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.

In the olden days of the Hunter Chronicles, Legend was a walking mouth with “snail eyes” and there was no rationalization behind Terra having a subway system at the same time as armies fought with iron-worked arms.

HC had changed quite a lot from what one might have called a Final Fantasy fan fiction. The clichéd title of the first book still stands, zeppelins are still airships, and a couple place names might be recognized, but, on the whole, HC has lost the touch of Final Fantasy that graced it seven years ago.

No- it wasn’t just Final Fantasy.

The original Crystals of Mana was colored with dozens of influences, from books I’d read to games I’d played. The Dragons’ marble statues resided in a place called the “Realmz” and, when displeased, would toss mortals into the pit to contend with vampires and other nasties. If you can’t find references to three different games in that sentence, none of which is Final Fantasy, then perhaps the following post will hold no interest to you.

Vise Lake used to be the Lake of Leviathan.
Terra, the country, used to be Mist, the country.
The various summons of Final Fantasies 4-6 and 9, collectively termed Eidolons, resided in the world of Libra.
The Dragons used to have longer names, taken directly from “legendary” equipment and spells in Final Fantasy games.
The lord of the Dragons, Riser, was a goomba.
Zukro’s “evil” name, Ragnarr, used to be Ragnarok.
Jikkuu… well… damn, jikan.

The list goes on. As HC deviated from these trends, so, too, did it lose some childishness. The world has rather well-define metaphysics, now, which determine exactly what Jikkuu can and can’t do. Beyond that and the traits ascribed to the various species and demons, there is nothing immortal about the denizens of HC. It is no longer possible for the flame designs on Lucas Fenix’s robes to flicker like real fire.

HC evolved over the last seven years. The physical world was cemented and, over the last eight months, ideas regarding culture and society have been adopted. A map now exists and regional differences are not meaningless. Government plays a major role in what goes on, and distance is no longer a pleasantry.

But there’s more to the evolution than simple changes in what can or can’t happen, or what is or isn’t a certain way.

The writing itself, I believe, had a huge impact on what exactly the world is. In rewriting Crystals of Mana, I have mentioned things and described them in such a way as to show their meaning. Previously, Verga City is destroyed overnight, seemingly for no reason, while Gem and Pyrim are out camping after fighting Ji’Lopan. Now, Verga City is not just “some town”- it has a personality, given it by the description of the festival and the feelings Gem has for it. It is now destroyed for a reason.

As reason infiltrates HC and logic surpasses anime cliché, more thought is put into the writing.

Why does Terra have a subway? What the hell? How about just trains. Steam trains. And there’s a reason why they have them. Why does Gem save Pyrim? Why does Gem go to Terra? These are questions that could have been asked after reading the appropriate sections of the previous Crystals of Mana. These are no longer questions, however. Reasons exist now. As long as reason exists in the story, it must exist in the diction as well. This is why so many words are changed between previous versions of the HC and the current one.

One reason for this is merely consistency- Jikkuu must always have two k’s and two u’s, and be capitalized. Runeblades are a compound word, and are not capitalized. Anything related to the Crystals of Mana is capitalized. Ly’ban are not male- Gem refers to Ji’Lopan as “he” but the narrator refers to Ji’Lopan as “it.” In narration, Gem is either the great grandson of Gem al’Kondo, or he’s Legend Reborn. He cannot be both at once, and throwing the curve ball of Loen at the reader does not help one bit.

But really, consistency can come in edits. What’s important is the underlying diction that lays the foundation for the chapters to come, the words that dictate the way in which ideas are expressed. In the stories of HC 2006+, logic is not absent, and thusly it must be present in the writing as well.

And that is why our Halls of Lore are now libraries and book-vaults.

…

I have completed Chapter Thirteen, but might not post it tomorrow. I might write another chapter before releasing more. Well… whenever I do release it, those among you who are well-listened might recognized yet another source of influence for the Hunter Chronicles, one that has stuck for seven years and I doubt will ever slide.

Feel free to share your ideas regarding HC’s growth in the comments ;)

Hells yeah, fools! I kept a promise!

» Proceed to release notes…

So, first off, that 5 good songs site I was working on is more or less done. It’s very not done, but that’s mainly because it’s a retarded runt of a site and there’s simply nothing more to do. Oh, and I decided upon a URL for it! This one’s kind of better than /music.

New URL: 5.dotq.org

Next, I encountered an awesome tutorial on the Wesnoth forums, linked in this thread. Thanks, West. I owe ya for this one. Here’re a couple of the images processed according to the tutorial:

I’m using a photo of snowy trees, edited in this manner, as the new background of a silly little thing I made.

Finally, as the main reason I’m watching Kanon 2006 is its animation quality, I simply can’t overlook something as exquisite-seeming as Byousoku 5 Centimeter. The new teaser’s been subbed and released on Animesuki, I demand that you grab it and worship it.

A short story that has taken me quite a few hours to write up. You can read it in the forum right here. (Or, look below.)

The Journal of Nahzeem the Scholar

12-17-627

After many months of perilous searching, I have finally claimed a copy of the famed Codex Anathema for my own. I have read much about it and its author, Iphegor of the Ebon Mirror. Such a fascinating man he was, although obviously not the strongest of will. His failure is of little consequence, however, except to learn from. His book is now mine, and with it my research will go far beyond anything he was said to accomplish.

It is with a little anxiousness that I undertake this line of study. All the legends of this place speak of horror unparalleled and certain destruction, and less reasonable parts of my mind cannot help but wish to avoid this work altogether. But such things are just that; unreasonable. I have taken all the necessary precautions against any potential for misfortune. At the absolute worst, I may encounter something as disturbing as one of the fearsome demons of the Abyss, but I am well-equipped even for such a formidable adversary as that. There is absolutely nothing to fear.

12-19-627

It took a great deal of my personal wealth to secure this book, but I can say without a doubt that it was worth every last coin. The things discussed within the tome are nothing short of remarkable. I have obviously underestimated the author; Iphegor was clearly a man of brilliance. Every page fills me with more enthusiasm for the next.

And yet I cannot help but be concerned. If the essays and dialogues contained in the Codex Anathema are to be taken at face value and are not simply the exaggerations of a man pushed to the brink, then humanity’s place in the world may not be as secure as we like to believe. Much as I would like to push such thoughts out of my mind, I cannot release myself from the horrible possibilities this book has brought up.

To exist only because of the whim of some unspeakable creature beyond my senses is a dire possibility indeed.

12-21-627

What a fool I once was. What an arrogant fool. To think that I, Nahzeem the Scholar, could have been so ignorant of the truths that resonate throughout existence. I once held the accomplishments of humanity to be something to boast of, but now I see our race for the insignificant insects we truly are. What hope do we truly have? We pit our infantile knowledge against beings who whisper of knowledge that will destroy any mortal who dares listen.

I have not given up, though. I’ve not finished the tome yet. Iphegor must have discovered some way to counter the efforts of they who lurk Beyond. And if there is not, then I can take comfort in the fact that they will remain where they are and I will remain where I am. I remain safe, though I would rather not sleep this night. The nightmares are getting worse.

12-25-627

How could this have happened? Nahzeem was asleep, and yet he drew the summoning circle. WHY DID HE DO IT!? Now it is here. It is watching Nahzeem, yes, and he cannot sleep at all. Surely it would follow Nahzeem into his dreams. It’s too horrible. How does it watch Nahzeem? How does it watch him without eyes? No eyes, but it sees more than Nahzeem has ever seen in his long life. NO EYES!! It hurts to look, but it is so beautiful. It is perfect, but before now I could never realize this. Humans know nothing of the true splendor that lies Beyond. NOTHING AT ALL!!! Does it see what Nahzeem sees? Can it see without eyes?

Can he? Can Nahzeem see without eyes?

12-28-627

I’ve only recently awaken from what I think could have been three days of unconsciousness. Based on my previous entry, and the evidence that quite literally stares me in the face, I realize I must have succumbed to a temporary state of madness, in which I must have removed one of my own eyes, which no doubt resulted in enough bleeding for my fevered mind to collapse into a state of much-needed rest.

I have eaten since then, for the first time in nearly a week, and I feel much better. Unfortunately, what little remains of my eye is far beyond any hopes of healing, and I doubt that I could properly reattach it even if it were fresh and intact. I have yet to clean up the blood, because it seems to hold an important key to whatever triggered my loss of sanity. In the dried pool it appears I have written a word; “UVUUDAUM”. Thus far, I have found only one reference to the word, which I found in my latest possession, the Codex Anathema. The book does not give any information on the subject, save for a brief ranting which I will quote here:

“You must not know of Uvuudaum. Save yourself from such knowledge as this! How I wish my memory would forever vanish!”

There are few other topics in the book that Iphegor seemed so insistent about. I wish there was more information on this “Uvuudaum”.

1-2-628

Unfortunately, the Uvuudaum remains elusive. For now, I blame the celebration of the New Year, which was quite distracting. Between the preparations over the last few days and the day itself, there has been simply too much noise from outside for me to make any progress in my research, and it is only today that I’ve been able to properly devote myself. I would go so far as to say they were being loud for the sole purpose of making things more difficult for me.

Sleep does not come easy to me, and when it does I have the most peculiar of dreams. I cannot properly explain them, because I scarcely understand what happens in them. Suffice it is to say that I prefer staying awake, where I feel at least some measure of control over where my imagination drifts to. I will continue to research the Uvuudaum, and hopefully I will avoid any future episodes of madness. As for my previous areas of study…they suddenly hold no interest to me.

1-4-628

The meddlesome currs. Just as I was on the verge of a breakthrough, the town Constable decides to come into my home uninvited to interrogate me about the dissapearance of some fool. I knew it was only a matter of time before their hatred and jealousy of a man of knowledge would manifest. It is uncertain how safe I am so long as as I stay in this village. They are waiting for an excuse, any excuse, to lock me away and destroy all my life’s work.

Even in the dead of night, when decent men and women are fast asleep, they keep me awake with their stares. I can feel their paranoid eyes watching me through the walls. I would be fully justified in pre-emptive protection, but that would just let them justify themselves in their own eyes. No, I will keep myself as blameless as possible.

I have made little progress in researching Uvuudaum. Even in my most obscure texts it is mentioned briefly and without any real explanation. I am beginning to wonder if it was even I who wrote that word. This Uvuudaum could simply be a cruel joke played by my enemies in the village.

1-7-628

I had my suspicions, but I never believed it would truly come to this. The missing village lad has been found dead, and from what I have heard it was a truly gruesome death. To be strangled by one’s own entrails, only a true monster could deal such a cruel fate. I know that the villagers believe me responsible, and it is only a matter of time before they come at me with a misguided vengeance. The savages probably killed the boy themselves just to have a reason to kill me too.

I won’t let that happen though. I am not some pitiful old man to be trifled with. I will see every last one of these beasts dead before I am slain by their hands. If I am to die, it will be a man’s death, not from a cowardly assault from ruthless animals.

1-8-628

My hand shakes violently even as I write these words, but despite my great fear I shall write on. Three more bodies have been found since yesterday, two of which were too mutilated to identify. For my own protection, I have barricaded my home, because I know the witch hunt will come for me soon. I have moved my most valuable possessions into my cellar, where they, and I, will be safe even from the torches they will no doubt use to burn my home to the ground.

Last night I had a dream most horrifying, most of all because I understood it with crystal clarity. I saw the last moments of the life of the first murdered boy through his eyes. He ran for his life, but could not escape. Then I saw it. It had arms like a man, but where it should have had a body and legs it had only more arms and hands to walk on. No head, at least nothing that I could call a head. Just a long neck ending in a great black spike. It had no eyes, but I could feel it looking right at me. It was too much for the body to bear. The boy’s organs burst from his abdomen at the mere presence of the entity and wrapped themselves around his neck. They boy’s body killed itself to save itself from the creature.

Though it was but a dream, I still feel the being staring directly into my mind. It seems so illogical, that a creature with no eyes could stare, but it was just the same. Reading my entry on the 25th day of the 12th month of the previous year, I am beginning to fear the possibility that it was that being who inspired my so-called madness on that day. It is clear to me now; this entity, this “Uvuudaum”, is being used by the enemies outside to frame me for murder. I would not even think it unreasonable that they plucked my eye out and faked my handwriting to make me believe I went insane. The fools think they can pervert justice and have me executed! I will show them who will be executed!

1-9-628

Don’t you see, I had to do it! They were going to kill me! They would have formed a mob and destroyed my home and dragged me from my cellar to burn me for all of them to watch! They had to die so that I could live! The evil ones did not deserve to live, but I would have left them in peace if they had done the same. But no! They stoled my eye and left me bleeding on the cold floor, letting me believe I had gone mad. Mad indeed!

They are all dead, but I can still feel the staring. No eyes, but the staring goes right through me! Are they truly dead? They are toying with me. I can no longer stand looking at them. I’ll pull out my other eye so that I won’t see them. I open my mouth to speak, but I can only speak one word; I will cut out my tongue and cut off my ears to keep myself from hearing it. If I still feel the staring, I’ll cut off my skin as well, so I will feel nothing. Better to have no skin than for this torment to continue! Much much better.

Yes.