Singer's Quest

AKuz · Jan 9, 2016

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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

AKuz · Jan 10, 2016

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

AKuz · Jan 11, 2016

CHAPTER II: The outside world

Nozomi is still looking at the Flask the next morning, flipping it over and over again in her hands, studying the black finish and silver runes etched into it, trying to figure out how much it's worth, "Something that refills with a quarter-litre of pure water every two hours? No matter where you are?" she frowns, sighs and puts the flask back on her belt and lets her green travel cloak drop back down over it.

The young Speaker turns away from looking out over the Gan River and turns around as she hears the creaking of planks indicating someone coming up the wooden pier behind her; well three someones, actually.

"Nonsense! I'm as strong now as I was sixteen years ago!" Saena is carrying almost all of the family's luggage by herself, Alena and Tarim circling her, watching the baggage nervously.

"See, it's all fine!" Saena says as she sets the bags down at the edge of the pier, the mixed Mute and Drab crew from the river barge jog down the gangplank to grab it.

Alena strides up onto the barge, "I'll be right back. Remember, I had something worked out for myself from the fall, nothing about you two"

Nozomi goes up on her tippytoes as Saena goes in for a hug, "I wish that I was going with you. It'd be just like old times. Before…" she sounds wistful and regretful, and looks off at the Gansedge mountains, "Well, before I had so much responsibility here."

Tarim pats his friend on the back, "Ahh, this is just a vacation up the Gan, Alena and I'll be back in a month, and you'll be seeing Nozomi again soon too" he looks up as his wife waves at him, "I'll let you two say goodbye"

Saena holds back tears: she might be a Priestess now, but she was born an Invector, "Ah little one, I'm so proud of you" she reaches into her robes and pulls out a white flower. A white rose.

Nozomi gasps in surprise, "Is that a White Tythean? Do you…"

Saena chuckles, "Know how much it's worth? Yes. For something that recharges all of a Devoted's magic, and even removes fatigue all at once? Oh, I'd say at least-"

"500 chits! Singer…." Nozomi's eyes are still wide open.

Saena smiles, "It was just lying around in the Temple garden. I think a Chosen has more use for it than a backwoods priestess" she hugs Nozomi again, "Go on. I'll see you again, and you can tell me what Serenity is like nowadays."

Nozomi walks up the gangplank as the last of the Mute dock workers offloads cargo, she sighs and looks back at her village.

Alena and Tarim both put their arms over their daughter as they watch the first rays of the new day come up over the edge of the Gansedge and creep up onto the Pier. Saena and some of the Fourkeys villagers wave goodbye as the barge starts to pull away, the Mute and Drab at the oars starting their long work.

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Nozomi sits on the deck and leans against her mother, lazily watching the shore recede again as the barge leaves another riverside village.

It is the third such hamlet in as many days; this part of the Gan is thick with small Devoted settlements. Alena has always made a decent living trading goods up and down the river from her base in Fourkeys.

"You know, I had already planned to ask you if you wanted to come with me on this trip, this summer, just the two of us" Alena says carefully double checking her log book, "Teach you about trading on the Gan, but I guess the Singer had other plans for you"

Nozomi smiles, "I'm still learning a lot from you, It's different not dealing with the same people from Fourkeys all the time"

Alena watches as the riverbank slowly drifts by, "I didn't want to raise you in some stuffy city like Serenity or Sanctuary. I wanted to raise you somewhere you could live in the open, somewhere friendly, and your father agreed."

"I'd say that turned out well" Nozomi smiles, "I'll miss Fourkeys, even if it has a stupid name"

Alena snorts, "I always thought so too, but Saena was so happy that it was a place that they locals would accept an Invector Caste Priestess" she leans her head into her daughter's, "Everything just seemed to work out right when we needed it to, I guess the Singer was watching out for us"

Mother and daughter spend the rest of the day chatting idly as the world slowly slips by around them.

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Nozomi watches as Tarim in the fading light of day, bent over, hard at work, in the process of healing a Mute oarsman; running his glowing blue palms over the man's leg. She watches as the wound slowly closes up.

"Next time, be careful with that ax" Tarim frowns as the Mute slowly gets up and bows to him.

"Of course Speaker Tarim." he doesn't look the healer in the eyes, "I won't do it again"

Tarim stands up, brushing the dirt off his knees, and sighs as the man apologizes again for wasting the healer's time and leaves to help the rest of the crew set up their nighttime camp just inwards from the river shore.

"City boys" the man mutters loud enough for Nozomi to hear as she steps next to her father.

"They aren't all like that, are they?" Nozomi looks up at her father questioningly.

"No, of course not." Tarim frowns again, "Just some of the larger cities like Sanctuary are much more diligent about old manners than us country folk are" he relaxes into a smile, and pulls her close affectionately, "Of course everyone is equal before the Singer in Serenity"

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Nozomi wakes up to the sound of one of their Invector guards shouting a warning, and she springs up in her blanket, confused by what could possibly be happening in the middle of the night.

Both her parents have sprung up and the pair of Invector guards are waving torches, their glowing blue Invector blades up and at the ready, a half dozen of the crew following them up.

There is someone at the edge of the flickering firelight. Someone armed.

A chuckle, "I guess the easy way is right out then" the figure steps up into the circle of light that surrounds the camp. It… it looks like one of the Drab poachers from back in Fourkeys, the leader.

He shifts and changes as he steps forwards, he is taller, and his facial features and hair, and even his build has changed; he's hulking beast of a man now, he looks nothing like anyone Nozomi has ever seen before, Devoted or Drab, "Now, we can just do this the fun way..." he laughs as he unsheathes a wicked looking blade and cricks his neck.

"...or...", the small groups gasps as his free hand lights on fire, and he strikes a pose, "You can just give me the girl" He points at Nozomi with his blade.

By now the whole party is up and armed with whatever is close to hand. Tarim answers, a staff in one hand and the other lit up with the coruscating light of Devoted Inherent Magic, "NEVER!"

"Ah, brave. But you've never seen anything like me before" the intruder… flows forwards and snaps his blade out at one of the oarsmen, severing tendons and causing the big woman to drop her heavy oar.

"We've seen Sorcerers like you before, some Drab who found a Remnant." Alena has drawn her bow and notched an arrow, her eyes glowing blue with a spell. "You're just some Drab who thinks that grabbing a bit of leftover magic from the Betrayer's Arsenal will make you important"

Something in the Sorcerer's shadow moves as he grins and chuckles, "I assure you, madam. I am no settler playing with forces they haven't the education to understand"

He steps forwards again and the group backs up instinctively, "I am a Hunter, The Hunter actually." he keeps his blade steady while bowing slightly, "It's your lucky day, The Architect tells me I am to retrieve a Chosen Girl" He pauses dramatically, "Alive. This time.", he stretches his neck languidly, "I am willing to extend this offer to the rest of you. If you hand me the girl"

Some of the barge crew look uncertainly at each other… and back at Nozomi. Nozomi shivers, nothing in the Hunter's manner has been anything less than sinister.

Nozomi steps up between her parents, traveller's staff gripped loosely in her hands, and she can tell without a word that they are willing to throw down their lives to defend their daughter against this monster.

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I decided to introduce the villain and raise the stakes a little, maybe start some plot, the tutorial should be finished in the next couple chapters.

[ ] Run. "If The Hunter has to chase you, maybe he'll ignore the rest?"
[ ] Fight. "Maybe The Hunter is bluffing, and he can't actually take you all on?"
[ ] Surrender. "Whatever The Hunter has planned for you; it can't be worse than putting your parents in danger"
~~[ ] Write in? (SINGER'S QUEST IS A NEXT GENERATION GAME WITH OPEN ENDED CONTENT!)~~ TUTORIAL MODE ENGAGED

100% HP NOZOMI
100% HP (GUEST)ALENA
100% HP (GUEST)TARIM
100% HP (GUEST) INVECTOR #1
100% HP (GUEST) INVECTOR #2

Endless Flask
Travel Staff
Travel Clothes
Travel Cloak
Journal
White Tythean Rose

REACH SERENITY

[ ] FIRST PERSON
[X] THIRD PERSON
TUTORIAL STATUS: ONGOING

AKuz · Jan 12, 2016

CHAPTER III: Fire and Rain

Nozomi steadies herself by planting her feet in the ground between her parents, "You know what? I don't think I want to go with you, you're a bit of a creeper. Tell your boss that this isn't a good way to meet girls"

The Hunter slightly tilts his head dismissively, and shrugs, "I tried being nice", before suddenly flowing forwards, and slamming into one of the Invector guards; grabbing the front of the young woman's tunic with his flaming hand and stabbing forward with blade in the other, before kicking the screaming woman off.

The Invector woman somehow stays on her feet, despite her sudden and serious wounding, and lashes out at The Hunter with her vibrantly glowing blue blade. She cuts right through his clothes and… the blade just slides off the Sorcerer's hide. The man laughs and he pushes her backwards again, tripping her over one of the cowering Mute barge crew.

The other Invector, an older man, shouts in worry as the young woman hits the ground. He circles to the side trying to flank the dangerous attacker.

The Invector suddenly dropping out of the way gives Alena her chance and she lets loose her arrow, hitting the advancing man square in the chest, he doesn't even look down at the arrow embedded in his chest, he just reaches up with his left hand and pulls the arrow out, throwing the flaming projectile to his side, hitting a cowering Drab crewmember.

The other Invector stops circling as he sees an opportunity and leaps forward. Charging in with a triumphant shout he drives towards the monstrous attacker, magic blade flashing, his arms glowing blue with magic enhancement… and completely missing, his target sidestepping and letting the Invector fly right past.

The Hunter turns back to Nozomi right in time for her father to unleash a spell of his own, holding his forearms vertical to the ground, they glow bright blue and hundreds of tiny crystalline blue lines stretch between them creating some sort of rippling, glowing, flat web.

Tarim shouts and pulls his arms, and the magic lattice rips apart, creating a cone of light that blinds anyone looking directly into it: a few of the unfortunate barge crew… and the Hunter himself, who throws up his arm in front of his face just too slowly.

The Hunter grunts, sidestepping Nozomi's inexpert swing with her staff, "Clever", he says before suddenly spinning around and swinging his blade into the Invector woman who was lining herself up for an attack on his back, "I still heard you though", he catches her in the stomach releasing a spray of blood, and she drops to the ground, but as she does so, the woman is able score a glancing hit on her target. He roars and repays her with a kick to the head, and she stops moving.

"Stay near your father" Alena hisses, as she dashes off to the side, trying to get out of the Hunter's view, or at least divide the fiend's attention.

Nozomi has no time to react, to reply or to try another attack of her own, because the Invector man has regained his own footing as well and comes in for another, more successful attack, he powers past The Hunter's guard and smashes into him full force, trying to work the coruscating blue blade attached to his arm into The Hunter's flank in a mockery of a hug.

The Sorcerer becoming locked in a grapple is the perfect opportunity for Alena to lose another carefully aimed shot, her eyes glowing in magic concentration, her arm muscles pulsing with blue magic. The arrow digs directly into the monstrous figure's back and he screams more loudly than anything Nozomi has ever heard in her life. He throws his attacker off, driving his blade into the man's side as he does so, spinning back around, fixated on Nozomi with figurative fire in his eyes, and physical fire in both his hands. He charges towards Nozomi, screaming something unintelligible.

Nozomi tries backing away, but she isn't fast enough and she can see the fury bearing down upon her, she reflexively closes her eyes, but the end doesn't come.

She opens them again and sees her father in front of her, The Hunter's hands wrapped around his throat, flames licking at his body: both their bodies, their clothes going up in an ugly wicked inferno.

Alena, screams too and leaps onto her husband's attacker, trying to pry him off. She is only partially successful. The flaming hunter spins and throws her off, before slamming Tarim into a nearby tree and cutting across camp, leaping aside from the weak swordstrokes of the remaining Invector and through the scattering barge crew.

The Hunter Leaps up onto the barge and kneels briefly one hand lighting the wooden construct aflame and the other pointing at Nozomi as it screams, "I. WILL. BE. BACK. FOR. YOU."

Before anyone can react further, the monstrous attacker dives off the other side and disappears.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the night passes in a blur for Nozomi, the crew desperately trying to save their vessel before ultimately failing, something in the fiend's fire causing it to burn hotter and faster than a natural flame. As the barge continues to burn the merchant captain in charge realises that it's become a hopeless struggle and has his crew fight to offload as much cargo as they can before the whole thing goes under or turns into ash.

There's also another fight, the fight for Tarim and the Invector woman's lives. Both had suffered burns, Tarim of course has suffered extensive burns, and the Invector woman has suffered from two gashes in her torso that each look like they should have killed her.

There are other minor injuries, small burns and bruises to the barge crew and the member of their number who'd had an arm tendon slashed. Alena's burnt hands from her struggle to throw the Hunter off her husband.

"I think... I think they'll both make it" says the remaining Invector, "NO! They will make it, my girl's strong, and your man is too. They're both strong, otherwise they wouldn't have made it this far already" He's gotten his compatriot bandaged up and done some minor work on Nozomi's father's burns, but he was an Invector trained in first aid, not a Speaker Healer.

As the sun rises, Nozomi and Alena both huddle over Tarim, watching his chest gently rise and fall, though slowly, too slowly for their liking. The light slowly spilling over the mountains, catching their worried expressions.

Nozomi looks up at her mother, "What, what was that?"

The older woman looks worried, "That was a Remnant Sorcerer. I think" she wipes tears off her face, "We've seen them before, your Father, Saena… and… I. some poor Drab bastard who found a piece of magic from the Betrayer's army, and was overwhelmed by it, going mad"

"That fiend is a killer no two ways about it." the Invector man walks over and kneels down next to Nozomi "No wonder the Temple sends out everyone they have when one pops up." he does a sort of odd half bow to Nozomi, "Invector Airid ma'am, and that over there" he looks worriedly over at where his companion is carefully laid out, unconscious, "Is my daughter Veesa"

"Worked this route for thirty years, never had a… problem like that." he sighs, "Veesa's first year on the Gan though." he forces a grin, "I guess she'll have a good story though, not everyday you save a Chosen from a Sorcerer"

Nozomi looks down at her father, and her mother reaches over to squeeze her shoulder, "Don't blame yourself, that thing said that it wanted a Chosen, and you were who it found." she looks off at the Gansedge, " People like that, once they get that evil magic in them they go crazy, become a force of nature… all you can do is put them down"

"I'm just happy that no one died on my account. I don't think I could take having that on my ledgers" Nozomi stands, "We had to fight though, no way I could have outrun him, and no way I believed him when he said he would let the rest live" she nods to herself as the other two rise as well, "Have to stand up for yourself, stand together with the people you care about"

Alena says nothing, but Airid chuckles, "Ah, ya remind me of my own Veesa, you'd be fast friends I bet" he suddenly looks worried, "Uh, I mean, you know ma'ams, uh it's a good thing, Ms Speaker"

Alena shakes her head, "Don't worry about proper propriety now, I never have anyways," she looks out onto the river, "So, now what do we do?"

Airid strokes his dark, carefully-maintained beard, "Well, I'd say we wait, there should be someone else on the river in the next couple days, and we send the wounded off with them, and they send someone else to get us the rest of this stuff"

"So we wait?" Alena frowns

"I suppose so.

----------------------------------------------------------

Half a week later Nozomi hides under a tarp with her mother, Airid, and the two wounded; as rain and wind lashes outside.

Airid is yelling at the weather, "HELL OF A TIME TO BE ACTING UP, THREE BLOODY SINGER DAMNED DAYS OF THIS" he hits one of the trees the tarp is secured to angrily, before turning and ducking back into the relatively dry shelter, dragging in another load of dryish firewood.

Alena is laying on a small bed made out of stacked crates and recovered blankets next to Tarim, gently touching him with her bandaged hands, "I don't know if he can make another three days, and that storm isn't going anywhere soon" she watches her husband breath, "If it doesn't let up by tomorrow we're going to have to send someone to get help"

Nozomi sits across from her mother, fiddling with her journal and a couple maps that her mother had given her of the Gan, trying to figure out what to do next. She'd tried offering the Tythean rose to her mother to use on her father; but her mother had gently given it back to her, explaining that the rose recharged energies and removed fatigue, but it didn't heal, not wounds and burns like this.

"If you'd given it to your father he'd have enough energy to heal any ten men burned like he is, but now…" she'd sighed.

Nozomi suddenly looked up, "I'll go"

Airid started, "What?"

Nozomi lays out one of the maps on box, "We're supposed to be here" she says pointing to a location along the river, "Now there's Greenbough about a day downriver, and a section of the South Road a half day's journey east with one of the Temple's Invector outposts."

Airid, "I don't see why you have to go. We'll just send one of those boys" he said nodding to the other tarp shelter that had been set up, and was now full of sullen crew.

"They already blame us, well, me for all this, so I'll go to one of these places." Nozomi smiles a bit, "Plus I'm a Chosen, they'll definitely listen to me, where they might dismiss a Drab or Mute labourer." she doesn't feel the need to say that she needs to do something to help her father, it doesn't feel right to send someone else. That it doesn't feel right to just site here.

Alena sits up and looks at her daughter, "I don't like you going alone, so I'll" she sighs and looks at Tarim holding his hands gently, "I'll go with you"

Airid shakes his head, "You're hands are still in no shape to be holding a bow or even a knife"

"My skills are still good. Nothing wrong with my head. My girl's not going alone" Alena says, looking cross.

A voice comes up from the floor, "I'll go."

Airid starts and all but dives to his daughter's side, "No, girl, you were pretty badly hurt, you still need to rest."

"I'm fine, I woke up a little while ago, I was just waiting for a suitably dramatic moment to cut in with something." the young woman, Invector big, strongly built, maybe 190cm, with close cropped, wavy red hair, sat up, "Devoted heal quick, Invectors doubly so"

She slowly gets to her feet, and unwraps her bandages, "See, no more gash, just red and painful, I bet it looked worse than it was." she sits down on one of the boxes "I heard you talking about doing something brave so I figured that I'd get in on that"

Veesa points at her father, "You can't go anywhere, you've got to watch that bunch and guard against bandits or that freak coming back" the young Invector nods at Alena "Ma'am you're still wounded, please let me look after your daughter" she then turns and smiles at Nozomi, "Plus, I've always heard we're supposed to serve the Chosen in their quest to awaken the Singer, and I guess this counts"

---------------------------------------

Started in and realised that I'd forgot to stat up the NPCs and so I spent like TOO MANY hours stating up a bunch of stuff and making inventory items... and spells... and NPCs. Then I rolled for the battle, and wrote down the values so that it would be a tutorial for the (pretty simple actually) mechanics... but then it was lates so I got everything mixed up, which means I need to do a simple example next CHAPTER (Or even in between, dunno I'll figure something out after I've slept

)

Also: Everyone should not have lived through the "Fight" option. Those Invectors should not have lived. Both parents should not have lived, The Hunter's d6 pool should not have have caught fire and melted off the desk. Alena should not have gotten a statistically almost perfect shot right into the Hunter's back.

I'm not lying, Nozomi got incredibly lucky (Although her father can go either way right now) next time I'm having one of you roll the dice.

Pick one destination:

[ ] Travel to Greenbough, the trip is longer, but safer, and it's easier to find, just follow the river.
[ ] Travel to the Invector outpost, shorter trip, likely more dangerous, and you're more likely to get lost.
[ ] On second thought, stay, wait it out and hope for the best.

Pick up to one companion:

[ ] Take Alena, she might not be able to fight but she still has all her skills
[ ] Take Veesa, she certainly believes she's well enough to travel and fight, and can still ~~sorta~~ fight, and she does have some skills

HP: 4
MP: 10
Def: 2+1
Will: 3

Co-Ordination-2
Perspicacity-3
-Rapport-2
-Barter-2
Intelligence-2
-Lore-1
-Mathematics-1
Physical-1

Spells:
-"Cold Reader"

Inventory
Traveller's Staff
-+1 Dice to Melee attack
Traveller's Clothes
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Traveller's Cloak
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Endless Flask
-Refills up to three and a half liters of pure water each day
White Tythean Rose
-Refills MP by 10x for one day

REACH SERENITY
GET HELP FOR YOUR FATHER

[ ] FIRST PERSON
[X] THIRD PERSON
[X] DONT SHOW COMBAT NUMBERS
[ ] SHOW COMBAT NUMBER
TUTORIAL STATUS: ONGOING

AKuz · Jan 14, 2016

CHAPTER IV: The Easy Path (TUTORIAL)

(You can Ignore the Tutorial and Mechanics if you want, it's not really necessary to enjoy the quest and It'll only be on this Chapter)

"I'm sorry Veesa, I'm sure you're a great Invector." she certainly fought harder than anyone Nozomi had seen anyway, "But I think we need to go to Greenbough, and my mother's been travelling the river for my whole life", never mind that you've been up from deadly gut wounds for less than a few minutes, she decides not to add.

Alena nods, and Veesa sinks back down to the ground, "That's okay, I guess, I could probably use another couple of weeks of sleep anyway." she makes a face at Nozomi that's at least as much grimace as smile.

Nozomi leans over and touches her forehead to her father's. She stands up and looks at her mother, "I think we should leave as soon as possible." she takes a deep breath and walks out of the tent, grabbing her traveler's staff on the way past

Nozomi paces back and forth a couple times before her mother follows her out, "So Greenbough is just that way?" she says pointing south along the river.

Attributes and Skills TUTORIAL said:
Dice rolls are based on a proprietary stat system known as "CPIP" for:
Co-Ordination: Using your body to accomplish task that require practice and skill. Firing a weapon, piloting a shuttle, dancing, and painting all come under this heading.
Physicality: The willingness of the flesh to accomplish a task, raw lifting power, athletic endurance, and resistance to illness all fall under this
Intellect: Raw intelligence and the ability to BE SMART LIKE COMPUTER
Perspicacity: Emotional strength and intelligence and spiritual intelligence, a fancy way of putting Wisdom and Charisma together.

Each of these attributes may have up to four (4) levels. Four each level of an attribute you may have two skills in that area, with up to three (3) levels each. These may be further modified with two specialization in that skill. And each specialization can be further modified with a highly specific specialization specialization.]

Skill use TUTORIAL said:
Add up all the levels in a skill you wish to use and roll d6 equal to that number. 4 and 5 fives are successes and 6 is two successes.

They will be compared against five levels of success:

Very Easy: 1 Succes
Easy: 2 Successes
Average: 3 Successes
Hard: 4 Successes
Very Hard: 5 Successes

Nozomi's Party needs to pass a skill check of "Easy" to reach Greenbough. (Additional levels of success above "Easy" will result in bonuses as determined by SINGER'S QUEST's proprietary "QUEST MASTER" program.
Alena has two (2) levels in the Intelligence attribute, two (2) levels in the Pathfinding skill, and one (1) level in the "Gan River Area" specialization for Pathfinding; giving Alena a total of five (5) dice to roll!

Alena rolls: 5,4,5,4,2 giving her "4" successes (Which is a 44% of four successes or less on five dice!) and reaching the success level of "Hard"!

Alena stops and thinks for a moment before turning back to her daughter, "Yes, we can follow the river, but I remember taking a trip with merchant about ten years ago that cuts through this area running along the river." she frowns, "I think it's the remains of a road from before the Betrayal. You'd have to ask your father to be..."

As her mother looks back at the small shelter, Nozomi interrupts, "Well I guess we need to get going then!" anything to keep her mother's mind off her father she thinks.

"Yes we'll have to travel along the river about a half click from here when we should see…" Nozomi and her mother take off at a fair pace southwards along the river bank.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A few hours later Nozomi is lagging slightly behind her mother, who is clearly pacing herself to let her daughter keep on the overgrown road, when something steps down off the road:

It's a Tree Growler; six legged, wolf sized, solitary predators that usually hunt at night and are not usually known to attack people, even Drab.

The brown beast's paws squelch on the wet overgrown road as it growls and slowly sidles towards the two women.

"Look at it, it's so skinny"

"I would back away, if it's desperate enough to approach us, that must mean that it's starving"

The beast growls again, it's about ten meters away from them now.

"I don't think I have anything to feed it?" whisper's Nozomi.

"IT'S NOT BEGGING FOR SCRAPS" Alena shouts as it charges toward them.

Combat TUTORIAL said:
Combat uses a similar system of dice rolling as skill checks, except now you are trying to roll enough dice to overcome your opponent's Defence (Def) rating and deplete its hit points (HP)

HP is 4x the Physicality attribute

Defence is the highest of Co-ordination or Physicality (The difference is a cosmetic: evasion versus just taking the attack on armour for instance) plus any bonuses granted by armour, and any granted by magic.

Attack dice and Def rating may be modified by items and spells.

Nozomi has a Physical attribute level of one (1) and her "Traveler's Staff grants her an additional +1 Dice on melee attacks if used. For a total of two dice

Nozomi rolls: 4,3 gaining her one success

The Weak Tree Growler has Defence 2, from 1 phys and +1from its "Thick Hide"

Nozomi does no Damage

Nozomi swings her staff at the Tree Growler, but despite lightly connecting it just shrugs off the attack and takes a swipe at her.

Weak Tree Growler rolls two dice (Phys 1 +1 Melee =2)
Results: 2,1.
No hits

The creature attempts to swipe at Nozomi, but she sidesteps the clumsy attack and steps back, away from it, splashing up water from a puddle.

Alena's eyes suddenly glow a bright blue and the faint blue lines of Inherent Magic circling her eyes make patterns in her skin, pulsing a vibrant blue.

Magic Use TUTORIAL said:
Magic spells can be equipped in nine slots on the body: Head, upper and lower arms, hands, upper and lower torso, upper and lower legs, and feet. Certain spells will only fit in certain body slots and cannot usually be stacked.

Spells will also cost a certain amount of "Magic Power" produced by the body, MP is twice Physicality plus twice Perspicacity!

Alena is using the "Eagle Eyes+" spell! It costs one MP and adds +1 dice to all melee attacks, and +1 automatic die success (AD) on ranged attacks.

Learn new spells by leveling up and praying at Harmony Shrines!

Alena aims a kick at the aggressive beast, trying to land an attack between its first and second set of limbs.

Alena, 5 dice: Phys-2, + Melee-2, +1die from "Eagle Eyes+".
Alena Rolls: 1,5,1,6,5
4 hits vs. 2 Def

Nozomi's mother manages to land a solid kick causing the beast to back off and run yelping into the woods, "I'm glad that's over. We can't waste anytime heading to Greenbough."

Nozomi and party gain 6 xp for the battle, next level at 100xp!]

----------------------------------

The two women have made excellent time, taking the road, and when it ended taking animal paths and natural paths that Alena is able to notice due to her long experience of wilderness travel.

The sun is slowly sinking into the forest when Nozomi and Alena are stopped by an Invector watchman on the road leading into the village, he waves at them, and notices their grim expressions, "What news?"

Nozomi starts to spill everything in one long stream of words but catches herself, "We need a healer, my father was hurt by a Remnant Sorcerer attack!"

The Invector barely spends any time in open mouthed shock before turning and running towards Greenbough, waving for them to follow, "WHERE WAS THIS?" he shouts as he skids around a corner, heading towards the Temple in the Village's middle.

Alena let's Nozomi take the lead as she starts to explain to first the guard and then a clearly shocked Priest, "A Remnant SORCERER?" the man asks open mouthed.

"Yes, he attacked up a day's journey up the Gan, he said he wanted me because I was a Chosen" Nozomi says, "Please we need to leave with a healer now" she begs.

The Priest gasps and the Invector bows, "Of course my lady, but should we not wait until dawn if there is a Sorcerer about?"

Nozomi shakes her head impatiently, "We managed to fight him off, but my father is dying, he stepped in front of the Sorcerer to save my life."

"Please, my husband is hurt badly"

The elderly Priest sighs and looks at the Invector, "Toya, go get Cadus. Quickly"

As the Invector takes off at a run, the old Speaker man turns back to Nozomi, "I could go… but the time when I could easily traverse banks of the Gan even during the day are long gone" the man sighs, "Cadus is my great grandson, he's a good healer, and a good man, even if he is… impulsive sometimes"

The Invector comes skidding around the corner followed closely by a young Speaker man, slightly older than Nozomi. He's slightly taller than Nozomi, and has the same straight black hair as her, but has a more athletic build.

The men skid to a stop just in front of the aged Priest, the Speaker almost tripping into him, "SORRY GRAndfather" he pants, "I came as fast as I could, someone needs help?" he looks at Nozomi and Alena.

"Yes go with these two women, there are hurt people from an attack" he stops and turns back to the Invector, "Toya, get your brothers, escort the Chosen to her father, meet them at the north road"

Cadus starts, "Did. You. Say. Chosen?" he asks, before bowing, "It is my honour to assist you"

Alena shakes her head, "Please, we have no time for that we need to same my husband"

----------------------------------------------------

This night, as was the one of the attack, is a blur.

Nozomi, Alena, Cadus, Toya and his two brothers race up the river in the driving rain, Alena and Nozomi following a slightly more efficient path that Toya knows from his many patrols in the area.

They reach the camp slightly before sun-up and Alena all but drags Cadus into the shelter, blowing past Airid without a word. Nozomi follows behind, sprinting through the rain.

Nozomi ducks into the shelter just in time to see Cadus kneel down on the ground next to Tarim and see his palms light up blue.

Tarim is barely breathing, and Veesa leans in to Nozomi, "I did my best with the little bit of training I have… but sometimes you need the sort of spells a Speaker has in addition to Invector heart"

They three women watch as Cadus spends the next hour slowly going over Tarim's body with his magic, the glowing blue of his palms, and the lines of coruscating blue streaming up his arms, outlining his own veins and arteries from the effort of putting his own power into healing someone else.

Finally Cadus has to sit back, and wipe his forehead, "I think he's going to be okay… He still looks bad, but I stabilized the worst of it… If there was someone else here, or if I had a Tythean rose, I could finish the treatment today…"

He sighs, and Nozomi is about to open her mouth to tell him that she does have a White Tythean, when Tarim's eyes flutter open and he grasps Cadus' arm, "What? What is ha..?"

There isn't time for a reply from the young healer before Alena and Nozomi have dropped to Tarim's side and hugged him tightly, weeping.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone is in an actually happy mood the next day when Cadus finishes up healing Veesa, Tarim, Alena and the others. Even the wheather has finally cleared up

"That's awfully annoying, It couldn't have done that something like three days ago?" Veesa says to Nozomi over the makeshift wooden box table that they're eating breakfast off of.

Nozomi nods, "Yeah, that could have gone better" she pauses briefly, "I'm just ahppy that everything worked out well."

"Next time you should use some of that pull with the SInger you Chosen have to clear it up right away, ok?" Veesa grins, and does a sitting bow, "No disrespect meant, of course, Chosen Nozomi!"

Nozomi laughs and does sloppy Invector salute, "Of course Invector Veesa"

Tarim comes out of the shelter, supported by his wife, and talking to Airid, and the Toya brothers when they look over and see a smallish boat sailing up the river towards them.

A half hour later, Toya and his brothers are in the boat, and the boat's captain is explaining to Airid that the Priest in Greenbough sent him and his boat the Gan as soon as the weather cleared up.

Nozomi is standing next to them talking with her parents, about what do next. They, or rather Nozomi still needs to reach Serenity, the options when they get back to Greenbough are to either try to catch a ride on another river barge, hire a boat like this one, or take the road out from Greenbough and take the Trasen Forest road to Serenity on foot.

------------------------------------------------

So, yeah that was mostly Tutorial, it's not super important if you don't care. Before each combat, I'll be sure to give you the opportunity to activate spells if you want, spells can be helpful in non-combat manners as well, for skill checks for instance, or even to unlock other gameplay options!

[ ] Wait for another Barge, The Hunter may still be on the Gan, but safety in numbers!
[ ] Hire a boat. The Hunter may still be on the Gan, but safety in speed!
[ ] Walk the Trasen road, it'll take way longer, but The Hunter may not realise you've gone inland and lose the scent

SINGER'S QUEST GOTY Edition said:
(Combat numbers will default to off, you may re-enable them in the settings menu)

[ ]COMBAT NUMBERS ON
[ ]COMBAT NUMBERS OFF

HP: 4
MP: 10
Def: 2+1
Will: 3
EXP: 6\100

Co-Ordination-2
Perspicacity-3
-Rapport-2
-Barter-2
Intelligence-2
-Lore-1
-Mathematics-1
Physical-1

Spells:

"Cold Reader"

Caste: Speaker
Location: Head
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic brackets the eyes and a line sweeps up from the middle of each bracket to disappear at the temple
Active Appearance: The same as above but the addition that the eyes themselves glow a vibrant blue
Effect Description: It is possible to analyse a face or body language in detail; the user instinctively reads the emotions of the target, up to and including sorting truth from lies without a word.
Cost: 1 mana to activate until next rest
Mechanical Effect: +2 autosuccess to any rolls made to detect lies or read emotional state

Inventory
Traveller's Staff
-+1 Dice to Melee attack
Traveller's Clothes
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Traveller's Cloak
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Endless Flask
-Refills up to three and a half liters of pure water each day
White Tythean Rose
-Refills MP by 10x for one day

REACH SERENITY

[ ] FIRST PERSON
[X] THIRD PERSON
===============================
[X] DONT SHOW COMBAT NUMBERS
[ ] SHOW COMBAT NUMBER
===============================
TUTORIAL STATUS: FINISHED

AKuz · Jan 15, 2016

You know what I always enjoy in any type of RPG? Just walking around the towns clicking on things, wandering into random places, and talking to the people. Well because of that, I felt like I should try to replicate that experience in text, or tried to anyway...Without further ado:

GREENBOUGH EXPLORATION:

Much like Nozomi's home village of Fourkeys, Greenbough is a green and pleasant place on a wind in the Gan river in the Trasen Forest

[The Greenbough Piers jut out gently into the river, a few boats are tied up, and the river gently flows contentedly in it's banks]

[Airid is speaking with the Merchant Captain whose barge The Hunter destroyed]
MERHCANT: "It sunk, of course I'm not paying you anything."
AIRID: "Ah, well, that ain't fair Captain. Your crew is alive and most of your cargo safe."
MERCHANT: "But my vessel, my livelyhood is gone."
AIRID: "You hired me to help keep bandits, creatures, and thieves away, not fight Sorcerers. All things considered I'd say my Girl and I did a pretty good job."
MERCHANT: "Ahh, well see, I'll need everything I have just to stay afloat. Figuratively speaking. I'll see what I can spare."

NERVOUS MERCHANT: "Were there really Sorcerers? Maybe I shouldn't run my business along the river until it's safe.... But I can't let my customers down."

FISHERMAN: "Ahh.... rain like this makes the air so clean! Don't you think Ms Speaker?"

[The Greenbough Harmony Shrine is much like the one in Fourkeys, which is comforting to Nozomi after her recent adventures]

GREENBOUGH PRIEST: "You did a fine job Cadus, I'm proud of you."
CADUS: "Thank you Grandfather."
GREENBOUGH PRIEST: "Your parents would be proud as well. Though I think..."
CADUS: "Grandfather?"
GREENBOUGH PRIEST: "Grandson, I've always told you how much I think you can accomplish a lot in life."
CADUS: "I've certainly tried to be there for all our people"
GREENBOUGH PRIEST: "Yes I was wondering if soon it would be time to take your training to the next level..."
CADUS: "What does that mean?"
GREENBOUGH PRIEST: "I need to take care of something first, then we will talk."

CADUS: "OH! Hello Chosen!"
NOZOMI: "It's Nozomi actually?"
CADUS: "Oh right, sorry, things slip my mind sometimes, not that you would slip my mind. I mean, I remember who you are, You're just the first Chosen that I've ever met."
NOZOMI: "Well what do you think?"
CADUS: "Well, uh.... um"
NOZOMI: "I think I should let you know that I actually do bite!"
CADUS: "Eep!"
NOZOMI: "I'm kidding"
CADUS: "Hee, ah, you're pretty Nice? I think? Yeah!"

Nozomi approaches the Harmony Shrine and prays to the Singer. She can feel the comforting presence of other Devoted nearby and the sense that all is right in the village.

She also feels one with the Singer's Song itself, and it is as if her experiences and memories are being gently examined by a benevolent hand in approval as she prays.

SINGER'S QUEST: GOTY Edition said:
GAME STATE SAVED IN SLOT 1!

[The markets are only a few shops and some stalls in the Greenbough square. Since it's not market day, it's not very busy...]

[The smell of delicious baked goods waft out from this humble building. Of course most of what they make is bread, but an experianced Baker can make delicious goods with an almost magical effect. Nozomi's parents are inside]

ALENA: "Hello Nozomi, are you feeling better?"
NOZOMI: "I should be asking that of the both of you. I was so worried!"
TARIM: *hugs daughter* "I'm just glad you're okay, that's all I care about"
ALENA: "Hey!"
TARIM: "We've had a good run already...Ha ha ha, okay, I think I'd be upset if I didn't get to live another century with you!"
NOZOMI: "Are you still looking for more travel supplies?"
ALENA: "Well we were... but right now I'm trying to stop your father from stuffing his face full of pies"
TARIM: "She's just lucky there are no Tealberry pies in this shop, otherwise I'd be stuffing my face full of one at this very moment"

[It's a nice little stall, being run by a little Speaker girl about half Nozomi's age. Nozomi wonders if she grew these flowers herself...

FLOWER GIRL: "THREE CHITS A FLOWER"
NOZOMI: "These flowers aren't worth three chits, make it one each and you've got a deal"
FLOWER GIRL: "Are you kidding Ms Speaker? These are artisinally grown, locally sourced flowers. If you care about the environment, you know I can't part with these for anything less than three each."
NOZOMI: "Those grow everywhere down by Fourkeys and I bet it's the same here."
FLOWER GIRL: "Like, I said these are locally sourced in an environmentally friendly manner"
NOZOMI: "You're alright kid"

VEESA: "I dunno, three chits seems like a lot for flowers"
FLOWER GIRL: "Well Ms Invector, These are artisinally grown, locally sourced flowers, grown in a sustainable way."
VEESA: "Well.... That does still seem a little expensive"
FLOWER GIRL: "Well, how about you buy one for your friend here!"
VEESA: "OH! Ah, hello Nozomi, I would say that I didn't see you there, which I suppose would be embarrassing for an Invector of my towering stature."
NOZOMI: "Don't worry Veesa, I'll keep your secret... for a price."
FLOWER GIRL: "Yes! Buy her one of these Flowers! I'll even give you two for four because I like you so much!"
VEESA: "I, uh... Yeah, do you like flowers?"
NOZOMI: "Of course! Especially purple ones!"
VEESA: "Ok, I'll... take two? Yeah!
NOZOMI: "Thank you!"

SINGER'S QUEST: GOTY Edition said:
Nozomi gained two PURPLE FLOWERS! (That was nice of Veesa)

FLOWER GIRL: "psst. Your cut"

SINGER'S QUEST: GOTY Edition said:
Nozomi got 1 CT! (Business is good today!)

[The fields around Greenbough have been cleared of trees and some enterprising farmers have set up fields to grow common crops, off in the distance Nozomi can see a field full of sheep]

[Toya is standing next to a spot of unearthed dirt next to the road]
TOYA: "I distinctly recall there being some very nice flowers here just a few days ago. I wonder where they went?"
NOZOMI: "..."

[There is a small pack of dogs here next to Toya, they happily run and play while Toya watches.]
NOZOMI: "Awww, they're so happy to see me!"
TOYA: "They're good dogs. One of my talents is animal husbandry, so I raise these dogs for the village, I've got a spell that makes them want to listen to me"
DOG: "BARK! BARK!"
NOZOMI: "OKAY! One pet for you, and one for you, and one for you."
PUPPY: "YIP! YIP!"
NOZOMI: "Wow! There sure are a lot of you, and so cute too!"

ANYWAY: Voting closes tomorrow at 8:33PM PST.
(Hopefully I'll be able to drag myself away from Dragon's Dogma PC long enough to post

...But seriously I'm going to post that night)

AKuz · Jan 16, 2016

CHAPTER V: Speed is Safety

Nozomi walks into the small Shrine, the last of the day's dying light following her in. She walks up the center aisle to where Greenbough's Elderly Priest and de facto village leader kneels in what looks like prayer.

"You, ah, wanted to see me sir?" She asks as she draws near, and see's that he is lighting candles sit in front of the stone altar the crystal Shrine is set into.

The old man nods deeply to hand and holds out a hand to indicate the stone floor next to him, "Ah! Chosen Nozomi, please sit and talk with me".

"I don't see why not" the young woman says as she kneels next to him.

"I was thinking about the lesson that I should try to impart to my flock in the coming week."

"That seems like fun" Nozomi says.

"Do you know that the Song is built out of opportunities?" the old man continues, before Nozomi can reply, he lights another candle and reaches out to touch a facet of the Shrine, "The Harmony is nothing if not a series of opportunities for each member of the community to contribute their part, even when not asked. To find what aligns them with everyone else in the community and do it" he hands Nozomi a candle.

Nozomi nods, and takes the candle; lighting the Shrine to keep it pure in the uncertain night is technically a Priest's ritual, but in a pinch any Speaker can do it… and she supposes it is an honour for a Shrine to be lit by a Chosen.

"And when those opportunities to join the Song are freely chosen without hesitation they benefit not just society but the one that takes that opportunity to contribute to the Song"

"Okay that makes sense" Nozomi says lighting a Candle and touching the next facet of the crystal.

The old Priest lights another candle and suddenly changes tracks on Nozomi, "Chosen, what do you think of my grandson, Cadus?"

Nozomi thinks about this for a moment as she lights the next candle, "He seems like a talented young Speaker, my father certainly seems to think he has a great future as a Healer"

The old man doesn't pause as he nods and continues his ritual, "Much as I've always though. He belongs in Serenity, learning at the feet of the great Speakers there and making a name for himself. Not as an exile in a backwater village" he pauses for a moment before continuing, "You are also going to Serenity. This is an opportunity for him. To arrive in Serenity with a Chosen would be a great honour for him. And this is an opportunity for you too."

Nozomi raises an eyebrow, "How so?"

"I've already taken the liberty of hiring the most… impatient of the river fishermen to take my grandson up the Gan. I may have also given him the impression that my grandson would have company." he finishes lighting the last candle, and rests his hand on the Shrine as he stands up, "It would be my honour to take this opportunity to assist a Chosen"

Nozomi finishes her last candle and stands up as well, "Of course, it would be an honour for me to accept your hospitality, "

-----------------------------------------

Nozomi returns to the inn her family has rented a room in, the night has arrived and the twin moons shine down on her as she crosses the square; her parents are sitting in front of the hearth with Airid and Veesa.

"Good news, Nozomi!" Tarim says as she takes a seat between her father and Veesa, "Airid and Veesa have agreed to be hired as guards for us on the way to Serenity."

Veesa leans over conspiratorially and says in a stage whisper, "Don't tell your parents, but we were going that way anyway"

Airid chuckles, "Aye, that's where our hearth and home is, the wife and wee ones"

Veesa grins, "We're going to have to take the East path out tomorrow morning, no point in waiting around, the road is a long trip"

Nozomi grins, "Well, I've got good news there" she says as she tells them about the Priest's offer, "...and so we get to meet Cadus at the piers at first light."

"Well that's awfully convenient" Veesa says.

"I'd say more like sacred opportunity myself".

---------------------------------

With six passengers and two crew on board the small fishing boat is cramped. The little vessel's master had originally balked at letting two more people on for free, but Nozomi convinced the man by saying how handy it would be to have two experienced Invectors onboard.

Airid chipped in as well, it turning out that for some reason, having spent decades on the river had taught Airid a thing or two about watercraft.

Veesa had tried to help as well, but she stepped aside after the captain explained to her that, her good intentions aside, that she was getting in the way and could she please Just. Stop Helping.

Which meant that Veesa had the time to watch the shore go by, which meant on the second day of the trip, she was the one that saw the beasts first.

"What's that?" Veesa said pointing towards the shore.

"Euh?" Cadus says, looking up from where he was losing his breakfast over the side again, "Wha's wha?"

Nozomi and Alena both look up from where they're discussing finer points of flower distribution and pricing.

"That" Veesa points at where a shadow has slipped behind two trees.

Nozomi frowns, "I don't see anything…?"

Alena frowns as well, using some of her magic, her eyes glowing bright blue and the magic lines swirl on her skin from her forehead and eyes down to her neck, "It looks like some sort of black wolf… but something's wrong. It's not moving properly"

"I didn't think that wolves stalked boats" Cadus says sitting down heavily against a gunwale.

"They don't" Tarim says, "At least in my experience they don't, not unless they've been compelled to for some reason"

Veesa scans the rest of the Gan's banks, "Compelled to by a Hunter, say?"

"It's just barely keeping up" Alena notes, eyes glowing as she focuses on the treeline "I think there might be a couple more, no sign of the Hunter. If we don't slow down or set aground at night we should be fine"

"Are we certain it's the Sorcerer?" Cadus asks, "It really could just be a wolf of some sort."

"It doesn't… look right" Alena says eyes fixed on the shape, "It doesn't move right, it's hard to explain but creatures changed by Sorcery are just too smooth. Magic replaces the imperfections and hesitations of nature… Just trust me when I say this is definitely a creature created or changed by Sorcery"

------------------------------------

"You notice that we're the only thing on the old river?" says Airid to Alena, "Usually you see a few friendly someones going in either direction"

The Captain looks over his shoulder and shouts, "My gal's the fastest thing the Singer ever put to water, no one's going to catch up to us from down the Gan.", he snorts in a friendly manner, and adds, "We've only got a day and a half left before we reach Serenity"

Alena scans the horizon, her eyes glowing, "That doesn't explain the lack of down river traffic from Serenity." she says before adding, "They're still there, but barely keeping up, a regular beast would have given up days ago, but these don't seem to need to eat"

"Do you think that, they know that we know that they're following us?" he pauses, scrunching up his face, "Or is that we know that they know that know that.. wait."

Veesa laughs, "Yeah, actually! We could have a good chance to surprise and ambush them, then the Hunter's minions aren't tracking us!"

Cadus frowns, "Why fight? We're already ahead of them, just keep going"

Alena nods slightly, "No point in wasting time or resources we don't absolutely need to"

Airid looks at the river bank, as the setting sun bathes the treeline in the last of the day's golden rays, "We could get ashore, fight the beasts, and then go inland the last little bit to Serenity, like the good Captain said, we've got a day and a half by boat, but because the way the river bends here, it's probably a day and half by foot as well."

Alena nods, "We could lose him, if he thinks we're traveling the river, but as I said before I'm disinclined to lose time and blood here we don't absolutely need to"

Tarim looks at his daughter, "Nozomi? Why don't you decide what the best course of action is, after all you're the Chosen. I trust you to pick the best way forwards"

-------------------------------------------------

Almost to serenity! Looking forwards to this, I'm hoping to open the game up some more than this first section/warm-up allowed!

Remember if you choose a combat option, you may decide what Spells to activate, and how much MP to spend in advance. Although you'll have access to the basic spell pool of Nozomi, Veesa and Cadus only.

[ ] Just keep sailing to Serenity as you have been
[ ] Try to ambush and kill the pursuing beasts before continuing
[ ] Kill the beasts and travel overland the rest of the way
[ ] Write In?

HP: 4
MP: 10
Def: 2+1
Will: 3
EXP: 6\100

Co-Ordination-2
Perspicacity-3
-Rapport-2
-Barter-2
Intelligence-2
-Lore-1
-Mathematics-1
Physical-1

Spells:

"Cold Reader"

Caste: Speaker
Location: Head
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic brackets the eyes and a line sweeps up from the middle of each bracket to disappear at the temple
Active Appearance: The same as above but the addition that the eyes themselves glow a vibrant blue
Effect Description: It is possible to analyse a face or body language in detail; the user instinctively reads the emotions of the target, up to and including sorting truth from lies without a word.
Cost: 1 mana to activate until next rest
Mechanical Effect: +2 autosuccess to any rolls made to detect lies or read emotional state

Inventory
Traveller's Staff
-+1 Dice to Melee attack
Traveller's Clothes
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Traveller's Cloak
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Endless Flask
-Refills up to three and a half liters of pure water each day
White Tythean Rose
-Refills MP by 10x for one day

HP: 12
MP: 8
Def: 3+2
Will: 2

Co-ordination-2
Physicality-3
-Melee-2
--Melee(Shortsword-1)
Intelligence-1
-Tracking-2
-First aid-2
Perpicasity-2

Spells:

Caste: Invector
Location: Lower Arms
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic runs along the opposite sides of the arm, starting at the base of the hand and running up to the elbow.
Active Appearance: Magic fills out from the blue lines and envelopes the arm and out past (and including) a now rigidly-flat hand, creating a vibrantly blue slashing blade of incredible sharpness
Effect Description: Creates an approximately 70cm blade along the arm that allows the user to swordfight without sustaining damage to the arm itself. While many Invectors choose to use traditional metal blades instead, with this spell a Devoted soldier or lawman is never unarmed.
Costs: 1 mana to activate until next rest
Mechanical Effect: Gain a weapon called "Invector Blade" with +1 auto success, and +1 dice on melee rolls

Caste: Invector
Location: Upper legs
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic outlines the musculature of the legs
Active Appearance: Same as above but pulses with energy in time with the user's heartbeat
Effect Description: The user can run far faster with far less fatigue than normal.
Cost: 1 Mana to activate until rest
Mechanical Effect: +1 to Physicality attribute, +2 to running skill

Inventory:
Veesa's Shortsword
+1 Dice to Melee attacks, +1 Autosuccess dice to Melee attacks
Veesa's Clothes
Invector Armour
+2 Def

HP: 8
MP: 10
Def: 2+1
Will: 3+1

Co-Ordination-1
Physicality-2
Intelligence-2
-Medicine-2
--Medicine (First Aid-1)
-Lore-1
Perspicacity-3
Rapport-1
Spells:

Caste: Speaker
Location: Hands
Passive Appearance: the entire palm is covered in the telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic
Active Appearance: The palm is as above but glows brightly with a blue aura.
Effect Description: Placed over any sort of wound, the spell will heal the wound, but will quickly deplete the strength of the user.
Costs: X mana
Mechanical Effect: Heals X HP on target that the user can touch

Inventory:
Cadus' Staff
+1 Dice to Melee Attacks
Cadus' Travel Clothes
+1 Def
Cadus' Robes
+1 Will

REACH SERENITY

[ ] FIRST PERSON
[X] THIRD PERSON
===============================
[X] DONT SHOW COMBAT NUMBERS
[ ] SHOW COMBAT NUMBER
===============================
TUTORIAL STATUS: FINISHED

AKuz · Jan 18, 2016

CHAPTER VI: Black Beasts

One of the Black Beasts approaches the firelight cautiously, sniffing at the trees at the outskirts of the treeline, waiting for the rest of its pack to catch up to it. It cautiously watches figures moving around the firepit.

As the Beast paces it leaves a trail of black pawprints on the ground, wherever it's paws have landed the green turns to black ash, this small violation fueling the magical abomination slightly, and in this way its kind sustain themselves for the hunt.

For this particular beast however its hunt is over as an arrow suddenly leaps from an unseen place and pieces it between the eyes.

The beasts may be smart enough to track for days, but they are not smart enough to question why a boat that has sailed for several nights would choose this one to finally set its crew aground for rest.

Panicked, the other Beasts attempt do the thing they are created for: Kill.

Nozomi, Veesa, and Cadus charge out from where they had been pretending to unload something from the boat's little skiff and come face to face with three of the Black Beasts charging into the fake camp.

Veesa leads the charge swinging an old shortsword, and catching the lead beast on the shoulder causing it to turn away and circle around howling furiously.

The three young people fight with their backs to the fire, attempting to close an avenue of attack, as on the other side Tarim, Alena, and Airid fight thier own battle against a larger group of the beasts

Cadus and Nozomi stand next to her, but attempt a slightly different tack. The each distract one of the older beasts, using their traveler's staffs to jab the other two beast and keep them off balance while Veesa's blade swings in arc after arc; resting briefly and then suddenly jumping forwards to strike one of the beasts.

They are not the most co-ordinated team, Nozomi at one point accidentally smacking Veesa in the arm with her staff and at another point Cadus backs into Nozomi and almost knocks her into the fire.

The Beasts fare little better though, they trip over themselves trying to get to avoid hurting Nozomi. The young speaker notices and uses that to her advantage, herding the animals into Veesa's blade and away from Cadus.

"And that's three" Veesa says as she pulls her blade out from the last Beast, and looks up at and notices the corpses of another dozen of the beasts surrounding the camp.

"Four", says Arid, grin at her.

Tarim shrugs,"One" he says,

"Seven" Alena says before suddenly notching an arrow and firing again, "Eight actually" she kneels down to examine one of the Beast corpses. She touches it with a stick and watches as it suddenly catches fire and incinerates almost instantly, creating short, tall, flashes of flame that reach high into the air; and is followed quickly in turn by each of the other corpses.

"That is a heck of a thing" Airid says scanning the treeline for more beasts, and finds none, "I suppose he probably knows we've killed them now."

------------------------------------------------

Sorry for such a short update, but I literally went insane tonight. So, anyway chose from lame options while I transparently stall for time. Expect a proper sized/large update on Tuesday

Coming into the final stretch, the relief at seeing the outer wall of Serenity is broken by The Hunter:

[ ] Ambushing the boat with a hail of flaming arrows
[ ] Waiting with another pack of Beasts

the party decides to:
[ ] Fight
[ ] Make a break for Serenity

AKuz · Jan 20, 2016

CHAPTER VII: Hunter's Last Dance

The small boat slowly works its way up the river in the dark, its occupants carefully scanning the shores and taking quick hopeful glances at the approaching, yet still distant, city walls.

Nozomi peeks a look at the bright white line of Serenity's outermost wall, ten meters high, merely a third the height of the inner thirty meter high walls, but still providing an unparalleled safety to its citizens.

Even from this distance, Nozomi can also see the centrepiece of Serenity: the massive curved grace of the Singer's Tower reaching towards the sky. The white spire reaches for the sky, marred only by a single uneven slash which has removed even higher levels of the structure. The damage the almost indestructible tower has received is a testament to the divine strength of the Betrayer, even in her death throes.

Of course the walls are made from the same material of the Singer's Tower and defended by a legion of the Devoted's finest Invectors. Serenity is the safest place in the world.

And Nozomi prays hopefully, soon, those walls and defenders will keep herself, and her party safe too.

It briefly seems to be a fool's hope when Alena hisses at them all to get down, to hide in the boat, and not to get up again. The boat slowly makes its way up the river (after Alena kicks the Captain and his mate back out on deck with instructions to "act natural")

"Hoy there boat!" someone shouts from the shore in a angry and familiar voice.

"Same to you stranger!" the Captain shouts back

"Have you seen a party pass by this way? Maybe in another boat, or maybe by land? A barge perhaps?"

"Which way sir?" the Captain asks, disguising his nervousness as being chilled by the night air.

"Oh, either. I'm waiting for some... friends" Nozomi hears some barks from the shore, but is not suicidally curious enough to look.

The captain shifts uncomfortably, "No, sir, just heading up to The City"

"I see. You usually travel at night?"

"Not usually, but an Elder has hired me to deliver a message to his Grandson in Serenity. And I must be quick"

"Ah, that's is interesting. I wish you luck with that. It might be harder than you think nowadays!" Nozomi and her mother exchanges glances, what could Hunter mean by that?"

"Sorry Sir?" The Captain shouts, but by now they are too far past to hear the reply and only the faint echos of a laugh.

---------------------------------------------------

"This is wrong" the Captain and Nozomi's mother say almost together, they are far past the bend in the river where Hunter had been, "Even at this late hour there should be all kinds of activity on the Gan docks, river trade is the economic lifeblood of the docks."

"Aye" the Captain says squinting at the river, "Something wrong…" he suddenly gasps, pointing at the water.

Nozomi and the others look over and follow his finger. The river is choked with sunken boats, an artificial reef of wood.

"What in the Singer's name…" Tarim whispers.

"I can't imagine that them proud rivermen did that willingly" Airid says.

"We're going to have to get off…" Alena says, "Unless we want to go back"

Airid shakes his head, "I know I got a contract and all, but I need to know what's going on, the family is in there"

Veesa nods in agreement, then adds, "I can't see fires from outside so it can't be an army..."

"There are still guards on the walls, moving about on patrol. Whatever's wrong they don't seem to be that worried about it", Nozomi's mother says, her eyes lit bright blue from using magic to look at the wall with greater visual acuity than any mundane sight.

The boat begins to head around in a wide arc, coming close towards shore, "If you want the skip to take you off, take it now. I'm not waiting around to get my boat sunk"

Everyone looks at Nozomi, "I guess I'm finally in charge. I assume that I can't charge you for these decisions… Hmm" she pauses briefly, thinking, "We came all this way and I'm not turning around for The Hunter to find us."

"I, um, yeah, okay. Grandfather would say that I should show my "Superior Quality" anyways" Cadus adds, "I guess I'm in"

----------------------------------------------------------

Getting off the boat hadn't been difficult, nor was the walk towards the gates, of course difficult didn't mean time consuming, and the sun was risen high into the sky by the time the small party had made its way towards the gates.

The walls were even more impressive up close then the had been from far way, and so were the gates… which were closed.

As they approached the small collection of buildings that sat next to outer wall's southern gate, a guard came up to them, "The, ah, City is closed."

"We'd gathered that" Nozomi notes dryly, "I was wondering if we could get inside anyway"

"No entry!" the guard repeats.

"I see that" Nozomi says, "How about we talk about that then?"

"No entry!" the guard says again.

"I see you're pretty dedicated to that" Nozomi says, frowning, "How about you let me talk to someone willing to let a Chosen in?"

"Oh!" the Guard says, bowing awkwardly, "Um, No, uh, entry?" he says for a last time before he begins to wilt under the combined glare of Nozomi's party, "Actually, I will go get the Lieutenant… Just wait in the inn" he says backing off quickly and gesturing to a large wooden building with a stable attached that was crowded with horses, some other beasts of burden and some dogs milling about, being tended to be overwhelmed stable boys

"Wait, what's…." Airid says to the guard's rapidly retreating back, "...wrong. These boys are too high strung today" he says holding open the door to the inn, "Should probably wait inside though, at least we can get a hot meal for lunch today"

A number of people in the room look up as the party enters, it's clear that others have been kept outside as well. Nozomi walks in, followed by the others, "And we can find out what's going on."

"Simple" someone says from right behind her, as a man steps off from where he'd been standing against a wall in a cloak, "City's closed, as I knew it would be, incidentally"

Nozomi and the others turn around, "Sorry…?" Nozomi says as the man steps right up to her.

"You'll never find out though. I waited and waited when suddenly trackers told me that you'd already slipped by onto land. I of course couldn't let that stand" a hand draws a wicked and rune marked black blade, "SO!" another lights into flame, "HERE!" the hood falls back as the wearer bolts forwards brushing a stunned Tarim to the floor, "I" Nozomi omphs as she is tackled, "AM"

The Hunter waves his hand violently at the nearest wall, and it bursts into flame and turns to near ash almost instantly, as the inn partons scream and shout, hurling themselves away. Even as her defenders reach for Nozomi, The Hunter has draped her over her shoulder and he bursts through the ashen wall, cinders scattering.

Outside, he gives a howl, and the dogs suddenly scream in pain and shift, growing larger and… blacker, they leap upon the other animals, mauling them savagely and growing stronger.

The Hunter takes off towards the river as a shout goes up from the wall, some quickly fired arrows from alert Invectors upon the walls come down close before they stop: a hostage over your back is good insurance from being fired upon, even by highly trained Invector guardians.

Veesa and Cadus charge out right behind him, the others moments behind… but even those moments are too much it seems, the Black beasts are upon them heeding their master's call for chaos and carnage.

A stunned Nozomi fights back as best she can, trying to bite and scrape, but his hold on her was too strong and her position to awkward for her to gain any purchase.

Cadus begins to fall behind, a healer might be fit, but one of his inexperience can hardly keep up with an Invector of the same skill level going full tilt, much less an ancient Sorcerer.

Veesa doesn't fall behind though, the blood and muscles in her legs suddenly pulse with blue magic, and she pulls closer to The Hunter, using the magic of her Relentless Pursuit spell. With a shout she uses her other spell, activating her Invector blade, and its glowing magic flows down her forearm and over and past her flattened hand, creating a flat, deadly weapon. She's armed now, and ready to fight this monster again.

In the distance, the other party members and a pair of guards are battling the Black Beasts: rested and fed, these particular monsters are a much greater threat than the ones fought earlier.

"You're going to regret your life, Chosen." Hunter snarls, "I'm still getting you to The Architect, but you're not going to enjoy another moment of your life after this one" he says before suddenly diving into the Gan, narrowly missing a blue blade aimed at his feet as he does so.

Nozomi suddenly stops struggling, clearing her mind as she feels the Hunter's strokes in the water, and his rough kick, as he tries to dive away from the surface. She suddenly sees something off to the side, along the bank and reaches out to grab it.

Whatever it is, Nozomi's able to grab hold of it long enough to throw off The Hunter's strokes, and she kicks a leg in between his legs and they both tumble into a mess of limbs in the water. As her vision grows dark, they both hit the bank, and she pushes herself away from The Hunter with all her might.

In the struggle her cloak comes off and the Hunter looses his grip on her and Nozomi makes a mad dash for what she thinks is the surface. Nothing. She's dove harder into the bank and she begins to struggle in panic until she can feel her hand touch something. The Chosen grabs onto it with all with desperation, and suddenly she is pulled out.

Hands pull her up onto the bank as Cadus and Veesa both struggle to pull her up onto her feet, "WE NEED TO RUN NOW" Cadus shouts, as Nozomi takes stumbling steps away from the River.

"YOU KNOW WHAT?" A voice says from behind them, "NO TOY FOR THE ARCHITECT", the Hunter Rises out of the river, pulling himself out with causal strength, "I'm ending you here, you damned Speaker slave"

Cadus and Veesa stand on either side of her, Veesa with her blade out and Cadus with a whiteknuckle grip on his Staff, "We'll stop you together" Cadus says with quiet determination.

The Hunter throws his cloak off and it flutters to the ground, "You're a new one. Still dead though. I'll kill the rest of you too. Maybe go back and slaughter your pathetic villages. Hear the screams of you families as they die without knowing why"

"My family is in the city actually," Veesa says waiting for Nozomi to get behind her before she suddenly darts forwards and aims a slash at The Hunter.

The Hunter snarls as he steps back and lets the blade hit open air, "Oh please, your city is going to be a pyre in a mere decade if I have my way" he aims another slash back at her, and the Invector girl hollers as he runs his blade down her arm up her arm.

Nozomi takes Cadus' staff and makes a hesitant swing, and the man steps back laughing. This does however give Cadus himself a chance to step forwards and lay his palm on Veesa's arm, the coruscating glow of magic healing the wound right back up.

The Invector attacks again, fury in her eyes, screaming something inarticulate and angry as she does so, jamming the point of her blade through his outfit and even through his magically toughened skin, causing him to recoil back.

"NOT AGAIN INVECTOR SINGER PUPPET" and The Hunter flows past her, blade moving in an arc as he does so, stabbing her in the shoulder, and again Cadus repairs the injury almost instantly, growing weaker as he does so.

Nozomi takes a different tack than before, she picks up a handful of mud and tosses it at hunter. This wouldn't usually be an issue for the man, given his superior reflexes, but she's begun using her only spell. A spell which helps her detect lies, and spot what way someone she is talking to is likely to respond just by watching body language.

Body language which can tell her which way that the Sorcerer is going to move. Nozomi hit him right in the eyes as he tries to dodge left, and her throw anticipating that leads his movement.

Before he can even respond, Veesa has launched another assault and again pierces his defences as he reaches up to clear the mud off his face with a violent swipe, and Nozomi tries again but The Hunter dodges out of the way: onto Veesa blades as she steps into his path and swings, nicking the man again.

"I'M STOPPING YOU RIGHT HERE" Nozomi screams as she swings the staff again, and again misses.

"It's not a question of stopping me he says, as he steps forward to attack again, "It's question of surviving my attack" he says as he withdraws his blade from Veesa's thigh. Cadus stumbles forwards and heals the wound again before, the Speaker man grows pale as his personal life force flows out of him, and the young man falls to his knees, collapsing to the ground afterwards, barely able stay awake, much less kneel.

Veesa and The Hunter Circle each other launching and receiving a series of quick and brutal attacks, Veesa is able to score several small wounds on the Hunter, and side step an number of attacks, luck and bullheaded courage keeping her in the fight until snarling and breathing heavily the Hunter slides past her guard and slides his blade right through her chest, it ignores bone, sinew and cartilage sliding easily out the other side.

Veesa somehow manages another wild swing at her attacker, but misses. He casually kicks her off the blade, and her bleeding body topples backwards to the ground.

"Well that's finally done with" the Sorcerer says as he turns around, towards Nozomi, who has tried to get around behind him, "You won't like this. That makes me happy" he says with a rictus smile, eyes burning bright with hatred... before completely missing her.

"I guess I've got good luck" Nozomi says as Veesa's blue blade cuts through his arm and the Hunter's eyes open wide as he spins around.

"Surprise! Did you miss me?" Veesa says, her armour is still sliced through but the wicked gash in her chest is healed. Behind her stands Cadus, a drained and wilting Tythean Rose in his hand, standing upright.

The Sorcerer sways and looks back at the inn where his Beasts are finally being put down by the others, and over at the gates where a whole company of Invectors are charging down the road southwards.

"Then Her people burnt the Land from Sea to Sea to Sea as was Right and Just" he says before stabbing himself in the heart with his blade.

The three young devoted stand above his body for a moment in confusion, until it suddenly begins to melt, the ground bubbling and black fumes starting to rise and spread outwards as if propelled by some force.

The three barely have a chance to react before the black sludge and gas explodes. As the are thrown backwards to the ground the fumes enter them as they gasp for air in panic.

Nozomi blacks out instantly, Veesa grabs her and tries to drage her away beofer collapsing herself. Cadus, strangely lasts the longest, trying to heal himself, but this is no wound we was trained to heal and her passes out just as Alena and Tarim reach the three.

----------------------------------------

Nozomi wakes in a panic. Nozomi wakes up in a nice bed, which is, uh, nice. She wakes up next to her father sitting sitting next to her, which is also nice.

"Hi, honey. We're in Serenity now. Everyone made it. Barely" he touches her face, "I couldn't do anything, but the Serenity healers were, they brought us in despite their orders. I guess they couldn't live with themselves if you were to die." he smiles, "I wouldn't either"

Nozomi's father leans back in his chair and raises his voice, "She's awake!" he smiles and reaches down for a hug, "I love you" he says, a tear sliding down his face.

SINGER'S QUEST: GOTY Edition said:
END OF ACT I

-----------------------------------------------

Welp, that almost ended badly, the White Rose ended up being used to prevent a TPK. Hunter either rolled whiffs or enough dice to almost one shot Veesa on about three occasions, so Cadus needed the MP to recharge and heal her. I guess it's a dramatic use for it?

She killed or avoided the of the Black Beasts that would have fought at his side, which is uhhhh, good. The rest were narrative to split the party away from the ~~level 10s~~ seasoned adventurers.

I'm pretty glad to be here now, the opening Act is finished and I/we can get down to business in The City.

Nozomi, her parents, and her friends have made it! Serenity is the capital of the Devoted world. The center of learning, culture, politics, and trade. Except for some reason the city has cut itself off from the outside world:

[ ] A mysterious and clearly artificial disease is striking without warning, infecting few, but killing all it does touch. The city is in quarantine, under the orders of the city's Invector High Command, which has all but seized control of the city in violation of tradition.
[ ] Thieves have stolen extremely dangerous artifacts and are still at large. The Speaker caste of the city have ordered that the city must be kept sealed to keep from them escaping with. It seems that anyone could be with the thieves and the city is scared and a little paranoid.
[ ] Ominous and confusing orders from the Council of Chosen. They have sealed themselves off from the The City, and instructed Serenity to Seal itself off from the rest of the world. The City's leadership now sits in silence, the people of Serenity carrying out their last order.

Also! Alena managed to recover something from Hunter's remains, surprisingly:

[ ] Rune Marked Blade
-It's the Blade that Hunter used to great effect. It somehow was thrown free before the Hunter's spell destroyed his belongings.
[ ] Hunter's Cloak
-Black with even blacker trim, it's hard to look at and harder to remember, It somehow survived the spell, which is somewhat amazing!
[ ] Tarnished Braces
-These survived the explosion, one wonders what properties they might have. Perhaps they were what made his skin so hard to peirce?

Also: Level Up! Level 2 Get:

[ ] Auto Assign

-Or-

Pick one for each Party Member:
+1 Skill (Either Improve the current one, or add a new one! Use your creativity!)
+1 Skill specialization (Either Improve a current one, or add a new one! Use your Creativity!)
~~+1 Spell (Select a spell form those currently available to the party!)~~
=========>(Available after Nozomi reaches a Harmony Shrine next update)

Level: 2 (Level Up Available!)
Current EXP: 206
Next Level: 210

HP: 4
MP: 10
Def: 2+1
Will: 3

Co-Ordination-2
Perspicacity-3
-Rapport-2
-Barter-2
Intelligence-2
-Lore-1
-Mathematics-1
Physical-1

Spells:

"Cold Reader"

Caste: Speaker
Location: Head
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic brackets the eyes and a line sweeps up from the middle of each bracket to disappear at the temple
Active Appearance: The same as above but the addition that the eyes themselves glow a vibrant blue
Effect Description: It is possible to analyse a face or body language in detail; the user instinctively reads the emotions of the target, up to and including sorting truth from lies without a word.
Cost: 1 mana to activate until next rest
Mechanical Effect: +2 autosuccess to any rolls made to detect lies or read emotional state

Inventory
Traveller's Staff
-+1 Dice to Melee attack
Traveller's Clothes
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Traveller's Cloak
-+1 Def (Does not Stack with any other Traveller's set Items)
Endless Flask
-Refills up to three and a half liters of pure water each day

HP: 12
MP: 8
Def: 3+2
Will: 2

Co-ordination-2
Physicality-3
-Melee-2
--Melee(Shortsword-1)
Intelligence-1
-Tracking-2
-First aid-2
Perpicasity-2

Spells:

Caste: Invector
Location: Lower Arms
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic runs along the opposite sides of the arm, starting at the base of the hand and running up to the elbow.
Active Appearance: Magic fills out from the blue lines and envelopes the arm and out past (and including) a now rigidly-flat hand, creating a vibrantly blue slashing blade of incredible sharpness
Effect Description: Creates an approximately 70cm blade along the arm that allows the user to swordfight without sustaining damage to the arm itself. While many Invectors choose to use traditional metal blades instead, with this spell a Devoted soldier or lawman is never unarmed.
Costs: 1 mana to activate until next rest
Mechanical Effect: Gain a weapon called "Invector Blade" with +1 auto success, and +1 dice on melee rolls

Caste: Invector
Location: Upper legs
Passive Appearance: The telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic outlines the musculature of the legs
Active Appearance: Same as above but pulses with energy in time with the user's heartbeat
Effect Description: The user can run far faster with far less fatigue than normal.
Cost: 1 Mana to activate until rest
Mechanical Effect: +1 to Physicality attribute, +2 to running skill

Inventory:
Veesa's Shortsword
+1 Dice to Melee attacks, +1 Autosuccess dice to Melee attacks
Veesa's Clothes
Invector Armour
+2 Def

HP: 8
MP: 10
Def: 2+1
Will: 3+1

Co-Ordination-1
Physicality-2
Intelligence-2
-Medicine-2
--Medicine (First Aid-1)
-Lore-1
Perspicacity-3
Rapport-1
Spells:

Caste: Speaker
Location: Hands
Passive Appearance: the entire palm is covered in the telltale coruscating crystalline blue of Inherent Magic
Active Appearance: The palm is as above but glows brightly with a blue aura.
Effect Description: Placed over any sort of wound, the spell will heal the wound, but will quickly deplete the strength of the user.
Costs: X mana
Mechanical Effect: Heals X HP on target that the user can touch

Inventory:
Cadus' Staff
+1 Dice to Melee Attacks
Cadus' Travel Clothes
+1 Def
Cadus' Robes
+1 Will

Available after Nozomi reaches a Harmony Shrine and gains knowledge of the spells there

Select Quest Options

[ ] FIRST PERSON
[X] THIRD PERSON
===============================
[X] DONT SHOW COMBAT NUMBERS
[ ] SHOW COMBAT NUMBER
===============================
TUTORIAL STATUS: FINISHED

AKuz · Jan 21, 2016

SINGER'S QUEST: GOTY Edition said:
ACT I COMPLETED: "The Hunter's Memories" Unlocked!

Hunter's Memories said:
As I fall back to the ground, I remember three things from before The Fall:

I remember the Sky

I also remember the Hate

and

I remember Her

I don't remember being born, or being created, or being trained. There is a haze of longing, and hate, and of looking up and waiting for my chance in the sky.

I remember the exhilaration of the sky, the freedom, the sheer exultation of slipping free of earthly binds and soaring without check. Did I have wings? Was it on my own power? Did I fly with others? I don't remember, all I remember is the sky.

I remember the hate of the war. I don't remember the Great War though. Not properly, I do remember the hate, the anger, the feeling of killing and slaughtering. The vindication of murder. The justice of it, death from a place so far above that my targets were as insects. The long drawn out dull ache of holding fire and rage in my heart every day and every night.

And I remember Her. I remember the rituals and the sermons and the sacrifice of my own blood in Her name. I remember looking up at an unimaginably enormous form, which I knew was merely the faintest representation of Her glory. I remember the sword and the book, or rather I remember what they meant: an instruction to kill, to revenge, to make war.

Eagerly I undertook the task, then dutifully, then with great fatigue. Hatred is powerful motivator but it tires, it tires me so much. And then I fell: it happened in some nameless battle, it happened in heat and cold and pain and terror.

And I fell

------------------------------------------------

Afterwards?

I remember the Sky

I remember the Hate

and

I remember Her

I lost the sky. It was taken from me in an instant, by treasonous clutching hands: gravity pulled at me and I fell. And now I trudge the filthy ground, with its muck, and its water, and its disgusting trees, and fields, and curves, and growth.

The sky is pure, its structures are clean and straight, gleaming crystal and shining metal. I miss it.

The sky was taken from me, I hate it, I hate every moment, every step marred by covetous gravity. I hate the people who took it from me: these filthy beasts of dirt and mud. It is a pleasure each time I kill one.

Finally my hate was new again. I felt alive with each kill, it was almost as if I were alight in the sky again.

Each kill is dedicated to Her: The Architect. Not the Goddess who abandoned me, let me fall. But the one who rescued me, who promises to return me to my natural habitat. The one who was the first thing I saw as I clawed at the ice and and the shreds of memory.

She reached out and I thought that she was an Angel of My Lady. And she was in a sense. Another who had served, same as me, but so much stronger, so much more powerful and, I am not too proud to admit, far smarter and wiser than me.

The Architect reached out and raised me from my freezing grave. She gave me a name and a new purpose: to hunt her enemies, and to serve again, to build a new place for myself in the sky. To someday once again see those gleaming metal spires and crystalline roads; to fly free and unimpeded again.

And she gave me orders. So many deaths, so much hate. I obeyed eagerly, then dutifully.

----------------------------------

In the last years my task was to retrieve one of the Chosen for her, secretly, silently. I could ask why, but I don't need to know. The Ghost may need to know or The Tactician, or the others. But I don't need to know, all I need to do is serve and one day be rewarded.

So I travelled to the Gan, and I watched the slaves and settlers as they went about their business. I'll admit I killed here and there for sport, to stir up a little chaos, to stoke my hatred again, but slaughter began to lose some of its old lustre. I killed, and killed, but the fires only smolder now, they no longer rage.

I may have killed a Chosen or two that were too intractable or too intransigent, who could be blamed for removing a threat or two. Or three?

But my patience was not to be rewarded, and She told me to return one alive now. So I obeyed.

There was this unimportant little village I walked into with a group of settlers. They had some reason for their presence, unimportant, and I saw her. Another one of those Chosen. So I followed her when she left the Village.

There were a few of them on the river in a craft, just a few, so I tried to take the girl, but It seems they were more alert than I expected and I had to fight. I cast about with fire and blade, and they resisted.

I hated it, I loved it.

And I was hurt, and instead of letting me end it, some filthy muck creature stepped in my path, and I was hit again, and I fled.

I was enraged, angry as never had I been in recent years. I lost so much of my carefully horded divinity, the scraps of energy I stole from the landscape, the pieces that My Lady had given me. I hurt them, but my heart hadn't seemed in it. Not any more. Hate again tired me, slowed me.

Tired though I may have been, there was still Her, and Her orders, so I continued, I followed that Chosen girl when I was hale again and followed to where she and her party had again taken to the river. But I couldn't be certain of where she actually was.

So I enlisted help, I remembered some of the rambling, babbling words of The Shepherd, and I found some willing, or rather unwilling, hosts nearby and I poured power and life into them. I improved them, made them to my liking.

Though it cost me, I could track the river and the roads and the forest. Of course her destination was obvious: the "City" of Serenity. A pale imitation of a real city, mired in dirt and grass. But strong enough to keep me out.

So I waited, and I saw it as the pillars of fire, and the severing of connection heralded the approach of the Chosen. She somehow slipped by, but I outwitted her by moving even closer to the city.

And I had her, I grabbed her and I ran towards My Lady, and I was brought down again in sputtering water and mud.

And I fought her, and her protectors. It was hard, I was drained, my life had been spent, fighting, and tracking and killing, and here, here I was again. I was so tired.

I thought I killed that guard, ran that pathetic runt through with my blade, I thought that I had won, finally, that even weak from injury and fatigue I had triumphed again. And yet her protectors were still, still alive, and I was laid low.

-------------------------------------------------

I can see the sky, I can see the clouds and the wind.

My body is broken, I have some power left, some ability, to fight, but how? I am so tired. So tired of this.

I speak a line half remembered, before I drive my blade into myself.

I fall onto my back. I see the sky, so far away, so unavailable to me. There is only a dull anger, and the dull hate left in me, I hope that my Goddess still looks upon me favourably, I hope that She forgi-

Felt like writing that, anyway, voting closes in about 18 hours at 6PM PST

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