: I
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=897434384

then respawned in the last vault I hibernated in. Anyone know if I should go do something while I have these extra karma levels? I don't want to lose them and then miss out on an opportunity to do something I won't have another chance to do. Perhaps I should visit the Depths?

[Arin]

There's a few of these in the world. The other I know of are at the top of The Wall and Chimney Canopy. I believe they actually speak to you after a certain point in the plot. I also think you can lose karma by dying as you normally would but your cap will now be the higher level.

[ringtones]

It's interesting that you got different karma icons than you might have gotten had you taken a different route. Don't know what that means though. Maybe some kind of alternate route through the story?

[Evan]

I visited the Depths, nothing seemed different, the guardians still killed me when I walked past them. I've since moved through other areas and died many times and lost the karma levels, I haven't been high enough again to see if I can get them back if I get past level 5

[Arin]

Originally posted by Bird:

I visited the Depths, nothing seemed different, the guardians still killed me when I walked past them. I've since moved through other areas and died many times and lost the karma levels, I haven't been high enough again to see if I can get them back if I get past level 5

Spoilers ahead!

you need Karma level X to progress past the guardians, which you are given after progressing through a certain point in the plot. After that point is when the god squids will speak to you rather than just teleporting you back to your last hibernation spot. Past the guardians is the way to the ending so you'll probably want to turn back or Passage away/restart if you can't leave normally