Singer's Quest

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So yeah, I decided to do a quest.... and as I built the...
SINGER QUEST: Introduction and Charcter Generation

AKuz

Been Better
Location
A Rising Tide of Horrors
Pronouns
She/Her
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So yeah, I decided to do a quest.... and as I built the setting and plotted out some possible story I realized that I accidentally a JRPG.

I have some fairly simple dice and spell mechanics; but I plan to outline them as they crop up in the first few posts as the "tutorial" unfolds, and hopefully explain the background and setting in an organic fashion as the plot unfolds. This is my first time running a quest... so um I hope I'm going to make something that people like! :)

[Due to the demands of plot, the PC's gender is fixed as "Female"]

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SINGER'S QUEST: GOTY Edition said:
===>NEW GAME
OPTIONS
DLC
QUIT

The Legend:
It has been two thousand years since the Great War visited Valendris, two thousand years since the betrayer goddess Nalanaar and her servants turned against the Singer Tythea. Two thousand years since the continents cracked and shattered, two thousands years since weapons of crystal and light lit up the Horizon like holy fire.

It has been two thousand years since the Great War ended with Nalanaar dead and Singer Tythea's essence scattered across Valendra, Leaving only her Song behind. In that time, the scattered and desperate survivors of the war have recovered and prospered.

The Devoted are descended from those who held true to the Singers during the Great War; they are blessed with an extended lifespan, good health and Magical abilities. These chosen people live lives devoted to the arts and to seeking oneness with their Singer and with each other.

The loyal Devoted are not, however, the only inhabitants of Valendris; they live side by side with the Drab; the descendants of those that stood by while the heavens heaved in immortal combat. Disunited, aggressive, and hateful of their Devoted betters, they scheme constantly to upend the natural order.

Also seeking to upend the natural order is something far worse: The Lost Thirteen. Surviving members of the Betrayer's army that were recently reawoken by unthinking Drab misadventurers. Taking control of several Drab cities the Lost thirteen have founded a nation of Blood and Iron that is sweeping inexorably across the continent.

Not all hope is lost though. Among the Devoted are the Chosen Elect, talented young individuals about whom it is said, that one day soon they will reawaken the sleeping Singer, and return peace to the land.

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Two figures stand atop the formidable bulwark of a gray and imposing castle; the stone behemoth towers over the city that surrounds it. They look out over city as the sounds of war and industry filter up from the smithies and training grounds below.

A tall, dark-haired serious faced woman in military garb puts her hands on the balcony "Do you really think one of the Chosen might be able to awaken a Singer? Even in this fallen world, a Singer could stop us dead in our tracks"

The man next to her, also dark-haired, but with a much darker complexion purses his lips, "We can't risk it. Not now when we're so close to waking The Dragon." he sighs, "We'll have to rely on the Hunter and the Ghost to prevent the Singer from waking up"

The woman sighed, and looked up at the heavens as if for divine strength, "Do you think he'll be able to keep one alive this time? I want to see what the Harmony is up to."

Her companion shrugged, "I'd prefer that we get one alive too, but I don't really care as long as they are removed from the equation." he looked out at the edge of the city and the hundreds of military banners arrayed there, "Last I heard he's along the River Gan. And if his reports are correct... well, I think Victory is in our grasp"
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Singer's Quest: GOTY Edition said:
Gender: Female
Name: _____________
Select an Origin:
[ ] Invector
[ ] Speaker
[ ] Mute
You were born in the village of Fourkeys located in a bend in the Gan River between the Trasen Forest and the Gansedge Mountains. Your birth put you into one of the three Devoted Castes (Pick a Caste and a further specialization. The caste is your starting attributes, specialization determines your starting skillset and a single spell):

[ ]Invector [Your family has always been the defenders of Fourkeys, even now your father commands the forest watch and your mother the Town Militia. The blood of the Militaristic Invector caste flows through your veins. (This option starts the PC with higher physical stats such as dexterity, constitution and strength]
===>[ ] Melee Invector: As you grew you became an excellent swordswoman, and easily learned the "Invector Blade" Spell
===>[ ] Ranged Invector: As you grew you became a talented archer, and easily learned the "Eagle Eyes" spell
===>[ ] Ranger Invector: As you grew you became a tireless hunter and tracker, and easily learned the "Relentless Pursuit" spell
[ ]Speaker [Your family has always been the healers, traders, and thinkers of Fourkeys, even now your father is the town healer and your mother runs a key trade route up the Gan river. The blood of the Intellectual and Wise Speaker caste blood flows through your veins. (This option starts the PC with higher mental stats such as wisdom, charisma, and intellect]
===>[ ] Speaker Healer: As you grew you became a helpful healer, and easily learned the "Healing Hands" spell
===>[ ] Speaker Merchant: As you grew you became talented at trade and commerce, and easily learned the "Cold Reader" spell
===>[ ] Speaker Priestess: As you grew you became a learned apprentice Priestess, and learned the "Calming Aura" spell
[ ] Mute [Your family is one of the many common families that make up the smooth functioning of Fourkeys. Your father is a talented carpenter and your mother an in demand woodworking artisan. The blood of the hard working and reliable Mute Caste flows through your veins (This option starts the PC with more balanced stats]
===>[ ] Mute Laborer: As you grew you became proficient at physical labour and learned the "Endurance" spell
===>[ ] Mute Blacksmith: As you grew you became somewhat skilled at blacksmithing and learned the "Heat Resistant" spell
===>[ ] Mute Alchemist: As you grew you became an accomplished alchemist, and learned the "Toxin Resistant" spell

----------------------------------------------------
As you grew, and were educated in the ways of your caste and family, you became a fine and talented member of your Caste. You never thought much of leaving Fourkeys, not permanently, you toyed with travel, but the gentle contentment of tradition made it seem you would remain in your hometown forever.
This changed last month.

It came during prayers at the Fourkeys Harmony shrine, the one that sat in the heart of your village, much as one did in the heart of every Devoted community. You felt something slowly creep up your spine as you sat with your family: a soft shiver, a growing conscious realization that you were more. That you were different, that something about you was special.
That was the moment you became one of the Chosen.
You family felt it too, everyone there that day felt it radiate out from you, your place in the Song was something far greater than a minor provincial in a remote community. You all knew what it meant: it meant leaving your home, your family, everything that you knew, and traveling to the city of Serenity in the heart of Devoted civilization. It meant that in you lay the possibility of awakening your people's long sleeping goddess.
This day is your last in the community of your birth.
Narrative Style:
[ ] 1st Person
[ ] 3rd Person

TUTORIAL IN EFFECT
PLEASE SELECT A CHARACTER BACKGROUND
 
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[X] Speaker Merchant: As you grew you became talented at trade and commerce, and easily learned the "Cold Reader" spell
[X] 3rd Person


Something about a PC who can make money on the side conveying messages from the dead...Someone whose name starts with a "J" perhaps? Any "L's," yes, no?
 
[x] Ranger Invector: As you grew you became a tireless hunter and tracker, and easily learned the "Relentless Pursuit" spell
[x] 3rd Person

If there was an option for a tanky white mage or a Battlemage, I'd go for that, but rouges are nice too.
 
[x] Ranger Invector: As you grew you became a tireless hunter and tracker, and easily learned the "Relentless Pursuit" spell
[x] 3rd Person

If there was an option for a tanky white mage or a Battlemage, I'd go for that, but rouges are nice too.

I have plans for being able to "level" into a cross Caste/Class character as the quest progresses. The PC is special after all! :p
 
I have plans for being able to "level" into a cross Caste/Class character as the quest progresses. The PC is special after all! :p
If its possible, then Merchant was one of the ones I wanted to pair with Ranger, primarily for the charisma and charm bonuses. Then we'll just need to become badass enough to achieve the Carmen Sandiego prestige class :V
 
[X] Speaker [Your family has always been the healers, traders, and thinkers of Fourkeys, even now your father is the town healer and your mother runs a key trade route up the Gan river. The blood of the Intellectual and Wise Speaker caste blood flows through your veins. (This option starts the PC with higher mental stats such as wisdom, charisma, and intellect]
===>[X] Speaker Priestess: As you grew you became a learned apprentice Priestess, and learned the "Calming Aura" spell

[X] 3rd Person
 
[X] Speaker [Your family has always been the healers, traders, and thinkers of Fourkeys, even now your father is the town healer and your mother runs a key trade route up the Gan river. The blood of the Intellectual and Wise Speaker caste blood flows through your veins. (This option starts the PC with higher mental stats such as wisdom, charisma, and intellect]
===>[X] Speaker Priestess: As you grew you became a learned apprentice Priestess, and learned the "Calming Aura" spell

[X] 3rd Person
 
[X] Speaker [Your family has always been the healers, traders, and thinkers of Fourkeys, even now your father is the town healer and your mother runs a key trade route up the Gan river. The blood of the Intellectual and Wise Speaker caste blood flows through your veins. (This option starts the PC with higher mental stats such as wisdom, charisma, and intellect]
===>[X] Speaker Priestess: As you grew you became a learned apprentice Priestess, and learned the "Calming Aura" spell

[X] 3rd Person
 
[X] Speaker Merchant: As you grew you became talented at trade and commerce, and easily learned the "Cold Reader" spell
[X] 3rd Person
 
[X] Speaker Merchant: As you grew you became talented at trade and commerce, and easily learned the "Cold Reader" spell
[X] 3rd Person
 
well we can't go around nameless can we? Names are very important for aspiring Merchants/J-idols, no?
 
also, if Nozomi wins, the first thing we do on reaching Serenity is either:
[] Grow a giant tree.
[] Hunt a Stag.

anyone who gets the jokes gets my surport for 1 vote.
 
Voting on Character Creation will close in approximately four hours at 4PM PST, and Chapter 1 post will hopefully be up within a few hours after that.
 
Eh, I could be happier with this, but I've never been good at beginning this sort of thing. I definitely think it'll get better as I settle in and get a better sense of the characters voices, though.
 
CHAPTER I: An, Old, Familiar, Place
CHAPTER I: An, Old, Familiar, Place

Nozomi looks around at the little shop that has been her school, home, and worksite for her whole life, and sighs. She looks at the account ledgers on the counter and at the goods on the shelves. She runs her hand over a worn book of myths and legends that she haggled long and hard over, its leather smooth under her fingertips.

"A good merchant can't stay in one place forever, Nozomi. That's for shopkeeps and retailers", the young woman spins around as her mother walks through the shop's doors, the little bell ringing as she does so.

Alena and Nozomi both look alike, both are at about the Speaker average height of 175cm tall, and with the lean, thin build of the rest of their Caste. They also share the pale skin and straight black hair of their caste too, although Nozomi keeps hers longer than her mother does.

"I guess I shouldn't be moping around here, eh?"

Her mother gestures to a couple bags in the corner of the room, "Now that you're done packing, I thought we could go get your father and spend some time in Fourkeys, say goodbye to some places, before the party tonight?"

Nozomi nods and steps out into the village.

Fourkeys is maybe a thousand people, including the farmers, hunters and fishers that live a short journey away; and it shows, it's a small place all radiating outwards from the Temple Shrine in the middle.

Alena nods at the shrine, "Your father's with Priestess Saena, getting some things for you" she laughs, "Some of the stuff in there I tried to sell for years but your father and Saena insisted we save it just in case. I guess it's your inheritance now" her mouth quirks.

As mother and daughter stroll along, they chat about small inconsequential things as villagers come up and wish Nozomi goodbye.

"Thanks! I'll stay safe! You too!" Nozomi says to grandma Eller as the old woman goes back to her bakery. She nibbles on a biscuit from the old woman as she waves goodbye.

They come around the corner and walk across the village square to the small Shrine, and walk inside, bowing slightly at the entrance as they do so.

"Welcome Children!" Booms a familiar voice as they step across the threshold of the old wooden building, as Priestess Saena waves at them. She's a powerfully built woman the same age as Nozomi's parents and one of the few Invector priests.

"Aunt Saena!"

"Alena, Nozomi! good to see you!" Nozomi is buried under a hug from her parent's oldest and closest friend, "Terim is in the back, pulling out some of our old gear for young Nozomi here..."

"Nice! Anything valuable-" you start before you hear some shouting from the square outside. The three look at each other before heading outside to take a look.

The square is used for festivals, for market days, and gatherings of all types. But right now it seems to be the location of an argument between a trio of Invectors and several shorter Drab. The three walk up to the argument, the big Priestess in the lead.

"...I don't care! Poaching is illegal around here!" The lead Invector points to a large boar carcass being held by the woman behind him

"You don't care if we starve is that it?"

"Oh, for Singer's sake, I…" The lead Invector sighs in relief when he sees Saena, "Please help us ma'am. We caught these Drab poaching on the village's land.

One of the Drab, at the back, taller than the others, glares at the three as they walk up, and narrows his eyes at Nazomi.

"WE DIDN'T EVEN KN-" one of the Drab starts in before being interrupted by Saena.
"Calm." she holds out her hands evenly between the two groups "Just take a deep breath and think this through. We don't need to argue"

As if by magic (And Nozomi wonders if it is magic, or just her force of personality) everyone, Invector and Drab alike, calms down, "Now, I think we don't want any trouble, and we don't want anyone to go hungry" Saena turns to Nozomi "How much do you think that boar is worth. A fair price please."

Nozomi starts to protest that her prices are always fair, but thinks better of it, "It looks like the whole thing is good for maybe twenty/twenty five servings… so a chit a meal, and adjust for the quality of this beast. I'd say thirty chits"

A couple of the Drab and even one of the Invectors look ready to argue still, but the Drab just off to the back speaks up "We'll take it. I don't want to stay here a minute longer than I have to"

Saena nods graciously at the Drab, probably the leader, as he hands over the chits from his own pouch, "Thank you for being reasonable. Mr...?"

The Drab leader doesn't respond, he just glares at her and turns to leave.

Saena shakes his head, "Unpleasant fellows."
The lead Invector watches the Drab poachers leave, "We found them just on this side of the Gan. They must be refugees from the wars to the west."

"Or scouts" mutters one of the other Invectors, just loud enough for Nozomi to hear.

Saena laughs, "There is whole big mountain range in the way. I know" she gestures to Nozomi, "I once spent a whole year once with this one's parents tromping up and down the Gansedge ridges looking for one of the Lost Shrines"

Alena grins, "We didn't find the Shrine, but we found a whole lot of adventure"

Another voice smoothly cuts in, "Don't listen to her, she wasn't the one that spent a whole day hanging off of a ledge halfway up the summit" Nozomi turns to see her father walking up behind them.

The Healer, Tarim, hugged his wife and daughter, "What say we listen to your Mother's tall tales somewhere else, huh?"

"Everything I say is true!" Alena replies, blushing furiously.

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The next few hours pass by in a blur as people start showing up in the square to talk to Nozomi, and set up for her going away party. There are all kinds of food on the long tables; the farmers, fishers and hunters of Fourkeys have brought in all kinds of foods for the event.

There are speeches from the mayor, from Saena and from all kinds of people who think they are important, and there are toasts to the village's new Chosen late into the night.

As the event dies down, Nozomi has tears in her eyes from the village's outpouring of friendship, "If I known they'd be this happy to see me go, I would have left years ago" she jokes, watching as the last of her friends leaves. It's just her and her family now. Well and Saena, who's like family

"They're just happy to see someone that they know and love, someone that they've watched grow up; they're proud to see you become Chosen." Saena squeezes Nozomi's shoulder affectionately, "I know I am, one doesn't just become a Chosen by birth. Those that squander their talents don't become Chosen. You worked hard and were rewarded"

There's a tear in one of the Priestess' eyes, and she looks away to Nozomi's parents, "So, you still going up the Gan to reach Serenity?"

Nozomi's father smiles, "Yes, we're going along with the river traders that are coming through tomorrow morning. Alena's already got a good rep with them"

Saena sighs, "I hate to lose our best healer for a month, but it's not everyday that your daughter becomes a Chosen I guess. It'll be like that time I got lost down the Han River and-"

"-you came back and we were married all of a sudden." Alena interrupts smiling, holding something behind her back, hard to see in the night, "Since we're leaving tomorrow, we thought that you should get something we've got lying around from our old travels"

Nozomi's parents grin as they present her with a magic artifact:

[ ] It's a shortsword: simple, effective and unnaturally sharp. Recovered from one of Saena's adventures down the Han River
[ ] It's a robe: a simple homespun robe of humble brown, that somehow protects almost as much as leather armour. This is one that Nozomi's father used to use during his travels
[ ] It's a flask: constantly refilling with water, this Flask saved Nozomi's mother's life when she was lost in the Wreck Wastes
 
[X] It's a robe: a simple homespun robe of humble brown, that somehow protects almost as much as leather armour. This is one that Nozomi's father used to use during his travels
 
[X] It's a flask: constantly refilling with water, this Flask saved Nozomi's mother's life when she was lost in the Wreck Wastes
 
[X] It's a flask: constantly refilling with water, this Flask saved Nozomi's mother's life when she was lost in the Wreck Wastes

The value of water cannot be overestimated. Although we aren't sure of the setting's adherence to history (not likely to be high), it'll be useful in all sorts of environments, even just to wipe down.
 
[X] It's a flask: constantly refilling with water, this Flask saved Nozomi's mother's life when she was lost in the Wreck Wastes

And if we ever turn it upside-down we can flood the place! Right?
 
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