Second Bible Study
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goal: establish that Aries cares about Helia
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<Helia! You came. Cool.
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>Yeah. I don't think it would take much to get me up to speed.
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<Nah, you got this.
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<Let's see...
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<You've got the basics.
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<Your DPS is pretty low.
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<Your weapon and gear doesn't really match your job.
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<Here, you can borrow this sword. Give it back whenever, don't feel pressure about it.
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<Now then. You should prioritize this skill, use skills more often, whatever.
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<Would you like to spar? Or you need some time on the practice dummy?
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>Let's spar!
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<Sure, let's go.
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<Hey, you're improving.
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>Think so?
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<Yeah, I won't flatter you.
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>With practice, you'll learn.
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>Eh, that wasn't your best.
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>You'll get it. Keep trying.
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<I'm giving up for now...
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>Okay.
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<So- how do you like sparring?
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>I come here looking for you.
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<...(raised eyebrows)
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<Yeah? If you don't like gym stuff, you won't impress me by forcing it, you know?
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<I like when a girl has her own interests.
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>Oh, this is awkward. No, I don't really like the gym.
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<Don't worry about it. It's forgotten.
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<(if dating) Do I not take you out enough?
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<(else) Hmm. Want to meet at the park tomorrow?
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>Yeah!
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<Cool. Text ya then. Later.
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>It's exciting.
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<Heh. I didn't think yankees were into that kind of stuff. You're pretty cool.
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>I've never done it before.
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<Well, it's not just exercise, you know. If you're ever in danger, it's a lot better if you can defend yourself instead of hoping someone else will save you.
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>Is that important to you? Surely that is never necessary here. It seems so safe and slow.
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<It's just a self-sufficiency thing.
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<I know you're a far way away from your family and don't really know anyone.
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<I'd just feel like you're safer if I know you can defend yourself.
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>I'm fine!
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<You could stand to learn more.
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>Oh...I appreciate the training.
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<Yeah, they can only teach so much at school. A lot of this comes from doing it.
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>No...I'd rather not, honestly.
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<But you train anyway! That's pretty admirable.
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<A lot of people say they love it, but I never see them practicing.
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>You know, I never feel like working out before I get here.
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<You? Really?
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>Oh yes. I have to force it. It feels good once I've started, but breaking the inertia.
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<That's funny. Is everyone like that, then?
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>Probably not. Probably just us. (smiles slyly)
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<Oh-? What are you looking for here? (at the library, chance meeting)
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>It's a quiet place to be.
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<I know what you mean. But I won't bother you.
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>No- let's chat.
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(go to tables)
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<I'm not doing anything particularly interesting, either.
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<h1>lucrest, a player home based on my home </h1>
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february 10, 2022<br>
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#game-design #setting #lucrest<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<h2>quick overview of blessfrey's game world </h2><br>
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Blessfrey takes place between two worlds: the southern American town of Lucrest and the underground world of Blessfrey. This week, I'll explain the concept behind Lucrest, then on the 24th CST, I'll tackle Blessfrey. <br>
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<h2>the only game set in the modern-day deep south </h2><br>
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Most of the worlds I make in creative writing are on the fantastical side, but Lucrest is quite mundane in comparison. It's more or less representative of a typical town, complete with a shopping center, school, church, a neighborhood, and some natural beauty. It's perfect for filling with my real experiences growing up with other people, places, and things. Looking around at other games, though, it seems like a little portal into suburban Deep South life could be somewhat novel. <br>
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Japanese media presents endless amounts of interesting tidbits of Japanese culture, and this window into another culture is part of what draws me in. English games feel the same way. I understand so many English cultural references because I was exposed to them through RuneScape growing up. I wonder if American-set games alienate but intrigue other people in a similar way? American culture has dominated all media channels for ages, so maybe everyone's sick of us by now, but the vast amount of broadcasts show L.A. or NYC culture anyway. American-set games are similarly narrow in how much of our country they display. I'm not even sure there's much to learn about us from games in general, since I've played countless US-based shooters that massively de-emphasize setting, characters, and mundane situations. Some are so generalized you can't even tell what city they are modeled after. This could just be my experience, though. I've played games with richly detailed settings, too, like Bloodlines's L.A, Mafia II's 1950s urban east coast, and all the Night in the Woods's and Life is Strange's out there. None of these are set in my region, though, and America is so patchwork that I've picked up on tiny cultural differences in each of these titles. <br>
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There's an urban vs rural divide, but there's also a regional divide. Game writers favor other regions heavily then collapse the entire South to Louisiana and Florida, which are both geographically southern but culturally divergent with stronger historic ties to France and Spain respectively than the English derivative Deep South. Wikipedia agrees. In their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Video_games_set_in_the_United_States_by_state">list of games by state</a>, California, Alaska, the West, and the D.C. metropolitan area dominate American representation. It's not like the Deep South is the most romanticized setting, but, excluding Miami, I'm only seeing an Assassin Creed game, a Hitman game, Left 4 Dead, a Call of Juarez game, and The Walking Dead series. Most of those are too historical or post-apocalyptic to really count, either. Alabama is the least favored by writers all states: only one <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Notability">notable</a> game, a random sports game from 1995, while Mississippi only has three. <br>
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(Honestly, seeing the stats surprises me. I always thought the patrician world where the Age of Chivalry took its last bow was just as plausible a setting for a bunch of knight errants doing quests as tired ole' medieval Europe. The Antebellum South has swords and farmers and pirates and tradesmen and everything RuneScape has, so why not? And with all the DOS-era games based on books, nobody tackled Gone with the Wind? And is there not more than one Civil War game out there when there are how many tens of random war games released every year?) <br>
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<h3>what's there to do in lucrest? </h3>
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Functionally, it will have story events and side quests, but it will mainly serve as the hub for recovering and gearing up between dungeon crawls. I think of it as Torchlight a lot. (At least, the hub from the first game.) As for the smaller details that will be nested into the environment and character interactions, it may end up realizing some of my old game designs. <br>
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This isn't my first iteration of game world that's more of a personal diary for things I encountered growing up. I spend a lot of my middle school years filling out a GDD for a game named after the fictional neighborhood it was set in. The protagonist was Walker, a girl who she ripped out all the pages of her diary in a moment of grief and set them to the wind. All you did was walk around, watch events, collect diary pages, and do some basic puzzle-solving. There's an entire subdivision to explore, each neighborhood with its own flair and obstacles. As you collect diary pages, you unlock a clearer image of who Walker is and why she was sad. At the time, I was inspired by Tale-of-Tales, especially The Path and The Graveyard, but similar genres have since emerged like walking simulators and whatever those Slenderman collect-all-the-pieces-of-paper games were. The only remnant I have left of the game is an old <a href="https://sixthview.tumblr.com/">tumblr blog</a>. If only Unity went free earlier; I would totally be sharing an broken demo instead of a moodboard with a broken theme. <br>
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<center><img src="/static/img/ent/sixth_view.png" alt="(image: a screenshot of my old game project moodboard. There's flowers, home gardens, fortune-tellers, cute girls, fairy rings, polaroid cameras, and meandering prose about Walker's encounters in her neighborhood. Overall, the writing was meant to evoke Kafka or Sisyphus, like how she watches a boy recreate a Michelangelo masterwork in sidewalk chalk, only for the first drop of rain to fall on it as he finishes the last stroke. Deep stuff.)" width="500" height="551.19"></center> <br>
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Sixth View's gameplay is really basic, the narrative is really linear, and a lot of it is middle school cringe, but there's a tiny glimpse of Lucrest in there. Like Sixth View neighbors, Blessfrey townspeople are going to be drawing with sidewalk chalk, having yard sales, playing Concentration 64 and Big Booty, painting clear nail polish over chiggers, avoiding water serpents in the brook, doing Bible drills, folding fortune-tellers, having class in portable classrooms, playing I Spy or license plate games, finding golden orb weavers in their gardens, my mom scaring me with stories about Wampus Cat, wondering why pairs of shoes end up hung over telephone lines and trees, wearing clover crowns, making sock monkeys, blowing dandelion puffs, VBS, finding arrowheads in the river, playing four square, cutting through cotton fields, and all the stuff I think of when I think of my childhood. <br>
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The GDD it probably won't be like is the RuneScape clone set in the Antebellum South (because you know like all 90s kids, I had at least 3 RuneScape clone GDDs saved in WordPad). I wish I had a scrap of any of those GDDs because they're probably funnier to pick apart than Sixth View. <br>
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Last updated January 16, 2022
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<h1>designing a fantasy game world: where do I even start?</h1>
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february 2, 2022<br>
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#design #mechanic #blessfrey<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<h2>quick overview of blessfrey's game world </h2><br>
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Blessfrey takes place between two worlds: the southern American town of Lucrest and the underground world of Blessfrey. Last week, I explained the concept behind Lucrest, and now I'm tackling Blessfrey. <br>
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<br>
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<h2>blessfrey, the fantastical </h2><br>
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Blessfrey is functionally a vast, unknown world full of exploration, combat, gathering, and plot-driving discoveries. This is where the real game takes place, though the overworld is a nice safe place for getting your bearings. It's populated by multiple uncontacted cultures, so artistically, it's a chance to do whatever I want without having to ground it firmly in real world logic. <br>
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That also makes Blessfrey a white sheet of paper. With Lucrest, I can model society and all its components after my own. In fact, the more I lean on my local surroundings, the <em>more</em> unique the setting will be. With Blessfrey, I don't have a lot to start with. <br>
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The earliest vision of the setting illutrated Blessfrey as a vast world under Lucrest. In Podunk, Alabama, you shouldn't expect more than farmland, a general store, and a church, but rural Lucrest florished under its current mayor beyond believability, stocking all the luxuries and exotic goods you would expect from a big city, albeit at a tiny scale and population. Tourism off-sets a little, but the local population doesn't support all this - the mayor propped up the entire local economy through conquering a pocket of Blessfrey and establishing it as a secret micro mercantilist colony. <br>
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Initially, Blessfrey was defined by Lucrest's needs, and the impulse doesn't go far beyond "subterranean" and "alien." It needs to have rich natural resources equal to a nation to solely support a town. It needs a full-bodied manufacturing and supply chain. (In contrast, the town will have next-to-zero above ground areas dedicated to industry.) It needs a population that can be subjugated and perform labor. It also needs a population that would seldom be seen by anyone above ground. <br>
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However, Blessfrey existed long before Lucrest. The mayor learned about it through Civil War era historical records, so it was technologically advanced 150 years old ago, while Lucrest is a small Alabama town and couldn't have been <em>founded</em> much earlier than that. The world, or at least the region beneath the town, is positioned to be culturally rich, visually intricate, and descended from a comprehensive history. Since this is a game, I don't need a worldbuilding bible to rival the real Bible, but there needs to be enough to support a cast of characters, a host of locations, story events, and a general sense of depth for the players. Where do I start? <br>
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<h3>character-driven approach </h3>
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The first Blessfreian I designed was the main cast member Rune. He's a young castaway of his people living in the buffer zone between civilization and the outside world. His class is the first special class the player will encounter. The humans will have access to the expected RPG classes: melee, magic, ranged, healing, etc, but Rune and the other subterranean people will have different and apparently more powerful classes: teleporting, shape-shifting, mind reading, time manipulation, etc. He's pale, thin, very tall, with expressionless red eyes. He also has rigid keratin horns that blend into his dark hair, a little like G-Dragon from the Monster video.<br>
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He's intended to be a project for the player, like a Princess Maker ward, Geralt's adoptive son in The Witcher 2, Brother Martin in the original kingmaker concept for Oblivion, or Shandra Jerro in Neverwinter Nights 2 if you could multiclass her. You can turn him away or take him in and train him up, critically branching the game's trajectory. He'll start out undersocialized, monosyllabic, and ignorant of most of the world, and hopefully the player helps him to become human, expressive, and capable. <br>
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<center><iframe width="560" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/btDd9rOlc2k" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>
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<img src="/static/img/ent/G-Dragon_Monster.jpg" alt="(image: G-Dragon's hair from Big Bang's Monster music video.)" width="500" height="504.92"></center> <br>
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Rune is a member of a dominant Blessfreian race, so this gives me some ideas what the rest will look and act like and possibly even some ideas about the prevailing culture. Semi-rigid keratin horns made from hair is a trait the race can have, and every member can have a different style. Rune's are long and curve harshly to rest on his head like a halo, while GD's are short and slightly curved at the top. Individualized horns make me think of Homestuck, which isn't my favorite webcomic, but honestly most horned races offer this variety. Rune's an outcast, so there's a potential in-group/out-group culture at play here, be it resulting from legal disputes, religion, or his personal appearance. It's also possible his society would find his abandonment reprehensible, and it's due to a negligent mother or tragic accident. <br>
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<h3>environment-driven approach </h3>
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Just because a world is underground doesn't mean it has to be all caves or hellscapes. If I do learn on the familarity of spelunking through local caverns here, though, it gives me a foothold. There's crystals, bottomless pits, and underground waterfalls and rivers. There's solutional caves, tectonic caves, and volcanic caves. There's eyeless fish, bats, and cave swallows. People have built mines, entire cities, escape routes, secret passageways, and metros underground. Certain indigenous people groups have lived underground or tell stories of ancestors who once did. <br>
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I can also be inspired by what is <em>not</em> underground. The sun, passage of day to night, weather patterns, seasons, star patterns, migration patterns, fresh air, chlorophyll, and countless other things don't fit as logically into an isolated subterranean civilization. <br>
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Using these reference points, I can start piecing together a world. How is time measured? The concept of an hourglasses still works, but rotation-derived hours do not. What is the fashion? Perhaps roots, asbestos, or fine metallic threads dominate over animal derived fibers...unless they use their own hair. If this isn't a vast inner world but rather cavernous pockets, how is their waste managed? Do they have designated dumping tunnels or use bottomless pits? <br>
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<h3>genre-driven approach </h3>
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I can refer to others who explored the concept of an inner world. <br>
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As for games, I already mentioned Torchlight, which isn't too dissimilar to Blessfrey, with a town supported by a dungeon that involves some other worldly power. Persona 3 exists between two worlds, an ordinary Japanese town and the shadow dungeon Tartarus that only appears in the school at a certain time of night. SMT IV is set in an apparently Edojidai Japanese town with a demon-filled dungeon. <br>
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As for entirely subterranean games, Arx Fatalis is an apocalyptic game where the world's population was driven underground and their war continues. <a href="https://www.gog.com/game/avernum_the_complete_saga">Avernum</a> is an prison planet game (like Gothic), but the prisoners are kicked through a portal that leads somewhere underground, a place inhabited by prisoners, hostile subterranean natives, dragons, and lots of mushroom-based life like trees and cows. I think Wizardry and Ultima Underworld games take place in an underworld, too, but I've never played them lol. There's also infinite JRPG dungeoncrawlers out there, of which I've played very few. <br>
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For books, there's endless iterations of this idea. I'll guess Divine Comedy or Journey to the Center of the Earth are the most famous, but there's a full genre of hollow earth exploration written by sci-fi authors, pseudoscientists, theosophists, followers of Eastern philosophies, and schizophrenics. I've read a few of these already, like <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32825">William R. Bradshaw's The Goddess of Atvatabar and <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57426">Ingersoll Lockwood's Baron Trump's Marvellous Underground Journey</a>. Poe and C. S. Lewis have incorporated this idea into their books, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and The Silver Chair. The youth fiction series Artemis Fowl featured an magical underground world full of fairies. There's also the manga Made In Abyss and all the countless dungeoncrawl, dungeon isekai genres out there. <br>
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Subterranean worlds also appear in myth and folklore. Hades, Patala, Shamballa, Jigoku, some of the Norse 'heims. The Tuatha Dé Danann live underground, and so do dwarves, asura, and naga. The Hopi people originated from underground, and so did the Lakota, Navajo, Apache, and Zuni. It's possible Eden is underground now. <br>
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Plenty of reference material. Each has its own interpretation of a giant dungeon, which can spur questions about Blessfrey's worldbuilding. Why does the dungeon exist? How does it interacts with the surface world, and why did surface-dwellers explore it? Who lives there, and what factions are at play? What's at the bottom of the dungeon? Some of them get pretty deep, asking what the dungeon represents and how it mirrors the surface world. <br>
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<h3>altogether </h3>
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Designing a fantasy world, like the subterranean world of Blessfrey, from scratch can feel like an overwhelming blank on a page. If you're already in the midst of writing your story or designing your game, the page might not be as blank as you think. I have a surface world that has active and prior interaction with this fantasy one. I have a character who lives in this world. <br>
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Also merely by placing it underground, that connects my world to a wealth of material to reference. Analyzing other worlds will begin to fill your once blank page with questions to answer. You can always skip this step and jump straight into a <a href="https://ellenbrockediting.com/worldbuilding-bible-template/">pre-made questionnaire</a>, but building off of other entries in your genre is an inspiring personal process to undergo that will tip you off to audience expectations. Whether you serve them or deconstruct them is up to you. <br>
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At the end of the day, what will really draw your players into your game are fun levels that make clever use of your game's mechanics and your characters. If all your world does is justify a crowd-pleasing level and favorite character, it's perfectly adequate. After all, an almost lore-less released game is more successful than an epic-length worldbuilding bible with less than a demo to show for it. <br>
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Good luck worldbuilding!
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Last updated January 16, 2022
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<h1>factions</h1>
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march 24, 2022<br>
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#factions <br>
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<h2>out of the norm </h2><br>
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RPGs are all about the stats that define their characters. The values of each stat are constantly being jostled around by buffs, debuffs, enchanted equipment, environmental effects, and perks. If you allow each <br>
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<h2>when does a character become hostile? </h2><br>
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NPCs generally will not seek out the player for combat. They will either stand stationary or follow their patrol route, oblivious of the player until becoming hostile. <br>
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Usually, if an NPC is hostile, that means a threat got too close. Currently, proximities in Blessfrey mirror <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxemics">Edward T. Hall's zoning</a> for interpersonal distances. Intimate distance is the range for physical interaction and melee attacks and social distance is the range for assessing hostility and ranged attacks. <br>
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<center><img src="/static/img/ent/Personal_Space.svg" alt="(image: A visualization of proxemics by WebHamster of Wikipedia. Around someone are 4 concentric circles with varying diameters: within 25 feet is their public space, 12 feet is their social space, 4 feet is their personal space, and 1.5 feet is their intimate space.)" width="500" height="267.72"></center>
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(By <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:WebHamster" title="User:WebHamster";>WebHamster</a> - <span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" title="Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6147809">Link</a>) <br>
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Last updated January 12, 2022
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<h1>defining the major jobs in blessfrey </h1>
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february 10, 2022<br>
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#game-design #jobs<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<h2>the basics </h2><br>
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RPG classes are called "jobs" in Blessfrey. Characters will have a primary job, but they will have limited access to other jobs through multiclassing. It's similar to Final Fantasy Tactics. I think it's cute to call secondary job a "side job." <br>
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<br>
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<h2>job requirements </h2><br>
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Guild Wars and Magic: The Gathering are my main inspirations for Blessfrey's game mechanics. I had trouble getting into other MMORPGs after Guild Wars. Others have so many mechanics, classes, levels, consumables, and levels of equipment that they begin to feel so chaotic, random, and unlearnable, or (even worse) the meta's so obvious that players only use a 1% of the content doesn't matter because there's a
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, and all your successes are owed to time, micro-transaction money, and RNG. Guild Wars
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because they are never as tight in their design or allow player skill to shine as often. In contrast with standard MMOs with more class ArenaNet self-labels their game as a CORPG (competitive online role-playing game), so it's not surprising it plays so differently. Guild Wars, especially before expansions started coming out. <br>
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<br>
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<h2>lucrest, the mundane </h2><br>
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Lucrest is more or less representative of a typical town, with a shopping center, school, church, a neighborhood, and some natural beauty. Functionally, it will have story events and side quests, but it will mainly serve as the hub for recovering and gearing up between dungeon crawls. I think of it as Torchlight a lot. (At least, the hub from the first game.) Artistically, it's an opportunity to work with what's familiar to me. <br>
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<br>
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I think it's a chance to do something a little different in a game, too. I learn lots of interesting little tidbits of Japanese culture through Japanese media, but I feel like my day-to-day life and childhood rarely come up in games with American settings. Some games do have detailed settings, like Bloodlines's L.A, Mafia II's generalized 1950s east coast, and all the Night in the Woods's, Life is Strange's, and David Cage games out there, but America is so patchwork that I enjoy them for their cultural differences as much as I do for their cultural simularities. <br>
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<br>
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This is due to an urban vs rural divide, but it's also a regional divide. Writers favor other regions heavily, then limit the South to Louisiana and Florida, which are both geographically southern but culturally divergent with stronger ties to France and Spain respectively than the English derivative Deep South. Wikipedia agrees. In their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Video_games_set_in_the_United_States_by_state">list of games by state</a>, California, Alaska, the West, and the D.C. metropolitan area dominate American representation. It's not like the Deep South is the most romanticized setting, but there's only 1 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Notability">notable</a> game in Alabama for me to compete with, and it's a sports game. <br>
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<br>
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Really, I just want to put the things meaningful to me and my world in this game, good and bad. Looking around, though, it seems like a little portal into suburban Alabamian life could be novel. <br>
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<br>
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<h3>what's there to do in alabama? </h3>
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This isn't my first iteration of game world that's more of a personal diary for things I encountered growing up. I spend a lot of my middle school years filling out a GDD for a game named after the fictional neighborhood it was set in. The protagonist was Walker, a girl who she ripped out all the pages of her diary in a moment of grief and set them to the wind. All you did was walk around, watch events, collect diary pages, and do some basic puzzle-solving. There's an entire subdivision to explore, each neighborhood with its own flair and obstacles. As you collect diary pages, you unlock a clearer image of who Walker is and why she was sad. At the time, I was inspired by Tale-of-Tales, especially The Path and The Graveyard, but similar genres have since emerged like walking simulators and whatever those Slenderman collect-all-the-pieces-of-paper games were. The only remnant I have left of the game is an old <a href="https://sixthview.tumblr.com/">tumblr blog</a>. If only Unity went free earlier; I would totally be sharing an broken demo instead of a moodboard with a broken theme. <br>
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<br>
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<center><img src="/static/img/ent/sixth_view.png" alt="(image: a screenshot of my old game project moodboard. There's flowers, home gardens, fortune-tellers, cute girls, fairy rings, polaroid cameras, and meandering prose about Walker's encounters in her neighborhood. Overall, the writing was meant to evoke Kafka or Sisyphus, like how she watches a boy recreate a Michelangelo masterwork in sidewalk chalk, only for the first drop of rain to fall on it as he finishes the last stroke. Deep stuff.)" width="500" height="551.19"></center> <br>
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<br>
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Sixth View's gameplay is really basic, the narrative is really linear, and a lot of it is middle school cringe, but there's a tiny glimpse of Lucrest in there. Like Sixth View neighbors, Blessfrey townspeople are going to be drawing with sidewalk chalk, having yard sales, playing Concentration 64 and Big Booty, painting clear nail polish over chiggers, avoiding water serpents in the brook, doing Bible drills, folding fortune-tellers, finding golden orb weavers in their gardens, wondering why pairs of shoes were hung over telephone lines and trees, wearing clover crowns, making sock monkeys, blowing dandelion puffs, finding arrowheads in the river, four square, cutting through cotton fields, and all the stuff I think of when I think of home. <br>
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<br>
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Last updated January 16, 2022
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<br>
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setup
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handler_setup
|
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set_process(true)
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handler_setup(user)
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attack hander = res.instance()
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add_child(handler)
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MB.subscribe("attacked", handler)
|
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user.connect("hit", self, "handle attack result", [0, user])
|
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user.connect("hit", ai, "hit")
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handler teardown
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disconnect signals
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handler.queue_free
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Dearest Mother and Father,
|
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Are you doing well?
|
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I've always been your most capable and gifted son, so I know you would never worry about me. Regardless, I felt it would be right to write to you during this rare recess.
|
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|
||||||
|
It's true I've dropped out of the University. I'm well aware the headmaster has probably contacted you, but he likely made me out to be a villain or slacker or worse. You know me,
|
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[center][b]headstrong, forceful, god-like power of Rally + Eliminate[/b]
|
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|
||||||
|
_________________________[/center]
|
||||||
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|
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|
An Arcane University dropout to whom magic comes naturally and study does not. His effortless mastery of the most powerful spells feeds into his superiority complex over those with lesser abilities, which included his professors. He was distinctly unpopular among his classmates, not that he cared, and was perpetually getting into fights at school. Among teachers, he snubbed constant waves of criticism over his lack of restraint. They even had to intervene in several cases to prevent extensive property damage.
|
||||||
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||||||
|
Despite the extreme disruptions to the university, Calder was allowed to study for a full three semesters. His classmates are certain it's because he's the headmaster's son, which amplified their animosity towards him. The headmaster could only shield him from the consequences of his explosive episodes for so long, however. Outright setting fire to the university was a crime judged by federal jurisdiction, not the board of directors.
|
||||||
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|
||||||
|
Calder, now disowned by his father and summoned to a court heavily stacked against him, had nothing to lose. Before tucking his tail and running, he burned down the courthouse. Fire being his favorite weapon of chaos and destruction, he traveled to the Ashfall Waste, where they surely are less sensitive about little fire fights.
|
||||||
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|
||||||
|
It turns out, the Fire Flight is even less impressed by conflagration. After accidentally burning the exterior of The Angry Angel, Lise has demanded repayment. After initially blowing her off, fire war veteran Heath roped him in to doing his portion of chores and acting as the night guard.
|
||||||
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|
||||||
|
He has a natural rivalry with Sand, who has deep respect for magic and has devoted his life up until this point to its study. Both Calder's genius aptitude for magic and blasé disregard for its effects haunted Sand as power beyond control. While Sand was a perfect image of a scholar with a dear love for his books and warnings. Heath indirectly attempts to separate them as much as possible to prevent any possible clashes.
|
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|
[center]_________________________
|
||||||
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|
||||||
|
[b]someday...[/b]
|
||||||
|
[outfit=1193073][outfit=1194028]
|
||||||
|
[item=will o' the ember][item=gossamer flame tail jewel][item=starseer's emblem][item=gossamer silk scarf][/center]
|
||||||
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|
|||||||
|
but why the mire of all places? it's /filthy/
|
||||||
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|
||||||
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|
||||||
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|
||||||
|
i thought you were all powerful
|
||||||
|
those frogs are enormous, you simply can't comprehend
|
||||||
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|
||||||
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|
||||||
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|
||||||
|
you fight kamaitachi all day but you can't take down a simple frog?
|
||||||
|
I can! at least, the water ones sometimes. the fire ones are enough to make Arcanist himself cry!
|
||||||
|
That's right! Fire's the best!!
|
||||||
|
Who's side are you on?
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
what are you wearing?
|
||||||
|
today's mire drops
|
||||||
|
(Bloodscale Shoulder Guards, woodsdrake cape, bloodscale chest guard, bloodscale greaves, swamp kelpie mane)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Calder wearing t-shirt CAN'T AIM FOR SHIT
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
and you brought ALL of them home?
|
||||||
|
How could I not! They were giving me the puppy eyes. (do they even have eyes?)
|
||||||
|
well we can't keep them. we'll have to figure out something.
|
||||||
|
(dagmar at baldwin, face in shadow. Excellent! Another ingredient for the brew)
|
||||||
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|
|||||||
|
Dress for the job you want, she recited as she rummaged through Cat Man's closet. She nuzzled against tweed, monks cloth, camel hair, admiring the exquisite tailoring and designers. A plaid particularly caught her nose, drenched in the warm nostalgic smell of Cat Man. She made her selection. She dressed before his mirror, posing and grooming. The spitting image of an executive, she fancied. Once the shareholders take a look at this, they will insist upon her. The sudden intrusion of delicate footsteps and trademark Cat Man scent burst her delusions. The other cat is coming. Her hair raised in a spiky stripe across her back as tiny bits of spit flew. She hates other cats. Panic thrust her into Cat Man's bedroom. Her scrambling escape toppled a tower of hundred dollar bills, now a disorientating cloud of green. A ray of sanctuary light overcame the cloud, tracing a path to the window. She leapt, unlatched, and jumped, money trailing.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Dress for the job you want, she recited as she rummaged through Cat Man's closet. She nuzzled against tweed, monks cloth, and camel hair, admiring the exquisite tailoring and designers. A plaid particularly caught her nose, drenched in the nostalgic smell of Cat Man. She made her selection. She dressed before his mirror, posing and grooming. The spitting image of an executive, she fancied. Once the shareholders take a look at this, they will insist upon her. The sudden intrusion of delicate footsteps and trademark Cat Man scent burst her delusions. The other cat is coming. Her hair raised in a spiky row across her back as tiny bits of spit flew. She hates other cats. Panic thrust her into Cat Man's bedroom. Her scrambling escape toppled a tower of hundred dollar bills, now a disorientating cloud of green. A ray of sanctuary light overcame the cloud, tracing a path to the window. She leapt, unlatched, and jumped, money trailing.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The shareholders called him cute today. The client was especially charmed by his presentation, despite being delivered beneath a table. Board members kept reaching out to stroke his neck. As the hands came toward him, he leaned away. Negotiations with the big players while trying to avoid being seen was exhausting. He impatiently watched as the elevator counted up to the moment he could rest. Upon arrival, he noted the open window and toppled stacks of hundred dollar bills. Drowsily, he ignored the warning. The caressing breeze was not unwelcome anyways. In his sleep, the gentle breeze stirred into a storm, sucking his wealth out the window of his penthouse and into the street below. With a crack of thunder, Cat Man awakened, too late for anything but spectating. As his last dollar slipped away, he uttered a low moan heard throughout the city: "MY MONEY!" If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The shareholders called him cute today. The client was especially charmed by his presentation, despite being delivered beneath a table. Board members kept reaching out to stroke his neck. As the hands came toward him, he leaned away. Negotiations with big players while trying to avoid being seen is exhausting. He impatiently watched as the elevator counted up to the moment he could rest. Upon arrival, he noted the open window and toppled stacks of hundred dollar bills. Drowsily, he ignored the warning. The caressing breeze was not unwelcome anyways. In his sleep, the breeze stirred into a storm, sucking his wealth out the window of his penthouse and into the street below. With a crack of thunder, Cat Man awakened, too late for anything but spectating. As his last dollar slipped away, he uttered a low moan heard throughout the city: "MY MONEY!" If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
|
|||||||
|
Dress for the job you want, she recited as she rummaged through Cat Man's closet. She nuzzled against tweed, monks cloth, camel hair, admiring the exquisite tailoring and designers. A plaid particularly caught her nose, drenched in the warm nostalgic smell of Cat Man. She made her selection. She dressed before his mirror, posing and grooming. The spitting image of an executive, she fancied. Once the shareholders take a look at this, they will insist upon her. The sudden intrusion of delicate footsteps and trademark Cat Man scent burst her delusions. The other cat is coming. Her hair raised in a spiky stripe across her back as tiny bits of spit flew. She hates other cats. Panic thrust her into Cat Man's bedroom. Her scrambling escape toppled a tower of hundred dollar bills, now a disorientating cloud of green. A ray of sanctuary light overcame the cloud, tracing a path to the window. She leapt, unlatched, and jumped, money trailing.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Dress for the job you want, she recited as she rummaged through Cat Man's closet. She nuzzled against tweed, monks cloth, and camel hair, admiring the exquisite tailoring and designers. A plaid particularly caught her nose, drenched in the nostalgic smell of Cat Man. She made her selection. She dressed before his mirror, posing and grooming. The spitting image of an executive, she fancied. Once the shareholders take a look at this, they will insist upon her. The sudden intrusion of delicate footsteps and trademark Cat Man scent burst her delusions. The other cat is coming. Her hair raised in a spiky row across her back as tiny bits of spit flew. She hates other cats. Panic thrust her into Cat Man's bedroom. Her scrambling escape toppled a tower of hundred dollar bills, now a disorientating cloud of green. A ray of sanctuary light overcame the cloud, tracing a path to the window. She leapt, unlatched, and jumped, money trailing.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The shareholders called him cute today. The client was especially charmed by his presentation, despite being delivered beneath a table. Board members kept reaching out to stroke his neck. As the hands came toward him, he leaned away. Negotiations with the big players while trying to avoid being seen was exhausting. He impatiently watched as the elevator counted up to the moment he could rest. Upon arrival, he noted the open window and toppled stacks of hundred dollar bills. Drowsily, he ignored the warning. The caressing breeze was not unwelcome anyways. In his sleep, the gentle breeze stirred into a storm, sucking his wealth out the window of his penthouse and into the street below. With a crack of thunder, Cat Man awakened, too late for anything but spectating. As his last dollar slipped away, he uttered a low moan heard throughout the city: "MY MONEY!" If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The shareholders called him cute today. The client was especially charmed by his presentation, despite being delivered beneath a table. Board members kept reaching out to stroke his neck. As the hands came toward him, he leaned away. Negotiations with big players while trying to avoid being seen is exhausting. He impatiently watched as the elevator counted up to the moment he could rest. Upon arrival, he noted the open window and toppled stacks of hundred dollar bills. Drowsily, he ignored the warning. The caressing breeze was not unwelcome anyways. In his sleep, the breeze stirred into a storm, sucking his wealth out the window of his penthouse and into the street below. With a crack of thunder, Cat Man awakened, too late for anything but spectating. As his last dollar slipped away, he uttered a low moan heard throughout the city: "MY MONEY!" If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
A cat who is also a man. He works a 9 to 5 office job doing the work. He makes 6 figures and lives in a penthouse. One day, he left the window open as he usually does but a strong updraft sucked all his money out the window. Devastated, he let out a mournful cry: "MY MONEY....!!!" Now he travels the land in search of his lost money. If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The shareholders called him cute today. The client was especially charmed by his presentation, even if he delivered it from under the table. Board members kept reaching out to stroke his neck. As the hands came toward him, he leaned away. The moment all eyes looked away, he dashed back to his apartment to try to fit his 15 hours of sleep in. Upon arrival, he noted the open window and toppled stacks of hundred dollar bills. Drowsily, he ignored the warning, welcoming the caressing breeze. In his sleep, the breeze stirred into a storm, sucking his wealth out the window of his penthouse and into the street below. With a crack of thunder, Cat Man awakened, too late for anything but spectating. As his last dollar slipped away, he uttered a low moan heard throughout the city: "MY MONEY!" Now Cat Man roams the city, scavenging enough of his net worth to afford rent. If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
The shareholders called him cute today. The client was charmed by his presentation. All the board members wanted to stroke his neck. 10 years of hard work was finally paying off. And he did it all for the attention. The moment all eyes looked away, he dashed back to his penthouse to try to fit in his daily 15 hours of sleep. Inside, he crawled past the open windows and toppled stacks of his hundred dollar bills. He ignored the warning, drowsily welcoming the caressing breeze. During his nap, the breeze stirred into a storm, blowing all his money out the window. Cat Man woke too late for anything but spectating. As his last dollar slipped away, he uttered a low moan heard throughout the city: "MY MONEY!" Now Cat Man roams the city, scavenging enough of his net worth to afford next month's rent. If you find any loose dollars, you must return them to Cat Man. It is his money.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
She is so bad at talking face-to-face, she needs email to talk to her own family. Her specialty is computers, especially programming. She is actually a famous blogger with over 1 million followers, and works on updates day and night to grow her audience even more. On the other hand, she's basically an indoor-type who is obsessed with MMOs. Even though her name is Anko, she despises anko bean paste. Her favorite is spicy food.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
A hoshimori so bad at talking face-to-face, she needs email to talk to her own family. However, she is an expert at using computers with programming as her specialty. She is actually a famous blogger with over 1 million followers, and works on updates day and night to grow her audience even more. On the other hand, she's basically an indoor-type who is obsessed with MMOs. Even though her name is Anko, she despises anko bean paste. Her favorite food is spicy food. cv. Yumi Uchiyama
|
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||||||
|
The first punch knocked Van off his feet and hollering. He rolled to dodge the second and had his pistol prepped before he was on his feet. Chandra saw the glint of metal and froze. Even in self-defense, even with all of Van's }{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
boasting}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
, that gun terrified her. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
A second group of men surrounded Chandra within an instant. They were armed with knives. She dropped to the ground and prayed outloud for protection and forgiveness, so loudly and so intensely she missed the next few critical seconds. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Gunshots fired, and a tall, thin figure appeared from nowhere to behead the man who was closing in on Chandra. She looked up and Van was scanning the surroundings and overhanging trees. To her side, deeply lacerated thugs lay at the feet of a manila figure.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"You saved me."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
She realized she was thanking the air.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Where-}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
I\u8212\'97did?}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
No, t}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
hat man. }{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
H}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
e saved me. Cut down these people who attacked me."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Are you okay?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Yes! I'm fine. He got rid of all of them before disappearing into the night like that."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Thank God for angels. Please stay close and quiet."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Chandra took a section of Van's tunic in her hand and followed him closely, preoccupied all the while by the mysterious hero. She liked Van's description of him - an angel. Dark, beautiful, mysterious, invisible, good. Her guardian.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
The sun never rises here, and there are few places safe to land, making this former prison planet a dangerous part of the pilgrimmage. Although prisoners are no longer sent here, the children and grandchildren of the most dangerous criminals in history linger here, preying on pilgrims and lost voyagers. With the rampant crime and decline of the Church, no one is willing to reform the planet and install basic infrastructure. Therefore, reaching the shrine is a half-a-day's journey from the landing site of ambushes and danger.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
After staying low and listening for strangers, Van pushed onward, gun ready to shoot. He had made this pilgrimmage twice before, and he knows the way well enough, even in the anonymizing darkness. Just another quarter mile and they will arrive. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
***}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Hello, traveller -"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
The tall, manilla man stood in the field, motionless. Van and Chandra approached, intrigued by his presence in this secret place. The nearer they drew, the more clearly Chandra could see his long, handsome features. She immediately recognized her rescuer in his cool demeanor. As he turned toward them, relinquishing interest in his notebook, Chandra saw the spiny protrusions, smooth, brown, and venomous. She realized a second thing about him:}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"--he's not human."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Van gave her an extinguishing side eye before studying the figure. His garb is worn leather, clearly the scars of battle. His face is solemn and honest, and he stands barefoot in accordance with the holiness of the site. He relaxed a degree, less convinced he had encountered a looter or bandit. He might even be able to help them.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
The figure glanced over Van, aware of the pistol at his hip, and studied Chandra closely. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Prophetess?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Y-yes?" Chandra straightened up. The first time she heard his voice and the first time she spoke to him.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
They held eye contact briefly, but Chandra could learn nothing from his unwavering almond-shaped eyes. The rush-colored cheeks, thin brown lips, interesting thorns and barbs, the sandy hair...she felt uncomfortable meeting the eye of such an exotic individual. His clothes were made of foreign leathers and suedes, dyed in natural shades. She stammered.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"We are on a Pilgrimmage. Are you here to honor Saint Rigel, Brother?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Yes," he returned his notebook to his pocket. "But I must be on my way. Be safe on your journey, Prophetess."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Yes-s," Chandra parroted. "You, too."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
He held contact with her before sharply breaking it and disappearing into the wilderness. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Van looked at Chandra quizzically. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Interesting fellow. Not many take the pilgrimmage who aren't directly employed by the Church. There are still clingers-onto the faith, but they are few and easily intimidated by the danger and cost of the route. And he apparently takes it alone."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Chandra half-listened, a little bothered by the memory of his dark, clear eyes and smooth voice.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"What are you getting at, Van?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Nothing, girl," he yawned and motioned forward. "It's been a long day. Let's go ahead and pray."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
***}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
/* Yuna dances, goes through puzzle shrines, gets a new aeon each time. Oblivion MC collects artifacts from each shrine and gains holiness and eventually can meet ghosts and become a divine crusader. What could be the special thing about each stop? *\\}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
They reached the tablet reading out the summary of St. Rigel, who was exiled to this jungle prison planet for his faith but started a church while in prison that grew to rival the size of the prison itself. This spot marked where the first church meetings were held a secluded courtland. A ruthless criminal was sent to the planet and killed St. Rigel to prove he was tough. His congregation split, half willing to turn the other cheek, the other ready to war. The moral is to serve where you are.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Van read it aloud to Chandra, and the traveller corrected him.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"The moral is the fickleness of the faith of seeds scattered on hard ground. Nothing stayed here. It became a brutal world not long after, ruled by the strongest, wildest criminals. His work is nowhere to be seen. His church is dust, and his people are dead. Even the wardens have found a new planet for their prison colony, so even his detractors are gone and unable to provide a bad view of him. The Church placed this here to soften the public opinion on their moves to reform prison."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
/* Space Israel controls the Catholic Church which is used to do evil things like pol's ideas about Jews and Israel and stuff. America exists, too. *\\}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Chandra blushed at his challenge on the Church's integrity, but Van replied even-toned.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"He never lost faith, even at his dying breath. He brought hope and reform under impossible circumstances. He didn't change the universe across time and space - he changed the people around him. He did everything that was asked of him. Regardless of who was using his memory at the time to leverage political power, he has remained a part of the pilgrimmage to inspire similar behavior in us today."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Fair enough. Have you traveled far with just one guard?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
The question was directed at Chandra this time, his dark almond eyes given a mystic quality when illuminated by the votive light.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Well, yes. Thank you for saving me before."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"It's too dangerous to rely on strangers. Please allow me to join you."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"--Join?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Chandra looked to Van who seemed to be in agreement with the figure.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"I'm Van and this is Chandra. What's your name?" He asked as he extended his hand to shake.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af5\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1041\f5\loch
|
||||||
|
"}{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Colt," he replied, bowing slightly. Van retracted his hand awkwardly.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"We receive a meager stipend from the Church for carrying out its duties, but we are mostly mercenaries, carrying out small tasks for locals to scrape by. We have a modest lifestyle. We just began our once-every-seven-years pilgrimmage and will be traveling all over the Solar System, spending little time at each stop. If you wish to join us, we'll gladly accept you. Of course you can leave whenever you like. But, I have to ask why you would join us."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"My conscious couldn't leave me alone if I let one man guard a prophetess. I have no one left to return to and nowhere left to go, so I'll let you determine my next journey.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
/* Colt is a prisoner or a descendent, looking to escape. *\\}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
/* Each stop is still in our solar system, but there are colonies on the different planets, moons, asteroids, comets, the sun, etc. Each body has its own diverse, rich culture. Power struggles, esp. religious. Different races' homeworlds and from neighboring stars. *\\}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Welcome aboard, Colt."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Van telephoned his pilot to let them know approximately when and where to pick them up. "And we'll be bringing on a new member...Yes, the strangest places indeed...Just be ready when we are...Yes, see you soon, thanks."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Although Van knew the way well, Colt was far better at stealth and shortcuts. They evaded enemies without alerting anyone to their presence, slipping through the brushes and tall grass with relative ease and mutual silence. When they reached the plains, Van took over and communicated the pickup with Faber. The ship dipped down, they stepped through the intermediary area, allowing for a cleansing ray, and stepped into the ship.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Welcome to the Prodigal, Colt," Chandra smiled.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
The doors opened from the cockpit, and a slightly overweight man with warm rusty hair hopped out.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"So, who am I meeting?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"This is our pilot, Faber," Van introduced him. "He was my pilot during the Israeli-Martian war. He's top-notch and the sort of person to trust your life to."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"You are a veteran and have such terrible control of your pistol?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"--a reporter, actually. And Chandra, I care for like a big brother. I took her in three years ago. Just as you said, she's a prophetess for the Intergalactic Jupiteran Catholic Church and works with women and children ministries. I support her best I can. We're a team," he smiled and patted Chandra on the back.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
/* Runaway Catholic Princess? *\\}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Faber, this is Colt. We were ambushed and separated on our way to the shrine, but Colt rescued me. Van called him an angel for what he did."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Faber cooed. "Is that so? Then anything you need, I'll do my best to help you. Chandra is precious to us."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Colt shook his head.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Really, no praise. I'm a vagabond without a home. If you can give my life some purpose, that's thanks enough."}{\loch
|
||||||
|
\line }{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Sounds a lot like Van and me, then. I don't know what we'd do without Chandra."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Colt looked down at little Chandra. She blushed and looked at her feet. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"Stop it, you're all so embarrassing."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
## 2}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
They settled onto the ship and showed Colt his chambers. }
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"We were given this ship and were tasked to assemble a crew, so we have more rooms than we need right now," Van explained to Colt in the hallway while Chandra flushedly removed her baubles from the spare room. "I guess Chandra was using this one as a hideout." Chandra gave an embarrassed look over her shoulder as she finished clearing the room. "It's not dirty, just a little messy. She keeps her areas neat." Colt listened bemusedly, which made Chandra blush harder. Once her collection was removed, she disappeared. "Go ahead and check it out."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Van stepped in after Colt who was gazing over everything with appreciation.}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"It's very nice. I haven't done anything, and you'll let me stay here? What must I do?"}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"You saved her! If you promise to protect Chandra, that's enough to let you stay. You've met the whole crew. We're tiny and need your help. Chandra wakes up early to cook us breakfast and does most of the chores. Faber is able to repair most things that go wrong, either computers or engines. I do most of the mercenary work to help keep us afloat between stipends. I'd appreciate it if you help where your talents lie, but another guard for Chandra would be an immeasurable weight off my shoulders."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"You're so generous--! Of course I'll find where I'm useful. Thank you."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
"If you need anything, ask me. I'm the commander, so as a member of my crew, you're my responsibility. Understand that?--Good. I'll let you have time to yourself and check on the others."}
|
||||||
|
\par \pard\plain \s0\rtlch\af8\afs24\alang1081 \ltrch\lang1033\langfe2052\hich\af3\loch\nowidctlpar\hyphpar0\ltrpar\cf0\f3\fs24\lang1033\kerning1\dbch\af10\langfe2052\sl0\slmult0\ql\sb0\sa150\ltrpar{\hich\af6\loch\cf17\fs24\lang1033\f6\loch
|
||||||
|
Van slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. }
|
||||||
|
\par }
|
||||||
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Unadded Characters (yeah, it's a lot)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Emily
|
||||||
|
Will
|
||||||
|
Moonstone
|
||||||
|
Lewis
|
||||||
|
Futura
|
||||||
|
Ember
|
||||||
|
Brandyn
|
||||||
|
Window
|
||||||
|
Freefall
|
||||||
|
Trace
|
||||||
|
Traveler
|
||||||
|
Chandra
|
||||||
|
Van
|
||||||
|
Cassarah
|
||||||
|
Chandrakant
|
||||||
|
Funwa
|
||||||
|
Katherine
|
||||||
|
Master
|
||||||
|
Foolish
|
||||||
|
Wasp
|
||||||
|
Freya
|
||||||
|
Theodosia
|
||||||
|
Leslie
|
||||||
|
Ryada
|
||||||
|
Heather
|
||||||
|
Erdadottir
|
||||||
|
Cymbele
|
||||||
|
Silverhome
|
||||||
|
Pharisee
|
||||||
|
Chimchooree
|
||||||
|
Tove
|
||||||
|
Trophime
|
||||||
|
Hiddleston
|
||||||
|
Aristene
|
||||||
|
Gundruna
|
||||||
|
Nordicaa
|
||||||
|
Marni
|
||||||
|
Badlands
|
||||||
|
Lune Marine
|
||||||
|
Una
|
||||||
|
Crewe
|
||||||
|
Chives
|
||||||
|
Thyme
|
||||||
|
Kitty-Kitty
|
||||||
|
Claudette
|
||||||
|
Dreemi-Loreen
|
||||||
|
Judah
|
||||||
|
Mouse
|
||||||
|
Tarquin
|
||||||
|
Dorothea
|
||||||
|
Holofernes
|
||||||
|
Judith
|
||||||
|
Mudskipper
|
||||||
|
Honor
|
||||||
|
Trescha
|
||||||
|
Fifi
|
||||||
|
Aloin
|
||||||
|
Rodolphe
|
||||||
|
Tilmo
|
||||||
|
Coye
|
||||||
|
Nephele
|
||||||
|
Silverhome
|
||||||
|
Sand
|
||||||
|
Dagmar
|
||||||
|
Havelock
|
||||||
|
Juno
|
||||||
|
Heath
|
||||||
|
Lise
|
||||||
|
Ephron
|
||||||
|
Feodora
|
||||||
|
Helia
|
||||||
|
Rune
|
||||||
|
Chloe
|
||||||
|
Angel
|
||||||
|
Tessa
|
||||||
|
Night
|
||||||
|
Aries
|
||||||
|
Milo
|
||||||
|
Lotus
|
||||||
|
Fickle
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
|
|||||||
|
Light Armor
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Alchemist
|
||||||
|
Chanter
|
||||||
|
Cultist
|
||||||
|
Doll Master - control dolls
|
||||||
|
Illusionist
|
||||||
|
Mimic
|
||||||
|
Tarot Mage -
|
||||||
|
Troubadour - support, music
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Medium Armor
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Assassin - covert, single target, teleport
|
||||||
|
Twin Blade
|
||||||
|
Slayer - specialized attacks against specific targets and types
|
||||||
|
Hexblade
|
||||||
|
Spellsword
|
||||||
|
Tamer - tame pet, control pet,
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Heavy Armor
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Cleric -
|
||||||
|
Lightbringer
|
||||||
|
Magic Knight
|
||||||
|
Juggernaut - really slow and powerful
|
||||||
|
Swordsman
|
||||||
Loading…
Reference in New Issue