Dreams of the Quill

When I was little, I used to “make” pen+paper type games, or invent rules and mechanics for basic computer games that were (and are) way beyond my (then nonexistent) programming ability. I remember each concept clearly. One was a Pacman-like game, based off some Mac OS six-point-something game called Macman. One was based off the only real “video game” I played during my childhood, SNES ROMs aside: Pokémon.

The player would be the “dragon trainer,” and would adventure around, pitting his dragon against those of others. There were eight types of dragons. These correspond directly to the eight Dragons of today’s HC. Now, this dragon-training RPG- I forget the name- is key to the development of HC. It’s not because of the Dragons. HC would still be HC without them. What was born with this unintelligent Appleworks 5 file was the character of none other than Gem Hunter.

I think we can all agree that HC would not be what it is without Gem Hunter. For those not as familiar with the concept as others, the “Hunter” in “Hunter Chronicles” is derived from Gem’s second name, a title bestowed upon him late in the Crystals of Mana book.

Of course, the Gem Hunter from my dragon-training game was not who Gem Hunter is today.

But he was an idea, and he didn’t go away.

I think I mentioned in my last post that Legend was originally a walking mouth? Originally, he and Gem had no connection. Legend was a dead god, slain by his brother Zukro, and Gem was a mortal. A mercenary-thief who would help anyone out for a price. In the story ideas that never got written down for lack of time, Gem would pop up at random points, hand the right key or item to Mana, and disappear once more. He could pick any lock, win any battle, or secure any object.

Though he’s now a main character, that side character aspect of Gem hasn’t completely faded out. Even as Legend Reborn, he’s no shining knight. He’s no paladin, no heroic champion charging forward against the forces of darkness. Gem Hunter the mercenary-thief has lingered in the form of Gem the Underworlder. It is mentioned more than once that he has done more for the Underworld than simple bounty hunting- he is as much a thief as those he tracks down. By all accounts, he’s a criminal, and fits right into the Underworld’s society.

In the COM posted thus far, Gem’s usefulness has not been seen at its fullest. He is still in the development stage. He is not yet Gem Hunter, he does not yet go everywhere with hundreds of skeleton keys and he ordinarily wields two daggers, not ten. Consider this a hint at the future.

Also… personally, I really like that image of Gem as an enigmatic mercenary who talks little and reveals even less. Not clearly aligned with either side in any conflict, treading the boundary, tossing aid to one and then the other. One of the reasons why I aim to refocus on Mana is that this would allow me to put Gem a bit to the side.

The major problem with this wish is that Gem is Legend Reborn now, for better or for worse, and he shall stay so, for better or for worse.

…

Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen have both been written. I will now enter editing stages. Expect Thirteen to be released this Sunday.