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That One NPC

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  1. That One NPC
    So in the plot of the 8th and final story, to boil it down, Hades invokes his last right, having the armies of Gallik Baal'a declare war on the rest of the world whilst he awaits his prize, the FInal Reckoning. The people of Gallik Baal'a are the descendants of mortals of various races (Black Mages not included) who were directly manipulated by Hades. Long ago, when Hades forged his legendary 6 relics and bestowed them upon mortals, they swore a binding oath to him and his last right, the right to fight for his cause and existence.
     
    The prize he awaits, is his shot at the one who has kept him imprisoned for thousands of years; Bahamut.
     
    I had planned a scene where Kierkess Aventola and Seto meet for the Final Reckoning. Kierkess summons Hades, arrogantly and maliciously spiking Wedge's spear in the ground before him, but when Seto reluctantly summons Bahamut, something special happens. Seto actually shares a brief communion with Bahamut himself. The god takes the form of a Dragoon ancestor (I had always liked the idea of his appearance being based on Hironobu Sakaguchi) to make it easier for him to process and participate in the conversation. They talk about a few things, mainly about how Seto is unsure if Ana would want him to fight at all. Bahamut tells him Ana would want him to defend what they had built; her ideals. Seto tells him he is afraid of what will happen if Hades kills him, and Bahamut tells him that even if Hades put an end to his physical form, he would exist in spirit forever. He continues, telling him (more or less) that he mustn't be a slave to his fear of what ifs anymore.
     
    Seto had already received closure surrounding Ana when he met her in her Knights of Round form, but the Bahamut scene to me was essential to the history of his people going back to the first story. I felt like the conversation with Bahamut (the parts not mentioned here, when Seto asks him questions about what he is, what the 'summons' are, who his people are, etc), were very important and what he really needed at this point in his journey, as the Chief of Dragoon people, a husband and father.
     
     
    But now, as I sit here refining the plot outline, I'm wondering if I should keep that in, or take it out.
     
     
    Thoughts on this???
  2. That One NPC
    This is a very skimpy, poorly written and organized summary of the plot to the first set of stories. Part of the challenge was figuring out how to fit all of this into game format without breaking it up into a few titles (YUCK! -.-'). I'm dropping it here because no one looks at my blog, and I'm overly nervous and antsy about getting content off of that older site and over here for safe keeping. I don't even trust my own google docs to not lose data anymore. It's all about redundancy.
     
    I will edit these soon, and try not to let it spoil anything for you if you find it interesting. You don't have to read all the way to end yet.
     
    Note:
     
     
     
     
    Final Fantasy I

    Zenobia is a massive, technologically advanced desert metropolis. An empire seeking to conquer and erase the old world. Using their far superior technology they sweep the vast continent committing genocide, establishing new Zenobian cities atop the ruins and corpses. The desert city is divided in two. The core of the city is awe inspiring. Buildings that tower into the sky. Wealth and luxury for every man and woman. Highly advanced technology engrained into daily life. Outside the core, beyond the walls and defenses, the people of the slums suffer in poverty and oppression, living in crudely built structures under horrible conditions.

    Anastasia Maria Grace is a resident of the slums. She is an everyday twenty-three year old girl who believes so strongly in the ideals of equality, freedom, and world peace that she is willing to stand against an entity so powerful that any hope of a world free of it has been lost. She and three of her friends (Jin, Willow, Kato) plan an attack on Zenobia Prime HQ, a technology corporation owned by Prince Sarovoc Ducrinus and the sole provider of energy to the entire city. The plan fails and Ana's friends are killed by the faulty explosive timers. She is rescued by a mysterious outsider who calls himself Edge. He parts ways to protect her (as he is being hunted by Zenobian troops), instructing her to meet him at Odessa Inn. With her best friends dead she goes to the only place she can think of. Stryker is ex-Zenobian Special Forces, the owner/operator of*"Rebel Radio", and mentor to Jin. He volunteers to escort her to Odessa.

    Leaving Zenobia for the very first time, Ana accidentally embarks on an epic journey that takes her across the world to crusade against the Zenobian Empire.

    She meets Juakeem Mohinder, a bedouin warrior and chocobo breeder, and his war bird Shae'elle. He gives her a young, unremarkable chocobo named Boko who is determined to become a worthy war bird.

    The group meets Edge and Commander Bastian Fairheart at Odessa Inn. The Inn is a front for a rebel base located beneath the ground. The base is compromised by Zenobian forces and Bastian leads the group out of the desert and into the wilderness. Along their journey they meet Casius Magnus, a nomadic Black Mage who saved Ana from capture back on the road to Odessa. They also meet Lillian Nobunaga, a Swordstress, traveling warrior and the last of her ancient race.

    When they reach the coast, they meet Cideon Armstrong, Captain of the Free Airship Valiant and his nephews Biggs and Wedge. Cid reluctantly grants them sanctuary aboard his ship. Ana inspires Cid to stop hiding underwater instead of living and fighting

    While helping rebel forces defend a city from Zenobian assault, the group has an encounter with Marrick Cross, a White Mage and exiled Paladin of Whiteguard. They also square off with the Agents of the Chimera Initiative. Victor Chimera, ex-Zenobian Special Forces, ex-Imperial Operative, and war hero. Leo and Lyra Stratta, lethal killing machines trained by the legendary brute Hogo Marks. Tallis "Tank" Cortez, heavy weapons and demolition expert. Callixta "Raven" Ravana, deadly sniper and ace pilot. Marrick attempts to commandeer the Valiant, but is thwarted by the crew. The Zenobian attack fails.

    Bastian (through his belief in Ana's ability to inspire otherwise defeated men) suggests that she be taken to Tessafe's Mirror of Fate. A standing mirror with decorative silver framework said to have belonged to Queen Tessafe of Whiteguard. This mystical, enchanted mirror shows any who gaze into it an image of importance. What it shows you varies, and it's not always easy to understand.

    One by one the group enters the temple to behold the mirror's message.

    (In order, identifying what they saw, and whether it was shown or later revealed)

    Biggs (shown): A man in a white mask (Leo Stratta and the man who kills him. He did not encounter Leo at the previous battle, so he does not recognize him)

    Wedge (revealed): A knight clad in black armour holding a bloody sword (Kierkess Aventola, and the man who kills him in VIII)

     Seto (shown): A Dragon's eye opening (the awakening of Bahamut)

     Lilly (revealed): A flaming bird (Phoenix)

    Bastian (revealed): A soaring white dove (symbolizing Ana, freedom, and hope)

    Stryker (revealed): Ana

    Casius (revealed): Ana

    Ana (revealed): It shows her key fragments of future events taking place within the stories.
     
     
     
    Final Fantasy II
     
    Prince Sarovoc Ducrinus assassinates his own brother in order to take the throne as Emperor of Zenobia.

    Ana emerges from the temple after hours of the group waiting. The journey continues as Ana drags Cid across the globe, spreading her message and ideals.

    The Valiant visits the eastern plains of Turra where Zenobia is burning villages and temples to the ground as they expand into the territory. They meet Banion Warbear, a warrior Monk and hero of Turra. Together they drive Zenobia from the lands of Turra. Banion agrees to travel with Ana in order to learn more about his enemy.

    Stryker confronts Edge about using the name Edge Widowmaker telling him he knew the man and he was older than Stryker is. Edge reveals his true identity to be Seto Bobaloo Sobral. He assumed the name and persona after witnessing the ex-Zeno soldier die in a gunfight in the slums of Zenobia.

    Marrick Cross springs himself from the Valiant's holding cells, determined to commandeer the ship and kill its charming Captain. When he is clearly outgunned and outnumbered, he surrenders. As he is being escorted to cells, he levels with Cid about why he wants his ship so much. He has a tip about a Zenobian plan to take the city of Kiratoma, one of the largest rebel holds in the world. He is trying to reach the city before it falls. Cid locks him up and heads for Kiratoma. When this plan is confirmed, Marrick is released under a close watch.

    The men of Kiratoma are defeated, tired, scared and pissed off. They see no point in fighting an impossible battle. Command struggles to keep morale at a reasonable level. The majority of the soldiers are pushing for a surrender. Stryker dresses Ana in full combat gear, as if she were actually going to fight. He marches a terrified Ana past hundreds of soldiers. The point is a strong one: If you cowards won't fight, the women and children will, because someone has to defend this city.

    His plan works, and only a few hundred of thousands refuse to fight. With the help of the heroes, Kiratoma is barely defended for the moment and Marrick has become an ally of the group.

    Zenobian forces muster again as reinforcements arrive on both sides. The second battle is brutal and rebel forces have no choice but to retreat or die. But not before Stryker shoots Leo in the shoulder with a pistol, dropping him instantly. The group escapes to The Valiant, but Casius has chosen to stay behind and fight the pursuing troops. Ana and Seto strongly protest leaving him but Cid makes a tough call, assuring them he can handle himself.

    Using his native martial art combined with fire and ice magic, he begins to fend off the soldiers, casting reflect to neutralize their bullets. But more and more soldiers pile into the clearing...
     
     
     
    Final Fantasy III
     
    The group has taken on refugees from the Kiratoma Army and must take them to Andora, the Rebel Capitol.

    Cid and Stryker confront Marrick about his White Mage heritage, the reason he wanted to defend Kiratoma being that it's dense, harsh territory was the last defense between Zenobian lines and Whiteguard territory. Marrick is honest about his being born a Paladin of Whiteguard, devoting his life to the crown and being exiled by the Arch Mage for falling in love with his granddaughter. Stryker confesses to Cid and Marrick that he used to be Special Forces, army before that. Devoted his life to helping slaughter the people he's trying to help now. Cid accepts them both as them men they are today.

    Andora brings a new hope. Several outlying pro-Andora Nations have mustered their armies and are preparing to attack a Zenobian fortress alongside Andorans. They capture the fortress. During the battle a mysterious man (Havyian Solaris) saves Seto's life, disappearing afterward. Casius arrives during the battle (he was told to go to Andora as the group was leaving).

    But Sarovoc Ducrinus approaches from above with Callixta in a helicopter. He takes careful aim with Raven's long range rifle. Seto sees the chopper and moves to reach Ana, yelling her name. A mysterious man (Simeon Ortega) grapples his torso, holding him back. Sarovoc pulls the trigger and a high powered round rips through Ana's chest killing her instantly. The rebel heroine and domestic terrorist is dead...

    The group looks on helplessly and in horror. Seto rushes to her side. As this intense, profound emotional maelstrom ignites within Seto, a void of energy forms high above him. A massive sapphire dragon emerges head-first, rotating as it comes forth before extending his wings. Bahamut!

    Callixta and Sarovoc hightail it out of there, narrowly dodging Tri Flare attacks from the forgotten Deity. He looms in the sky, circling around and around as Seto holds Ana's body in his arms.
    The group captures the mysterious man.

    By now Ana has travelled across the world, meeting and inspiring hundreds of thousands of lives. She taught people that strength isn't determined by one's skill with a blade, but by the quality of their character. She also started a world-wide feminine movement, inspiring millions of women and girls to be what they want to be, not what's expected of them.
     
     
     
    Final Fantasy IV
     
    A moving funeral is held for Ana at the Mana Tree (a place the group visited together, and where Ana made everyone promise to keep fighting, always, no matter what happens) where she wanted to be buried when she died. Hundreds of rebel vessels and thousands of pilgrims attend the emotional ceremony.

    Distant, emotionally void and still covered in Ana's blood, Seto heads home. The group reluctantly follows him deep into the wilderness (after bringing him aboard The Valiant when he collapsed in the wilderness). When they arrive, they are met by Henato Junior, eldest brother of Seto. His father (Henato Senior) tells him that the essence of Bahamut resides in the sapphire pendant around his neck. When he ran away at fifteen, he missed out of his right of passage as a Dragoon prince when he would have been told this and taught how to command him. Henato Senior tells the group that there are other forces in the world similar to Bahamut.

    Seto makes it clear to his family that his guests are no longer welcome and the group is forced to leave.

    Meanwhile, the arrival of Bahamut has Sarovoc researching this phenomena, and Leo is healed up from his wound.

    Without Ana, the group falls apart. Casius returns to his travels. Banion returns to his people, Bastian has long since left, Juakeem and Shae'elle have returned to the Zenobian desert. Having nowhere to go, Marrick and Lilly remain with Cid, Stryker, Biggs, and Wedge. There is a lot of personal struggle and grieving. Characters swapping memories and stories.

    *Simeon Ortega**is interrogated extensively but he reveals nothing. Only that the other mystery man is the real bad guy, despite what it all may look like.

    They decide to gut up and get back to fighting the Empire. They plan an attack on a Zenobian outpost with some rebel forces. The plan fails and as a sniper, Stryker reluctantly escapes after watching the team captured through the crosshairs of his empty rifle. Marrick unloads both pistols three times before throwing them down and surrendering. The Valiant is ceased and it's crew jailed along with the group.
     
     
     
    Final Fantasy V
     
    Lyra Stratta and a company of Special Forces soldiers close in on a frosty stone altar. Lyra closes her eyes, touching the cold surface slowly. She comes out of the remote temple eager to test her new prize. She summons Shiva, the beautiful Goddess of ice, and in a fit of rage and grief, she kills everyone but Lyra using Diamond Dust. (This stems back to the Great War when the Gods were still free)

    Cid, Biggs, Wedge, Lilly, and Marrick are in a Zenobian prison.

    Stryker travels far and wide searching for Casius. He gets him up to speed, and they head directly for Sobral territory. They manage to be taken prisoner and Seto speaks to them. Stryker tells him the gang is locked up and Seto begins preparing for the journey.

    He talks to his father, and brothers Henato and Sedato. He tells them everything. That an entity so evil that they would destroy everything to rebuild in their own image threatens the lives of every free man the world over, and he must leave again to fight it. His father is moved to tears, telling Seto he is proud of him. Seto is the runt, he always lived in the shadow of Henato, a hero of the tribe, and Sedato, now a hero to. Henato Sr. loves all of his sons, but he recognized that Seto is special from birth, that's why he has Bahamut. Even though Neo and ZERO are more powerful, Bahamut is the father of all Gods, the one true God. It's been the duty and destiny of his kin to protect the world and long have they neglected it.

    They free their friends (and a lot of rebel soldiers and Andoran civilians) with the help of local rebel factions. Casius goes 0 to 100 particularly quick and with considerable force. He leaves a trail of victims through the prison. He finds Boko, who has been chained and beaten but he is freed after Casius kills his tormentors. The Valiant is located and taken back.

    The Time Mage Elder Kirin visits Seto aboard The Valiant. He tells him he must release Ortega immediately, speaks to him about the Gods, and tips him off about the location of Ifrit.

    The gang arrives at the cave and Leo has been perched like a predator staking for prey. He squares off with Wedge (two spear enthusiasts). Casius has hung back to make sure Wedge is alright, and he can see that Leo is toying with him like a cat with a mouse pinned to the floor. He interferes, disarming Leo, breaking his nose, left wrist, and right arm at the elbow before throwing him over a cliff into water below.

    The group retrieves Ifrit and Phoenix successfully. Meanwhile Members of the Chimera Initiative recover Siren and Leviathan.

    While searching for the resting place of Titan, the group encounters a behemoth and together they kill the beast in an intense battle. Everyone survives but Casius is worn out and beat up. (Titan and Golem are retrieved)

    Seto heads for Gallik Baal'a, a small continent to the far north (a place Ana made him promise not to go before she died) to search a legendary cursed shrine.

    Stryker has Cid head for Juakeem and Shae'elle, and Banion afterward. Stryker brings the rest of the group together again.
     
     
    Final Fantasy VI

    Seto searches an ancient ruin with a torch, coming upon an ebony skull in a pool of water. He recovers Diablos and Doomtrain.

    The gang encounter the Chimera Initiative in an ancient temple compound and fight there way out with Sylph and Typhoon.

    The gang reunites with Seto. Elder Kirin summons him by teleporting him to Mount Ramuh in front of the members of his high council. The oldest and most powerful of Time Mages; thousands of years old. His back is to them with Kirin before him. He cannot see or hear them, but he can feel their eyes on him, their presence and judgement. It brings him to tears, dropping to his knees. Kirin tells him the recently acquired deities are dangerous and must be returned to Gallik Baal'a immediately. He takes him to a secluded area of the wilderness, comforting him, but telling him that the Time Stream was broken by a curious young Time Mage after reading a book from the library of world culture and history. He stole a very specific ring and used it to travel back in time in an attempt to change the course of events. He saved Seto's life, hoping he would save Ana's. A man was sent to capture him and return him to his own place the Time Stream. During the process, he stopped Seto from potentially altering the natural course of events. He gives him eight enchanted rings that cast protect on their wearer. He asks him what he thinks the Mirror showed Ana. Why she changed from that moment forward. Seto begins to put all the little clues together. Kirin says simply, "Keep fighting," and tells him to find The Tomb of Alexander.

    Seto is returned to the group and he emotionally reveals to the group that the Mirror showed Ana the future, even after her death. They gather to deal with the summons; who will be charged with what deities.

    Leo has uncovered Cerberus and unleashes it on a village of fisherman.

    Tybin and Sabin Marks are hired by Sarovoc to deal with Cid and his band of misfit strays. Sabin Marks shoots The Valiant out of the sky. Leo unleashes Cerberus and engages himself. His hellhound devours crew members as they evacuate the grounded vessel and Biggs engages Leo having Titan occupy Cerberus. Leo kills Biggs, mutilating and disgracing his corpse, kicking it around. Using wind magic from Sylph and Typhoon and his Qiang training, Wedge clashes with Leo in a heated duel. The heroes gain control and drive off the Initiative and the Marks brothers.

    Reinforcements arrive and the ship is fixed up. Biggs is buried next to Ana at the Mana Tree.

    The group heads for The Tomb of Alexander. But Seto rushes ahead of the party while they take twenty to prepare. While entering the musty stairwell he is ambushed by Sarovoc and shot three times in the torso. Priestess Talla has had a vision of Sarovoc obtaining Alexander & Crusader, and through it, Seto's death. She rushes by chocobo to his aid, reviving him before it's too late.

    Zenobia invades Whiteguard with force. Sarovoc marches into the High Temple and cuts Talla's throat when she tells him that Seto will come for him.

    Marrick betrays the gang, snatching Seto's pendant and Bahamut along with it. He's cut a deal with Sarovoc to spare his people.
     
     
     
    Final Fantasy VII
     
    Marrick serves Sarovoc in attempting to use Bahamut to create a weapon capable of protecting Zenobia from the Gods by killing them. The pendant remains useless to them and Sarovoc grows angry with Marrick.

    Kirin once again visits Seto aboard the Valiant. He tells him of one who may be able to defeat Alexander. Odin and Gilgamesh become the group's next move. He also gives him Shoat, an odd Lesser Diety giving him access to low level Time Magic.

    At High Rock Plateau, the group retrieves Odin & Gilgamesh and Lilly squares off with Leo, telling Cid to go and meet her at a nearby rebel base. She kills Leo in a fierce, intense battle. As he lays bleeding out, she hesitantly removes his mask revealing a baby faced young man. A single tear rolls down his cheek and she realizes they were not so different. The last of their kind, victims of Zenobia.

    Seto forces Cid to go back for Lilly.

    When Lyra finds out Leo was killed, she goes on a war path.

    She hunts the heroes down at a rebel base, and Zenobians hit it hard. Lyra faces off with Lilly in a blind rage, shooting her in the stomach before using her scimitar to have fun with her. Lilly digs deep and kills Lyra, freeing her from her torment, and putting an end to the Shinjan race.

    Sarovoc uses Alexander to influence the people of Whiteguard, claiming to be a child of the Gods and their chosen ruler. He aims to ensure the easy allegiance of Whiteguard to Zenobia and the Ducrinus name forever. Marrick discovers this and tries to kill Sarovoc. He fails and Sarovoc kills him.

    A movement begins to muster forces from around the world to attack the city of Zenobia. Banion gathers warrior monks by the hundreds. Juakeem summons his brethren and their war birds. Bastian and the resistance amass the largest rebel force ever assembled. Men and women from all corners of the world answer the call. Casius Magnus returns to The Veldt and does his best to sway the council, but they send him away, refusing to involve themselves. Word spreads and a group of several hundred follow Casius, becoming exiles to fight the Empire.

    The forces muster around Zenobia. Casius leads a preemptive strike with a savage blitz. He summons Doomtrain, which runs through Zenobia repeatedly, leaving devastation and rusted railroad tracks in its wake. He summons a flurry of meteors that ravage the core of the metropolis. Ifrit scorches hundreds of men, cooking them alive as Casius and his warriors unleash upon the masses. Casius casts himself dry, his reflect spell falling as hundreds of bullets rip through him...

    The organized forces stand in anticipation, watching the show from afar. Sarovoc is enraged by the devastation and unleashes his summons upon the opposing masses. The heroes respond and the rebel forces charge the Zenobian lines. A titanic duel of Gods is unfolding in the sand around, sky above, and in the streets of Zenobia as an epic, bloody conflict plays out in the sands outside the city.

    Seto rides Boko into the battle alongside Juakeem and Shae'elle. Sarovoc releases Alexander upon the rebel soldiers. He obliterates masses of men before Seto sends Gilgamesh to keep him busy. An epic fight ensues between the two. Seto finds Sarovoc and squares off with him. He kills him, ending the fight between Alexander and Gilgamesh before either would claim victory.

    Far away in the wilderness of the Sobral territory, Henato Jr seeks advice from his father. He tells him that he holds a terrible responsibility. Fighting back tears, he tells him he will never know how sorry he is that it had to be him, but only he can summon Bahamut ZERO.

    Henato Jr is torn. He understands that Zenobia must be defeated, but he also understands the weight of what it will mean.

    As Sarovoc lays dying, the cloudy sky rips open as a massive onyx dragon penetrates the atmosphere. It hits the core of Zenobia with a Tetra Flare roughly equivalent to a 50 megaton nuclear warhead.Zenobia is levelled, only portions of the outermost slums left intact. Seto pulls his pendant from around Sarovoc's neck in the foggy aftermath. Zenobians lay down their arms as word of the unholy event spreads and soldiers return to behold the ruins of their Capitol.

    Advanced weapons of any kind are outlawed and destroyed all over Zenobia's reach and rebel holds and cultures. Universal peace is an ideal adopted by the major nations and enforced harshly. New Zenobia is established out of the ruins, and a new government and ideology based on Ana's beliefs is adopted. Stryker is pivotal in the rebuilding of Zenobia, and afterward travels the world spreading Ana's messages as he writes a book titled The Epic of Anastasia chronicling her journey and the resulting revolution and defeat of the Empire. He becomes an ambassador of peace, equality, and New Zenobia.

    Casius and Marrick are buried with Ana and Biggs at the Mana Tree...
     
     
  3. That One NPC
    FAE is one of the better stories I've ever created, in my personal opinion. It is now in it's fifth year of development, but I have done almost no work on it in the last two years aside from trying to finish the first volume on a few different occasions. It all started in 2016 when I began to watch Stranger Things for the first time. It left a huge welt of inspiration and muse across my face and I had no earthy idea what to do with it. This was very new to me, very refreshing and exhilarating, but still new. I wasn't accustomed to writing pre-teens, or even teens as main characters of any kind in most of my role plays, let alone my solo projects. It brought me back to Earthbound in a way that really resonated with me. Then you toss in elements of controlled cosmic horror?
     

     
     
    So I came up with a little something different using some of the themes and influences that had inspired me.
     
     
    FAE is a story about a town, the families that live there, and the knots their destinies form over generations. It's also a tale of two worlds apart. The Realm of Terra, and the Realm of Fae. One world young and dying but brimming with potential. One world ancient and decayed. But most importantly, it's the story of a being caught between those worlds, and the beings who stranded him there. FAE starts off in 2020, in the quiet, unremarkable town of White River Valley. It follows the lives of several local families living ordinary, boring American lives free from compelling drama or super powers. But like an iceberg afloat in the ocean, a mountain of history and lore hides just beneath the surface.
     
     
    History of Fae
     
    Ruled by the Prime Fae of the three houses Order, Wisdom, and Chaos, the Realm of Fae was a majestic world much like our own. It was a planet teeming with Fae cultures and nations. At the center of those cultures was Yaggdrasil. The Tree of Life. A towering, enchanted tree resembling an American sycamore with leaves the size of a trampoline canvas. The tree is revered as a deity-like figure, and the source of all lifeforce. It is known by the Primes that Yaggdrasil is a conduit between the realms. For eons the Realm of Fae was a happy, healthy, stable realm, but the conflict between Order and Chaos seemed inevitable.
     
    The flame and ruin of a Fae war ripped the realm to shreds, and the House of Chaos was emerging as the clear victor. The Primes of Order and Wisdom so feared the Prime of Chaos they devised a way to exile him through Yaggdrasil into the Realm of Terra.
     
    Even after the war subsides, Yaggdrasil is decaying in the Realm of Fae. Fae no longer possess their gifts, and have become mortal. Capable of aging and dying, the entire population wither away, leaving only the Primes of Order and Wisdom. Before this process is complete, remaining Fae embark on a pilgrimage through Yaggdrasil and into Terra, hoping to survive the death of their world by seeking asylum here.
     
    Inevitably, they are met by the Prime of Chaos, who has been trying to get back to his own Realm for over two thousand years. He has been playing God with a young Earth, creating war and chaos from one continent to another. Their conflict with him ends in his once again being tricked and cheated. They trapped him outside his prime vessel (body), and seal it away in a temple beneath the White River forest. This seal is performed by a Fae of Order, and only a descendant of their bloodline can break the seal. Without his prime vessel, he is like any other Fae and significantly less powerful.
     
    That takes us into the modern age.
     
     
     
  4. That One NPC
    This is a work in progress, so I'm going to be adding the other characters and fleshing out their profiles over time.
     
     
    Acosta

     
    Native Region: Andromeda Galaxy
    Occupation: Smuggler
    Class Concept: Ballistic expert 
    Primary Weapon: Firearms
    Age: 25
    Motives: Survive | Find a way out of the smuggler's life | Adapt to the planet she has crashed on
    Profile: Acosta is an interplanetary smuggler from the Angora star system who operates on her own, out of her small space ship. Her job requires hard work, lots of risk, and a clean conscience. It’s not easy for her deep down most days, but her exterior is like titanium. She makes her living trading weapons, medical supplies, food, and technology between planets and star systems. She leads a lonely life on the razor's edge. We find her on a space station in the middle of a financial quarrel with a crew of fellow smugglers. Acosta has an outstanding debt and it's finally caught up to her. Betrayed and set up by her current employer, she makes a hasty escape. Her foes give chase and just as a deep space dogfight is about to ensue, Acosta's ship is sucked into an anomalous void of energy. When she reemerges from the void, her tiny ship is cutting through the atmosphere of Terra, a small planet with cultures ranging from  late medieval,  to post-industrial, to post-modern. As her ship careens toward the surface, so too does a meteor of unknown origin. Distance between them is created during descent, but they both land in Hedoras Region, a quiet, post-industrial area of the Karakus Nation.
     
     
    Faris 

    Native Region: Hedoras
    Occupation: Unemployed
    Class Concept: Free Form
    Primary Weapon: Free Form
    Age: 22
    Motives: Find his path in life
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Jean

    Native Region: Hedoras
    Occupation: Unemployed
    Class Concept: Bowman
    Primary Weapon: Crossbow
    Age: 27
    Motives: Find work and money | Help Faris spread his fledgling wings
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Sierra Petrova

    Native Region: Karakus
    Occupation: Special Agent, Karakus Investigation Bureau
    Class Concept: Ballistic expert 
    Primary Weapon: Pistol
    Age: 30
    Motives: Figure out what happened in Hedoras Region | Protect her cousin, Sasha
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Edwin Nash

    Native Region: Karakus
    Occupation: Freelance Inspector
    Class Concept: Ballistic expert
    Primary Weapon: Pistol
    Age: 42
    Motives: Track down and arrest Vasher, a notorious criminal and murderer | Discover the mysteries behind Vasher's latest plan
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Goodwin Nash

    Native Region: Karakus
    Occupation: Businessman, Black Market dealer
    Class Concept: Fighter/item user
    Primary Weapon: Hand to hand
    Age: 47
    Motives: Maintain his wealth and power
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Colton Grady

    Native Region: Laughlin
    Occupation: Law Keeper
    Class Concept: Gunslinger
    Primary Weapon: Revolvers
    Age: 33
    Motives: Uphold the law in Laughlin Region
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Sasha Petrova

    Native Region: Karakus
    Occupation: Agent, Karakus Investigation Bureau
    Class Concept: Ballistic specialist
    Primary Weapon: Pistol
    Age: 23
    Motives: Improve her position in the agency | Make her cousin proud
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Luna Ta'Or

    Native Region: Midas
    Occupation: Princess
    Class Concept: Healer/Mage
    Primary Weapon: Magic
    Age: 21
    Motives: Protect her kingdom from the outside, modernized world
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Yashi

    Native Region: Sikage
    Occupation: Swordsmanship Instructor
    Class Concept: Samurai
    Primary Weapon: Katanas/hand to hand
    Age: 48
    Motives: Spread virtue and enlightenment | teach swordsmanship to a new generation of students | protect Sikage Region from all forgein threats
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Markus Vitelius

    Native Region: Meridia
    Occupation: Former Knight
    Class Concept: Warrior
    Primary Weapon: Longword
    Age: 28
    Motives: Rematch Percius and kill him
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Amilia Vitelius

    Native Region: Meridia
    Occupation: Cadet In Arms (Junior Knight)
    Class Concept: Tank
    Primary Weapon: Sword & Shield
    Age: 18
    Motives: Protect Meridia Region | Become a knight
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Rin Mortis
     
    Native Region: Underworld
    Occupation: Succubus
    Class Concept: Demon
    Primary Weapon: Magic 
    Age: Unknown
    Motives: Unknown
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Naomi 

    Native Region: Taros
    Occupation: Mercenary
    Class Concept: Spellblade
    Primary Weapon: Sword/Magic
    Age: 26
    Motives: Stop Percius from bringing ruin upon Taros in the name of his overlords
    Profile: WIP
     
     
     
    There are some main antagonists that have been developed so far.
     
     
    Percius Maximilian 

    Native Region: Taros
    Occupation: General
    Primary Weapon: Longsword 
    Age: 35
    Motives: Conquer Meridia Region | Pave the road for Taros to become a new world power
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Vasher

    Native Region: Karakus
    Occupation: Outlaw
    Primary Weapon: Firearms
    Age: 52
    Motives: ???
    Profile: WIP
     
     
     
    There are some recurring characters that will appear more than once, and provide some comic relief as well as some good plot-work each and every time.
     
     
    Mr. Pugsworth

    Native Region: Midas
    Occupation: Street urchin, con artist, Mayor of Midas City, Boss of Pugsworth Crime Family
    Age: 10
    Motives: Gain ultimate wealth and power
    Profile: WIP
     
    Randal

    Native Region: Perth
    Occupation: Con artist, Vice Mayor of Midas City, Pugsworth Crime Family Capo
    Age: 21
    Motives: Serve and protect Mr. Pugsworth | Disassociate from his brother, Randy
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    Randy

    Native Region: Perth
    Occupation: Grifter
    Age: 21
    Motives: Pull the ultimate grift and retire to Costa Del Vista Region
    Profile: WIP
     
     
    WIP

    Native Region: Tanis
    Occupation: Operative (Spy)
    Age: 32
    Motives: Unknown
    Profile: WIP
     
     
     
  5. That One NPC

    The Lore

    By That One NPC,

    Much of this has been boiled down and summarized to spare you the agony of long, winded explanations.
     
    THE LORE

     
    The first era (an era is 1000 years) of mortals was harmonious and productive. Civilizations were built and flourished. Cultures interacted, traded and learned from one another, coexisting peacefully through a time when this world was an idyllic paradise. Near the end of this era, infighting between Odinspawn nations began to erupt, resulting in a three-hundred year period of bloodshed and conflict that had been hardwired into their physical makeup by Odin himself. When the dust had settled and the bones had sank into the earth, only one mighty empire of Odinkin remained. But the centuries of expansion and bloodshed had left them with a taste for power and war.
     
    They set their sights on Whiteguard.
     
     
     
    The White War
     
     
    The White War was a long and brutal one. Whiteguard had superior warriors, leadership, equipment and tactics. Odinkin had the sheer force of numbers. Legions of warriors who believed that the worth of an individual could be decided only on the battlefield. War had become the focal point of their culture and spirituality. Despite never making much ground in the grand scheme of the war, Odinspawn would not yield, nor relent in their pursuit of victory. It wasn't long before the Bahamir came to the aid of Whiteguard, creating an alliance to crush the Odinkin foe, putting them back in their place. Feeling left out, Hades decided to directly interfere.
     
    In a shocking twist, Black Mages joined the battle, not as allies of Odinspawn, but enemies of Whiteguard and their Bahamir allies. This resulted in the equivalent of a World War, and mass destruction of the civilizations and relationships they built. Hades had interacted with mortals, commanding his Black Mage tribes to destroy Whiteguard, the Bahamir Dynasty, and then the world of Odinkin. This was the first transgression of the Pantheon, and Bahamut's heart was breaking as he watched his beloved creations fall into chaos.
     
    The war came to a climax with one crucial battle at the Plains of Turra. Each of the races amassed their forces for what would be the largest battle in the history of the White War. Aroused by the prospect of the destruction about to unfold, Hades joins the battle alongside his Black Mages. As the fight begins, Hades is raining down an unholy brand of death upon the battlefield. Feeling the loss of every White Mage, Alexander joins the fight, going head to head with Hades. Feeling as if it were only fair at this point, Odin, Sleipnir and Gilgamesh begin to do what they do best; make violence seem like an art form. It takes hold like a domino effect, and one by one deities join the battle (the Bahamuts, Ramuh, Shoat and Doomtrain not withstanding). When Bahamut has had enough, he steps in. And his wrath is absolute, however just.
     
    The cloudy sky rips open and Bahamut ZERO penetrates the atmosphere, hitting the battlefield with a Tetra Flare, killing the armies of all involved parties. Only the soldiers present. Only the soldiers carrying the torch of that war. Only those actively committing the bloodshed. 
     
    Every deity, including the Bahamuts, were sealed in a state it's hard to really explain, but I call it an 'Essence.' They exist, but are frozen in time so that they cannot think, act or use magic until a mortal possessing their Essence 'summons' them. At which point, said mortal individual can command their will. The deity knows what you want it to do, you don't even have to speak. An Essence must exist in either an object crafted by a mortal, or a humanoid mortal being. It is impossible to destroy the essence of a deity.
     
    Bahamut placed the deities in objects in the possession of the Bahamir Dynasty. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The Fall of The Bahamir Dynasty
     
     
    In the era following the White War, chaos would once again take hold on mortals. Struggling to understand what had happened, and mourning their fallen, there was a brief time of peace for contemplation. When Bahamir diplomats traveled abroad to inform world leaders of the artifacts they now possessed, war over the prospect of obtaining such power was inevitable. Another world war ensued, and the Bahamir Dynasty was picked apart by the rest of the divine races. One by one artifacts fell as regions were defeated and failed to evacuate the artifacts in time.
     
     
     
    The Great War
     
     
    In the centuries to follow, the races one again met of the battlefield, with another world war ensuing. Without Bahamut to step in, the scale of destruction surpasses the White War. During the chaos and bloodshed of the battle, Phoenix strikes Icen down, killing him (this was important because in the written story Shiva was the first deity uncovered by a female antagonist named Lyra Stratta. When she 'summoned' her, she was unfrozen from that moment when she was about to Diamond Dust the entire battlefield to avenge her son. Instead she ended up killing a small element of Zenobian special forces that were accompanying Lyra, thousands of years later. It was how the entire process and purpose of the 'summons' as actually introduced and demonstrated, and a great symbolic moment for Lyra). That climactic battle saw an end to the war when several Time Mages interfered. The summons were gathered by force, placed in artifacts, and hidden away.
     
    The Bahamir retreated into the wilderness. They formed several large tribes, one containing the Imperial family. They remained on the move in dense, unsettled northern and eastern lands. Their sole purpose to protect the Bahamuts.
     
    The Empire of the Odinspawn claimed the larger victory over Whiteguard in the war, and enslaved many of them during the long exchanges of the conflict. Whiteguard worked out borders and were permitted to keep their capitol.
     
    Black Mages denounced Hades, Essences and Magic. They retreated to the savage wilderness of the Veldt, generally considered uninhabitable due to the harsh ecosystems. They remained tribal for all five mortal eras, developing an extremely advanced martial art oriented around mastering the senses enough to defeat armed foes using nothing but mind, body and spirit.
     
    Each Essence was hidden away in a secret location, with only the three Bahamuts remaining on the run.
     
     
    Over the next two mortal eras, the wars are forgotten. The Essences are forgotten.
  6. That One NPC

    Bahamir

    By That One NPC,

    Bahamir
     
     
    After the Great War the Bahamir Dynasty had been decimated. The Essences had been gathered, but the Bahamuts were permitted to remain in he hands of the Bahamir people. Simply "hiding" them anywhere was too risky. Rather than establish a kingdom to rebuild, they chose to once again become tribal, retreating deep into the highland wilderness near the base of Mount Ramuh. They would remain hidden away, protecting the Essences of the three Bahamuts. They divided into three core tribes. The central tribe would house the old royal family, and a portion of the nobles and common classes. But it would also house the Bahamuts, kept in the possession of the royal bloodline. They have remained in the highlands for two long eras. 
     
     
     
    Henato Senior
     
    King of the Bahamir people, Henato grows old, and must prepare his sons to inherit his kingdom. Henato Jr, Sedato and Seto are his three boys from oldest to youngest.
     
    Henato Jr. is the ideal Bahamir Prince. Strong, hearty, honorable and humane. He is a folk hero of the people and somewhat of a celebrity among young boys and females of all ages. He possesses the pendant containing the essence of Bahamut ZERO.
     
    Sedato remains close behind Henato Jr., following in his footsteps, led by his example and influence. He and his older brother live like rock stars of the Dragoon Kingdom, doing their best to retain their honor and dignity all the while. Sedato possess the pendant containing the essence of Neo Bahamut.

    Seto is the runt of the litter. He struggles to conform to the pressures and expectations of a young Dragoon Prince. He's not overly strong, smart, brave, or wise. He develops anxiety and insecurities by the time he reaches his teen years as a result of being a member of the royal family. Unsure of himself, his life, or his ability to be a Prince, Seto leaves his people, fleeing into the wilderness to escape the weight of an entire kingdom resting on his shoulders. With him travels the pendant containing the essence of Bahamut.
     
     
    Seto
     
     A young Seto travels the world, never finding a place he could fit in. A place he could call home. He learns to become a phantom, never staying in one place for too long. But still, he cannot resist the ways of his people, lending a hand to help anywhere he can. By his early twenties, he has an understanding of the realm of Odinspawn and what makes their cultures tick. He blends into their routines, but remains as a ghost. During his time spent in the Slums of Zenobia, he meets a man by the name of Edge Widowmaker. An ex-Zenobian soldier and renowned outlaw criminal. Seto draws strength from his persona, taking the name Edge in place of his own after witnessing the renegade's death during a gun fight. Using the name Edge garners fear and respect beyond the sands of Zenobia, where the name holds weight, but few knew the man personally.
     
    Seto continues to use the moniker during his travels. Through the use of said moniker, Seto is introduced to the Peoples Rebelion of Zenobia. An underground network of anti-Zenobian cells stretching across the Empire's reach. It is here that Seto finally finds a cause he call his own. Something to fight for.
     
    During a lone wolf attempt to confront and kill Sarovoc, Seto has a chance encounter with a young, independent freedom fighter by the name of Anastasia Maria Grace.
  7. That One NPC
    Some of you may recall the sprinting template I was working on for Mack's Loose Leaf sprite generating resources. It is now complete, and it's looking good when tested at running speeds. At walking speed it looks very choppy as one would expect it to.
     
    Here is a sample of a sprite I took and made a sprint sheet for. I'm not to sit here and tell you it's a quick cut & paste job. It takes some work to adjust certain parts to match the new limb positioning, but I have some tips to make it much smoother.
     

     
     
    This is the template. On the left you have the standard walking sheet, on the right is the sprinting edit.

     
    I suggest assembling your walking sprite as you normally would using any image editor like Paint.net, for example. Keep the project file with all layers separated. You'll use this to transfer layers one by one to the sprint template to edit and position them to your liking, retaining all edits and color selections during this process. So the clothing that you apply to your sprint template, is the exact same as the clothing on your walking template.
     
    This makes it much easier to create the running version of your sprite. I suggest starting with the pants and feet, working up to the body. I actually separated the sleeves from the body of my sprites undershirt to make that process easier and a bit more painless.
     
    Credit only to Mack. I don't share my edits for personal credit. 
     
    Enjoy! Don't be shy reporting in errors/bugs.
  8. That One NPC

    FF8-Based Triad Deck

    By That One NPC,

    New year. New deck.
     
     
    Credits:
    Raizen CLOSET Kas Enterbrain  
    All card values are based on the deck from Final Fantasy VIII.
     
     
    Card Back

     
    Icons

     
     
    Rarity 1
    Common
     





     
     
     
    Rarity 2
    Uncommon
     





     
     
     
    Rarity 3
    Rare





     
     
     
    Rarity 4
    Epic
     





     
     
     
    Rarity 5
    Legendary
     





     
     
     
     
     
    Credits:
    Raizen CLOSET Kas Enterbrain  
     
    All card values are based on the deck from Final Fantasy VIII.
     
     
    The Card Settings file will be ready soon. I have to hammer some bugs out of my demo before I can even test it properly. My card album as well as pretty much all triad scenes won't work at present, and I'm not sure why. I will be working on getting those settings tested this weekend. The file is drafted, but yet to be checked for errors.
     
     
     
  9. That One NPC

    New Deck

    By That One NPC,

    I sat down last week and decided to finally fix my broken, messy CLOSET Triad deck. I had made my own deck and the card values were just a total mess. This time I copied the values from all 110 of FF8's cards, and made a replica deck that is guaranteed to be playable. I still need to program and test the card settings file, but that should be done by the new year.
     
     


    New booster icon edits.
     
    Common


     
    Uncommon


     
    Rare


     
    Epic


     
    Legendary


     
     
     
    Some new cards have been added, some old ones were removed. The values of two cards were slightly altered, but it shouldn't impact the balancing of the deck.
     
  10. That One NPC
    Since discovering the Loose Leaf sprite generator, I have been on a quest to expand the available selection of parts. Most of these are simple edits that give more options, and make those simple edits readily available for multiple uses.
     
    My edits are imperfect - newbian at best - but I am thick skinned, and always willing to correct my mistakes. So feel free to give feedback and tell me where and how I've messed up. I promise you I will not take it as judgement, but be thankful for the assistance it truly is.
     
    If you use any of this stuff, you're not to credit me. I just edited existing sprite materials. I've created nothing. These are Loose Leaf sprites with some Mack and RTP part rips.
     
    I have done some crude edits of existing Loose Leaf parts.
     
    I turned the robe into a tunic that doesn't obscure as much of the leg area. It's not much of a change, but it's perfect for knights and warriors.

    The loose cloth areas could maybe be cleaned up a bit, but as part of a composition, it isn't as noticeable
     
    I also cut the tunic in half for even more customization, and to port the lower half into a waist option.

     
     
    A  more basic headband option with no tie to the rear.

     
    .Two versions of the bandana that give it more flexibility.

     
     
    A third waist guard option.

     
     
    A Cloth belt to add more waist options. (Mack Rip)
    Also check out the fingerless gloves.

     
     
    A simple waist sash.

    A more decorative waist sash.

    A simple torso sash (or strap).

     
     
    Arm bracers, and shin guards, for more armor customization and lighter class builds.

     
     
    Light shin pads.

     
     
    Head gear ripped from Mack sprites (some may not line up to your liking, or require removal of overlapping hair pixels)
     
     
    I made this sword strap from scratch. No credit is necessary. Consider it's usage rights akin to Loose Leaf sprites commercially speaking. (I forget if LL sprites are commercial or not. I never intend to go commercial so I forget what's what in that regard.)

     
     
  11. That One NPC

    Odinspawn

    By That One NPC,

    The Andoran Concordat
     
     
    During the climax of the Great War, several Time Mages interfered in order to bring the conflict to a close. The death of Icen had drawn a line in the sand. It had gone too far. The world leaders from every nation involved in the war were abruptly teleported to High Rock Plateau in the country of Andora. It was here that the Andoran Concordat was forged. Over a period of three days, the Time Mages endured tireless debates as they convinced the leaders of each nation that this war could not, and would not be allowed to continue. In the end, it took threat of further force to subdue the bloodlust of the Odinkin Empire. Each nation signed the concordat, agreeing to an new era of peace. Borders were negotiated, and the conflict smoldered out over the following decades.
     
     
     
     
    Zenobia 
     
    In the era following the Andoran Concordat, the Odinkin Empire once again fell back into internal conflict. Over the next two mortal eras, their Empire evolved and shifted like the sands their new Empire sits upon today.
     
    According to legend, the Zenobian Desert was once a sea of lush, windswept green plains and dense, fertile forests. But somehow, somewhere along the line, it became an arid, destitute ocean of unforgiving dunes. Despite these harsh conditions, the ancient city of Zenobia has managed to not only flourish, but excel. Zenobia is a massive, technologically advanced, desert metropolis. An empire seeking to conquer and erase the old world. Using their far superior technology, they sweep the vast continent committing genocide, and establish new Zenobian cities atop the ruins and corpses. They have been crushing their fellow Odinkin nations, one after another, solidifying a new, glorious Empire of Odinspawn.
     
    The desert city is divided in two. The core of the city is awe inspiring. Buildings that tower into the sky. Wealth and luxury for every man and woman. Highly advanced technology ingrained into daily life. Outside the core, beyond the walls and defenses, the people of the slums suffer in poverty and oppression, living in crudely built structures under terrible conditions. They do not hold official citizenship, and are afforded none of the basic services such as fire prevention, law enforcement, or adequate medical care.
     
    Zenobia is ruled by the Ducrinus royal family. They have governed over Zenobian lands for centuries, and have become synonymous with Zenobian culture and politics. Hector Ducrinus is the aging, stricken Emperor. Disease has confined him to his bed chambers, and he clings to life support as his oldest son, Lucius, keeps the Empire running. Sarovoc, the youngest, is the President of Zenobia Prime, a technological and energy powerhouse that controls and supplies all of Zenobia's energy.
     
     
     
    Sarovoc Ducrinus
    (I've already been informed that it rings similarly to Sephiroth. It was not the intention, and I hadn't realized until I was informed. It's a name I've been using for characters in games for some time. My go-to warrior or mage build name. Zenobia is inspired by Midgar. I've never denied that. Final Fantasy VII is a big part of what this story pays homage to, but it retains an identity of its own.)
     
    Sarovoc is a cold, calculated and cruel man. A product of Hector's signature brand of upbringing, and the brutal training of Hogo Marks, Hector's specialist instructor. He loathes both his father, and brother for their cruelty toward him. He desires the throne more than anything, and there is nothing he will not do to sit upon it as rightful Emperor of Zenobia. His first move is to remove his father from the board, unplugging his life support. He attempts to frame his brother, and leaks information surrounding the incident to the Zenobian press. This creates enough of a disturbance to allow Sarovoc to assassinate Lucius, blaming a rogue sycophant looking to avenge Hector.
     
    Sarovoc becomes the Emperor Zenobia.
  12. That One NPC

    The Pantheon

    By That One NPC,

    Trying to structure the lore in a way that it would feed a world I could then build a story off of, I kept coming back to the 'Summons', and the dilemma of how I would adapt them into my story. It only felt natural to make them the gods of this world. It was both challenging and fun to not only build a pantheon of Final Fantasy Gods, but develop lore that would make them work in the traditional sense. 
     
     
     
    THE PANTHEON
     
     
    In the beginning, there was only Bahamut. Guardian of the cosmos and creator of worlds.

     
    Greater Gods
    Bahamut created ten Greater Gods that would help shape the features and physics of our game world.
     
    Ramuh
    Wise, powerful sage and Lord of Time.
     
    Alexander
    Brave, exalted paladin and Lord of Light.
     
    Hades
    Shadowy, fiendish sorcerer and Lord of Darkness.
     
    Odin
    Vicious, mounted general and Lord of War.
     
    Palidor
    Wild, ferocious bird of prey and Lord of Thunder.
     
    Ifrit
    Furious, smoldering demon and Lord of Fire.
     
    Titan
    Towering, mighty cyclops and Lord of Earth.
     
    Shiva
    Stern, malevolent huntress and Goddess of Ice.
     
    Siren
    Beautiful, deadly mermaid and Goddess of Water.
     
    Sylph
    Nimble, furtive nymph and Goddess of Wind.

     
    Lesser Gods
    Each Greater God created one or more Lesser Gods.
     
    Neo Bahamut
    Bahamut created Neo Bahamut from the core of a young star.
     
    Bahamut ZERO
    Bahamut created Bahamut ZERO from a ferocious black hole.
     
    Shoat
    Ramuh created Shoat from a ripple in the Time Stream.
     
    Crusader
    Alexander created Crusader from a shard of his sword. 
     
    Diablos
    Hades created Diablos from the darkness of the underworld.
     
    Doomtrain
    Hades created Doomtrain from the restless souls of the dead.
     
    Gilgamesh
    Odin created Gilgamesh from the fiery soul of his horse, Sleipnir, and the essence of the warrior from Gungnir, his sword.
     
    Quezicotl
    Palidor created Quezicotl from a collision of lighting bolts.
     
    Phoenix
    Ifrit created Phoenix from a breath of fire.
     
    Golem
    Titan created Golem from a chunk of rock from the earth.
     
    Icen
    Shiva created Icen from a lock of her hair.
     
    Leviathan
    Siren created Leviathan from a stampeding river.
     
    Typhoon
    Sylph created Typhoon from a raging tornado.

     
    Children of The Gods
    Five species of humanoids were created to populate and cultivate the planet.
     
    Bahamir
    First, Bahamut created a special race of warriors. Their vast empire maintained peace and stability for centuries in the First Era.
     
    Odinspawn
    Odin set forth, creating masses of stock humans all across the world. They were primitive, and drawn to war by their very nature.
     
    Time Mage
    Ramuh took his time before creating another special race of humans. The Time Mages are powerful and reclusive. They have watched over the world for centuries from the peaks of Mount Ramuh.
     
    White Mage
    Alexander took pride and care to create the denizens of Whiteguard. Skillful, intelligent healers, oracles and paladins.
     
    Black Mage
    Ever the astute, cunning God, Hades created Black Mages last. He carefully studied the creation of each species and crafted a blunt force tool he perceived to be superior to the rest. Taller, stronger, and capable of tapping into each of the elements in addition to the forces of the Underworld.

     
    Palidor, Ifrit, Shiva, Titan, Siren, and Sylph created the elemental magics and forces, and the vast array of creatures upon the earth.
  13. That One NPC

    Even More Edits

    By That One NPC,

    So most of you know I am a Loose Leaf junkie. If you don't know what Loose Leafs are, it's a lesser known and used type of tall sprite. For years there was an online generator to customize your own LLs, but the site is no longer working. Fortunately, some brave soul extracted the resources into png files for the entire community. I have my own copy of the pngs, and I've been editing away like a good little addict, expanding the power of the Loose Leaf generator.
     
    I'm back with a fresh round of edits to share. The Odyssey continues.
     
    Head feathers.

     
    Harness 1

     
    Harness 2

     
    Tank Top

     
    Suit Jacket

     
    Chain mail Top

     
    Chain mail Bottom

     
    Badge

     
    Epaulets

     
    Satchel
     

     
    Small Male (Remember to adjust items after adding the layers. It's surprisingly easy to make them, just takes a bit more work)

     
    Small Female (Remember to adjust items after adding the layers. It's surprisingly easy to make them, just takes a bit more work)

     
    (The small sprites have been shortened by 4 pixels each. 2 pixels have been removed from the torso, and 2 from the legs.)
     
     
    I also have some grids I use just to make sure everything is tight and right frame-wise first time.
     
    Grid Single

     
    Grid Full

     
     
    Enjoy! And whatever you do, don't credit me. This isn't my work, I just do edits.
     
  14. That One NPC
    Listen to me...
     
    You are all travelers, stars that wander freely across time and space.
     
    And you have all assembled at this point in time, at this point in space.
     
    Together you will all be victorious.
     
    Together you will all shape destiny.
     
     
    54 stars have been created and I have been working on the exact teams for the battle sequences.
     
    Player's Battalion
    WIP, WIP, Matulu

     
    'Green Nation' Battalion
    Tarik, Rebekah, Gavin

     
    'Green Nation' Reservists
    Grace, Lupa, Lupo

     
    Rebel Leadership
    Helen, Ivan, Doc Neilson

     
    Lancaster Family
    Diana, Dawn, Hope

     
    Elvish Battalion
    Thessius, Larissa, Lindell

     
    Barakat Family
    Sivante, Sivana, Sivash

     
    'Yellow' Nation' Battalion
    Wendel, Cloe, Horace

     
    'Cyan Nation' Battalion
    Vera, Victoria, Mason

     
    Kobold Battalion
    Tajiro, Tijaro, Tajeet

     
    Goblin Battalion
    Gakumba, Garuta, Goruga

     
    Reinhardt's Battalion
    Reinhardt, Flint, Skylar

     
    The Lost Elves
    Navara, Vallio, Vennonia

     
    The Machinists
    Annette, Perry, Edith

     
    Master Spellcasters
    Shani, Zufar, Gladis

     
    Martial Artists
    Lee Fang, Yvonne, Rae'Oku

     
    Thief/Rogue/Con Team
    Jon, Leetus, Jacques

     
     
     
    Misc Stars
    Niki

     
    Tia

     
    Lilly

     
    Edward Omadika

     
    Non-Playable, Non-Star Characters
    Edgar Omadika, Edna Omakida, Lucretius Omadika

     
    Agamedes is a WIP concept.

     
  15. That One NPC
    It's been a while since I've been around with any sort of updates, and I'm about to make up for that. I've been working on more faces for Destiny Star Saga.
     
    I created a concept for the lead male's father.

     
    I made some concepts for the 'cyan nation'.

     
    'Yellow nation' characters.

     
    Goblins and kobolds, anyone?


     
    A few loose concepts.

     
    Some imperial soldiers who will join your army after being defeated.

     
    I've planned a rather large scene for their surrender and hope to do a lot with them within the plot.
     
    Made a concept for Emperor Omadika and his family. The son will actually join your cause.

  16. That One NPC
    I made 36 character concepts, and I'm now certain it is possible to make a large scale cast using the face generator. L.L. sprites are flexible enough to get the job done for almost any face, so I think I'm going to begin developing the setting and plot so I can get busy fleshing out and finalizing character concepts.
     
     





     

     
     
    A new concept I've put some development into. One of the last living Blood Elves. Her species were wiped out as a result of their uncontrollable blood lust and appetite for violence. It always lead to war, and they destroyed themselves fighting humans, other elves, and each other. 300 years ago, human kingdoms launched a campaign to destroy the last of their decaying empire, and a culling of the species began, turning into a genocide over time. Nevara was raised among Elves and taught to control her temperament, but she was never able to adjust to the lifestyle of a 'normal' Elf. She constantly rebelled or lost control and got into trouble. As a young woman, she ran away to separate herself from other people in order to protect them.

     
     
     
  17. That One NPC
    I got a few sprites done this evening. I like how this is unfolding. One of my favorite things about Suikoden is the massive variety of characters and being able to create something similar is turning out to be rewarding, and I'm just getting started.
     

     
     

    Going to be among the lot of lead protags, and will probably have playable siblings. He will be your first 'tank' class character.
     

    Dialogue:
    -Freedom is my payment, and I owe that freedom to you.
     
    I love this concept. He was an imperial soldier before he renounced fighting to return home and marry his sweet heart. Shortly after they came for him, to arrest him for desertion. In a frenzy, the worked up mob of soldiers light the house ablaze. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, his terrified wife had been hiding inside and burnt to death. Rushing home at the sight of the smoke, he was sent into a rage and killed more than half of the men who had come to arrest him. During the grief that followed he was arrested without incident and has remained in a small, dark cell ever since.
     
    The party frees him in order to help defend the surrounding lands. I pictured the scene when the heroes say his name aloud in the king's throne chamber, and a nearby servant physically withdraws in horror, backing into a pedestal, sending some manner of pottery crashing to the ground. Classic.
     
     
    A few new face concepts. Also my cleanest looking elf concept so far. I may redo the other three.

  18. That One NPC
    I worked on a few new concepts last night, a few of them having more development than others. I got a new set of generator parts the other night as well, so I have many more mouth and eye options to choose from.
     
    I updated the lead protag's protector role.

     
     
    I really like this character, and plan to make her among the best out of the 'tank' class characters. 

    Dialogue:
    -I'm just an old gal, but I've been through the wringer with this war.
    -Take me out. You'll see.
     

  19. That One NPC
    Lately I have been considering the development of a Suikoden tribute game. I plan to use Loose Leaf sprites due to the striking similarities between the styles.
     
    I also decided to use the Ace generator for faces. Both offer a semi-unique character build each time you create a set.
     
    I have drafted faces for a few concepts, but have yet to sit down and build sprites. I did create sprites for two of the leads I've been developing.
     



     
    Not sure how many total characters I want, but 54 would be half of 108, at least. Not all will fight, but the above were combat concepts.
  20. That One NPC

    Male Folder V1

    By That One NPC,

    To make things a little easier, I just zipped up my entire Male folder.
     
     Male.zip
     
    There may be some loose, rando bits here and there i'm not the most organized person when I'm working in strange territory, lol. (Not really a graphics guy.)
     
    You'll notice a few base files, but they were my first crack at skin tones. The 'Male Generator' pnd (if you have Paint.net) has 7 skin tones I made recently. Some aren't great, but, it was a work in progress.
     
    The 'Workshop' pnd is where I worked don all of my edits, and there should be an incomplete project underway. I was exploring the viability of adding a quiver and bow option.
  21. That One NPC

    More Edits

    By That One NPC,

    Since I had competed these, I might as well share 'em.
     
     
    I cleared the shadowed skin from around each of the hair and bang layers. This was done for layers of headgear, and different skin shades. I may double back and mae those skin pixels transparent to maintain shadowing over darker skin tones, but I didn't think of that until I had cleaned them up.
     
    01a Hair.zip
    01b Bangs.zip
     
    Chainmail

     
    A high collar shirt option.

     
    A sword that rests at the waist rather than on the back. 

     
    An edit of the helmet I did to match an Ace generator part I have.

     
    Male slippers (perfect for monks or fighters).

  22. That One NPC
    I sat down and made a few of my FF characters using the DIY Loose Leaf generator, and after successfully completing Stryker, Casius, and Cideon, I finally managed to complete the perfect (or close to, at least) Loose Leaf sprite for Seto.
     
    I'm pretty excited about how well all four came out. I attempted some generated faces, but the only decent one is Seto's.
     
     
    Seto

     
    Stryker

     
    Casius

     
    Cid

     
    This is more or less how the characters were created to look and dress. As close as I was going to get any sprite without commissioning work. I can't wait to make Ana, Marrick, Lilly, Biggs, and all of the others.
     
     
     
    I also did adult sprites for the Earthbound characters, just having some fun.
     
     
    Ness

     
    Paula

     
    Jeff

     
    Poo

  23. That One NPC
    I recently found a pair of plugins that allow you to emulate a Final Fantasy Tactics sort of game. I couldn't resist putting a bit of my RM time into playing with a concept.
     
    That led me to Galv's army manager, and from there I ended up at Avery's iconset, and later, the Loose Leaf generator.
     
    I did drafts for a solid set of classes using the online generator. You'll notice they are just screen shots. I stopped trying to clean them up when I found the png file pack. Using the DIY files, I plan to improve each concept, although it will be more time consuming using the DIY method, because the website let you build both male and female versions at the same time with relative ease.
     
    Leader A | Leader B (player character)

     
    Recruit

     
    Squire | Knight | Paladin

     
    Barbarian | Raider | Berserker

     
    Lancer | Sentry | Phalanx

     
    Archer | Sniper | Ranger

     
    Novice | Mage | Arch Mage

     
    Healer | Cleric | Grand Cleric

     
    Thief | Bandit | Rogue

     
    Fighter | Monk | Master

     
    Ninja | Assassin | Shinobi

     
    Outlaw | Pirate | Captain

     
     
    With the freedom of the DIY process, I know I can make each of these that much better.
     
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