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Short Story: Flowers of the Grave
Been a while since I've written some fantasy. A lot of writing paralysis and procrastination are a cause of this, but I'm happy to provide this new chunk of short story to you, my audience. This tale is set in the same world that I normally write about, but takes place a couple generations in the future. Without further ado, this is the tale of four adventurers as they try to locate potion reagents in a haunted location of the badlands.
In case it's needed -- this is the first part of the short story; will be writing the next half in the coming days. Contains violent descriptions of combat, as I don't beat around the bush when it comes to that stuff. Also, three-quarters of the main characters are furries. :v
~~~~~~~
The stench of death wafted in the air of the Elephant Graveyard, an odor of both fresh and aging corpses mingling into a putrid potpourri for any who dared wander its forsaken territory. Many who tried to cut a path through the ivory-strewn wasteland did so out of necessity, for even the most faithless of bandits knew that events beyond mortal understanding could happen there. For those who believed in the otherworldly, these inexplicable events weren’t a possibility, but likely happened on a regular basis. Some tried to explain away the disappearances of the boneyard’s travelers on monster attacks alone, but the superstitious of the badlands could rattle off hushed rumors of fearful happenings regarding that haunted locale like the back of their hand.
For better or worse, Asha and her squad-mates’ beliefs ran the gambit between atheistic and god-fearing. All four of the young warriors, however, knew to keep their heads down, eyes peeled and words hushed as they traversed the dread landscape. Surely somewhere in the Elephant Graveyard was a sample of the potion reagents their base of operations needed. An outbreak of the Blight had been reported by contacts in settlements elsewhere on the mainland; the Proving Grounds would surely wrought the paranormal pestilence before long, and the town of Veil Grove would need to be prepared.
The human member of the four-person team scoffed quietly, crossing his arms on his march. “This is hopeless”, Nathan groaned. “We’ve been here nearly an hour I’d wager, and what little greenery we’ve seen won’t cut it. Nothing but dried grass and weeds, not counting the mold on that wild dog’s carcass a few paces back. We’re screwed if we think we’ll find enough to make so much as one damned dose of--”
A feminine voice left the lips of the vulpine woman leading the youthful pack. “I’ve heard enough”, Flora sternly barked. “One more word, Nathan, and by Vera--”
“Flora”, Asha the lioness spoke in a diffusing tone, “Calm down. And you too, Nathan. Even if we don’t find what we’re looking for here, I know we can find Fiends’ Primrose on the other side of the Graveyard. Worst case scenario, we’ll have to scrape together what we’ve got and shell out for it. But that intel on the flowers being here is reliable, mark my words”.
Nathan scowled. “Horse shit. You’d believe anything your boyfriend tells you, Asha”.
The boyfriend in question, a leonine lad named Faraji, grunted as he shifted the long haft of his battleaxe across his shoulder. “And I’m wrong? I don’t know why we brought you along, hairless ape. All you do is bitch and moan when we’re not spelunking through the Hollow”.
“Because I can’t stand a wild goose chase”, scoffed Nathan. “Most missions down below are straight-forward. But out here, we’re baking in the heat of the dry season, on the vague notion that we’ll find enough freakin’ flowers to keep the Blight out of Veil Grove. What a crock”.
Flora’s footfalls ceased. Turning on her heel, the vixen pointed a dark-furred finger toward the bronze-skinned human. “I’d rather chance it than let my people die by the Blight, you fool! Last I recall, I was the one in charge. If you’re so quick to question my orders, you can pack your ill-gotten tools and shove off from Veil Grove, starting with marching your sorry ass back to town alone. Savvy?”
Nathan grunted back, unfazed by his leader’s flash of aggression. “Whatever. But if we end up getting devoured by ghouls for nothing, don’t say I didn’t tell you so”.
Flora scoffed. “Considering you’re the godless sort, I don’t think we’d have the chance in you eyes”. Turning back around, the vixen’s boots carried her forward once more.
“And I’ve told you a thousand fucking times”, Nathan shrugged back, “Ain’t nothing wrong with a little skepticism in this day and age”.
As this was unfolding, Asha and Faraji continued to advance in the back line of the small sortie, naked and shod feet respectively making tracks in the dust behind them. Her maroon eyes glancing around her spear to Faraji’s dark-furred countenance, Asha mumbled toward the taller lion-folk, “I don’t doubt what your contacts told you, Faraji. It’s just something Nathan wouldn’t understand”.
Stoic as ever, the leonine warrior replied back to his mate as the two felines advanced, saving his gaze for his surroundings and any signs of danger. “No need to tell me that”, he spoke softly, “The lad’s still convinced I do too much of the spice when speaking with the spirits. But there comes a time when you can’t blame all my visions on my vices alone”.
“Right”, Asha sighed. “Thing is, I don’t think Nathan’ll ever come around, even if a devil dragged his sorry ass to Gehenna’s depths before our very eyes”.
“Well, he doesn’t have to”, Faraji responded. “He just has to do his job and work on keeping his lips shut. He’s by far the mouthiest scoundrel I’ve ever heard, and I’ve known quite a few from my upbringing”.
With a grimace, Asha glanced ahead like her lover. She knew he had a point, but the devout lioness knew that the squad’s sapper had upset her with his views on more than one occasion… and sometimes unintentionally. As her tail hung low, ears folded to the sides of her short, dirty-blonde mane, she stopped in her stride.
Something was amiss. She could tell, although she had trouble conveying it to the others sometimes. A sixth sense bestowed by her divine patron; a sense to tell when the otherworldly was an immediate threat.
It was one of those times.
Stepping abruptly forth and softly clapping her hand to Faraji’s shoulder, she whistled like a songbird to the human and vixen a pace or so ahead of them. It was the team’s code, suggested by Flora long ago to warn of danger when out in the wilderness. In swift motion, the others readied their weaponry; Faraji his axe, Asha her spear, Nathan his darts and Flora her hunting sword. With their main armaments at the ready, all four reconvened around each other, backs toward the others’ backs and scanning the scene for trouble.
Thus the throaty cackling began, coming from a natural ledge above the young warriors. Spilling out from behind an elephant’s sun-baked carcass, the hideous hominids slid down the sandy slope not far from the short cliff and barreled toward them! Emaciated and pale of skin and hair alike, the fiends’ sexless forms moved with ravenous haste, stumbling and snarling in hunger for their next meal, senseless of the killing tools clenched in the hands of their victims.
The four broke their back-to-back cluster in a moment’s glance, their movements seemingly rehearsed from untold hours of training to work as one under duress of violent death. Shoulder to shoulder they stood their ground, preparing as the first of the ghouls came close enough to strike.
Mere seconds later, the first of the devils leaped into the air; Asha was the first to act, stomping forth as she snarled and swept her body into a forceful spear thrust. The ghoul’s cackling ended in an abrupt shriek as Asha’s blade plunged into its ribs and burst from its scrawny back. Its foul-smelling lifeblood dribbled away from its innards once it hit the dirt, the lioness wrenching her spearhead from the ghoul’s dying body.
Undeterred by the loss of its fellows, the next two ghouls scampered forth, only to meet their own violent demise. A brutal vertical chop from Faraji’s arms was matched by the precise aim of Nathan’s wrist, and the paired ghouls stopped in their tracks and howled in agony. Faraji’s victimized monster fell in a heap, arm and shoulder cleaved from it as the remaining hand grasped at the stump. Nathan’s opposition instead clutched its right eye, the shaft of a long, lead-tipped dart poking out from its socket.
The two lads followed up on finishing off their quarries as the remaining two ghouls made their way to attack the team. Peering from around the side of the formation, Flora murmured with clipped words in a strange tongue, staring daggers into the remaining ghouls. Taking a couple steps through the dust, Flora advanced while Nathan’s sidearm dagger was plunged into his victim’s throat, Faraji’s ghoul being put out of its misery with a beheading sweep.
Turning her body to the right and raising three fingers on her left hand, Flora fearlessly stared down the ghouls now heading her way. A feeling of air leaving her lungs, a tingling surge down her left arm, an uncanny warmth in the tips of those extended digits: Flora was ready for them as her hushed chanting ended in a sharp cry. Sweeping her arm forth to point at the ghouls, the strange heat shot up the digging claws of her fingertips and burst forth in a hail of bluish sparks.
Blazing into existence and howling like fireworks in their flight, one mote of smokeless blue fire per finger whizzed forth erratically at the monsters, erupting into streaking marine fireballs the size of shooter marbles during their flight! One fireball per ghoul collided with the devils’ chests each, but the orb from Flora’s middle finger instead sailed past between the beings’ heads before whirling backward, keeping its velocity as it smashed into the back of the ghoul to Flora’s right. It was over in mere moments, but the horrific damage of the spell was done; smoke billowed from gaping burned holes in the monsters’ chests, and the hapless ghoul to be struck by that third fiery bullet was now missing the crown of its head!
The fifth ghoul fell to its knees, holding the horrible wound in its ribs with a shriveled hand. As Flora swept her right wrist to the side, she grit her fangs while winding up to end the fiend’s suffering. A sharp exhale hissed through her teeth as her short sword’s edge met meager resistance, her nose crinkling at the smell of the rotten blood gushing from the monster’s throat. The five ghouls were no more, Flora’s quarry falling face-first into the dust of the Elephant Graveyard with a severed jugular to match its sucking chest wound.
Letting her hunting sword drop to the side of her victim, Flora’s palm met her forehead as the bone-handled weapon left her grasp. “Well”, she gasped, “That ended quick, but was unpleasant as always. Is everyone alright?”
Slowly dragging a blood-spattered cloth across the blade of his dagger, Nathan glanced up toward Flora’s distressed gaze. “No need to be dramatic”, he shrugged. “They’re dead and we’re not. Not even a scratch on any of us”.
Asha sighed softly, drawing her spearhead from the dirt she’d plunged it into. “Ought to be thankful I sensed them coming”, she quietly remarked, “Or one of us might’ve been the first Blight victim from Veil Grove this year”.
Faraji sat cross-legged as he tended to cleaning his axe’s edge. “Grateful as always, love”, he replied, his voice eerily calm. “It’s a shame that ghoul blood stinks up a blood-rag so easily, though”.
A concerned groan left Flora’s lips as she picked up her sword. “At least Asha isn’t as jaded as I to fighting”, she uttered. “One of you lads has ice in his blood, and the other is probably a sociopath by now. I have trouble discerning who’s got what condition sometimes”.
Getting to his feet, Faraji indifferently shouldered his axe once more. “If it helps you decide”, his deep voice rumbled in a soothing voice, “I’ve seen worse things happen to a team of fighting men and women than having to bear the deaths of inhuman enemies”.
In case it's needed -- this is the first part of the short story; will be writing the next half in the coming days. Contains violent descriptions of combat, as I don't beat around the bush when it comes to that stuff. Also, three-quarters of the main characters are furries. :v
~~~~~~~
The stench of death wafted in the air of the Elephant Graveyard, an odor of both fresh and aging corpses mingling into a putrid potpourri for any who dared wander its forsaken territory. Many who tried to cut a path through the ivory-strewn wasteland did so out of necessity, for even the most faithless of bandits knew that events beyond mortal understanding could happen there. For those who believed in the otherworldly, these inexplicable events weren’t a possibility, but likely happened on a regular basis. Some tried to explain away the disappearances of the boneyard’s travelers on monster attacks alone, but the superstitious of the badlands could rattle off hushed rumors of fearful happenings regarding that haunted locale like the back of their hand.
For better or worse, Asha and her squad-mates’ beliefs ran the gambit between atheistic and god-fearing. All four of the young warriors, however, knew to keep their heads down, eyes peeled and words hushed as they traversed the dread landscape. Surely somewhere in the Elephant Graveyard was a sample of the potion reagents their base of operations needed. An outbreak of the Blight had been reported by contacts in settlements elsewhere on the mainland; the Proving Grounds would surely wrought the paranormal pestilence before long, and the town of Veil Grove would need to be prepared.
The human member of the four-person team scoffed quietly, crossing his arms on his march. “This is hopeless”, Nathan groaned. “We’ve been here nearly an hour I’d wager, and what little greenery we’ve seen won’t cut it. Nothing but dried grass and weeds, not counting the mold on that wild dog’s carcass a few paces back. We’re screwed if we think we’ll find enough to make so much as one damned dose of--”
A feminine voice left the lips of the vulpine woman leading the youthful pack. “I’ve heard enough”, Flora sternly barked. “One more word, Nathan, and by Vera--”
“Flora”, Asha the lioness spoke in a diffusing tone, “Calm down. And you too, Nathan. Even if we don’t find what we’re looking for here, I know we can find Fiends’ Primrose on the other side of the Graveyard. Worst case scenario, we’ll have to scrape together what we’ve got and shell out for it. But that intel on the flowers being here is reliable, mark my words”.
Nathan scowled. “Horse shit. You’d believe anything your boyfriend tells you, Asha”.
The boyfriend in question, a leonine lad named Faraji, grunted as he shifted the long haft of his battleaxe across his shoulder. “And I’m wrong? I don’t know why we brought you along, hairless ape. All you do is bitch and moan when we’re not spelunking through the Hollow”.
“Because I can’t stand a wild goose chase”, scoffed Nathan. “Most missions down below are straight-forward. But out here, we’re baking in the heat of the dry season, on the vague notion that we’ll find enough freakin’ flowers to keep the Blight out of Veil Grove. What a crock”.
Flora’s footfalls ceased. Turning on her heel, the vixen pointed a dark-furred finger toward the bronze-skinned human. “I’d rather chance it than let my people die by the Blight, you fool! Last I recall, I was the one in charge. If you’re so quick to question my orders, you can pack your ill-gotten tools and shove off from Veil Grove, starting with marching your sorry ass back to town alone. Savvy?”
Nathan grunted back, unfazed by his leader’s flash of aggression. “Whatever. But if we end up getting devoured by ghouls for nothing, don’t say I didn’t tell you so”.
Flora scoffed. “Considering you’re the godless sort, I don’t think we’d have the chance in you eyes”. Turning back around, the vixen’s boots carried her forward once more.
“And I’ve told you a thousand fucking times”, Nathan shrugged back, “Ain’t nothing wrong with a little skepticism in this day and age”.
As this was unfolding, Asha and Faraji continued to advance in the back line of the small sortie, naked and shod feet respectively making tracks in the dust behind them. Her maroon eyes glancing around her spear to Faraji’s dark-furred countenance, Asha mumbled toward the taller lion-folk, “I don’t doubt what your contacts told you, Faraji. It’s just something Nathan wouldn’t understand”.
Stoic as ever, the leonine warrior replied back to his mate as the two felines advanced, saving his gaze for his surroundings and any signs of danger. “No need to tell me that”, he spoke softly, “The lad’s still convinced I do too much of the spice when speaking with the spirits. But there comes a time when you can’t blame all my visions on my vices alone”.
“Right”, Asha sighed. “Thing is, I don’t think Nathan’ll ever come around, even if a devil dragged his sorry ass to Gehenna’s depths before our very eyes”.
“Well, he doesn’t have to”, Faraji responded. “He just has to do his job and work on keeping his lips shut. He’s by far the mouthiest scoundrel I’ve ever heard, and I’ve known quite a few from my upbringing”.
With a grimace, Asha glanced ahead like her lover. She knew he had a point, but the devout lioness knew that the squad’s sapper had upset her with his views on more than one occasion… and sometimes unintentionally. As her tail hung low, ears folded to the sides of her short, dirty-blonde mane, she stopped in her stride.
Something was amiss. She could tell, although she had trouble conveying it to the others sometimes. A sixth sense bestowed by her divine patron; a sense to tell when the otherworldly was an immediate threat.
It was one of those times.
Stepping abruptly forth and softly clapping her hand to Faraji’s shoulder, she whistled like a songbird to the human and vixen a pace or so ahead of them. It was the team’s code, suggested by Flora long ago to warn of danger when out in the wilderness. In swift motion, the others readied their weaponry; Faraji his axe, Asha her spear, Nathan his darts and Flora her hunting sword. With their main armaments at the ready, all four reconvened around each other, backs toward the others’ backs and scanning the scene for trouble.
Thus the throaty cackling began, coming from a natural ledge above the young warriors. Spilling out from behind an elephant’s sun-baked carcass, the hideous hominids slid down the sandy slope not far from the short cliff and barreled toward them! Emaciated and pale of skin and hair alike, the fiends’ sexless forms moved with ravenous haste, stumbling and snarling in hunger for their next meal, senseless of the killing tools clenched in the hands of their victims.
The four broke their back-to-back cluster in a moment’s glance, their movements seemingly rehearsed from untold hours of training to work as one under duress of violent death. Shoulder to shoulder they stood their ground, preparing as the first of the ghouls came close enough to strike.
Mere seconds later, the first of the devils leaped into the air; Asha was the first to act, stomping forth as she snarled and swept her body into a forceful spear thrust. The ghoul’s cackling ended in an abrupt shriek as Asha’s blade plunged into its ribs and burst from its scrawny back. Its foul-smelling lifeblood dribbled away from its innards once it hit the dirt, the lioness wrenching her spearhead from the ghoul’s dying body.
Undeterred by the loss of its fellows, the next two ghouls scampered forth, only to meet their own violent demise. A brutal vertical chop from Faraji’s arms was matched by the precise aim of Nathan’s wrist, and the paired ghouls stopped in their tracks and howled in agony. Faraji’s victimized monster fell in a heap, arm and shoulder cleaved from it as the remaining hand grasped at the stump. Nathan’s opposition instead clutched its right eye, the shaft of a long, lead-tipped dart poking out from its socket.
The two lads followed up on finishing off their quarries as the remaining two ghouls made their way to attack the team. Peering from around the side of the formation, Flora murmured with clipped words in a strange tongue, staring daggers into the remaining ghouls. Taking a couple steps through the dust, Flora advanced while Nathan’s sidearm dagger was plunged into his victim’s throat, Faraji’s ghoul being put out of its misery with a beheading sweep.
Turning her body to the right and raising three fingers on her left hand, Flora fearlessly stared down the ghouls now heading her way. A feeling of air leaving her lungs, a tingling surge down her left arm, an uncanny warmth in the tips of those extended digits: Flora was ready for them as her hushed chanting ended in a sharp cry. Sweeping her arm forth to point at the ghouls, the strange heat shot up the digging claws of her fingertips and burst forth in a hail of bluish sparks.
Blazing into existence and howling like fireworks in their flight, one mote of smokeless blue fire per finger whizzed forth erratically at the monsters, erupting into streaking marine fireballs the size of shooter marbles during their flight! One fireball per ghoul collided with the devils’ chests each, but the orb from Flora’s middle finger instead sailed past between the beings’ heads before whirling backward, keeping its velocity as it smashed into the back of the ghoul to Flora’s right. It was over in mere moments, but the horrific damage of the spell was done; smoke billowed from gaping burned holes in the monsters’ chests, and the hapless ghoul to be struck by that third fiery bullet was now missing the crown of its head!
The fifth ghoul fell to its knees, holding the horrible wound in its ribs with a shriveled hand. As Flora swept her right wrist to the side, she grit her fangs while winding up to end the fiend’s suffering. A sharp exhale hissed through her teeth as her short sword’s edge met meager resistance, her nose crinkling at the smell of the rotten blood gushing from the monster’s throat. The five ghouls were no more, Flora’s quarry falling face-first into the dust of the Elephant Graveyard with a severed jugular to match its sucking chest wound.
Letting her hunting sword drop to the side of her victim, Flora’s palm met her forehead as the bone-handled weapon left her grasp. “Well”, she gasped, “That ended quick, but was unpleasant as always. Is everyone alright?”
Slowly dragging a blood-spattered cloth across the blade of his dagger, Nathan glanced up toward Flora’s distressed gaze. “No need to be dramatic”, he shrugged. “They’re dead and we’re not. Not even a scratch on any of us”.
Asha sighed softly, drawing her spearhead from the dirt she’d plunged it into. “Ought to be thankful I sensed them coming”, she quietly remarked, “Or one of us might’ve been the first Blight victim from Veil Grove this year”.
Faraji sat cross-legged as he tended to cleaning his axe’s edge. “Grateful as always, love”, he replied, his voice eerily calm. “It’s a shame that ghoul blood stinks up a blood-rag so easily, though”.
A concerned groan left Flora’s lips as she picked up her sword. “At least Asha isn’t as jaded as I to fighting”, she uttered. “One of you lads has ice in his blood, and the other is probably a sociopath by now. I have trouble discerning who’s got what condition sometimes”.
Getting to his feet, Faraji indifferently shouldered his axe once more. “If it helps you decide”, his deep voice rumbled in a soothing voice, “I’ve seen worse things happen to a team of fighting men and women than having to bear the deaths of inhuman enemies”.
An Eldritch Age, a Forum RPG
What's this about?
Perhaps against my better judgmentand trying not to compete with Dudesoft's Bun-Bo forum game, I'm deciding to finally try and stretch my Game Master muscles.
The game system? WANDERLUST, a rules-lite system based on the "Powered by the Apocalypse" rule set, only four pages long without counting character sheets and an outro picture. Roll 2d6 + a relevant stat on an honors system, and be expected for even a success to have consequences.
The world? A post-apocalypse based in a fantasy realm. Much less Mad Max or Fallout, and closer to Thundarr the Barbarian meets Final Fantasy X. Lush natural environments and civilizations broken by otherworldly causes, where despite everything people are still holding together.
In a sense, it's best described as an apocalyptic future, but with fantastical elements; more or less science-fantasy in tone. Magic and blasters, monsters and mono-blades, otherworldly labyrinths in otherwise-normal nature and burned-out urban sprawls overgrown by nature.
The game itself? Will consist of episodic adventures themed around one's journeys in the strange fantasy world, interwoven into a developing plot. While players are allowed to jump in and out of the different episodes, I'm also thinking of running player-character-based story arcs for those who might be interested. In due time, of course.
So what do I need to play? Simply grab the Wanderlust rules off my Google Drive link (the one in larger font and the game's name in capital letters), whip up a character, and PM me what you've got so we can discuss any questions, comments or concerns either party might have. The goal of this sort of game is to have GM and players collaborate on the world they're playing in, so I'm very much open to whatever ideas you might have in mind for your characters and the world.
For each character, I'd prefer both a character race or species as well as their career. Any fantastical race that could be hand-waved as being purely human or some kind of mutant works. Your character's career should be something that they were prior to being an adventurer.
I'm also allowing one extra ability score point per character that cannot be swapped out "between seasons", as long as you offer even a brief explanation why this point is static (backstory, career, species, et cetera). As for equipment, anything you can reasonably carry that would make sense for your character's career is acceptable to start with.
Characters
Adventures
Perhaps against my better judgment
The game system? WANDERLUST, a rules-lite system based on the "Powered by the Apocalypse" rule set, only four pages long without counting character sheets and an outro picture. Roll 2d6 + a relevant stat on an honors system, and be expected for even a success to have consequences.
The world? A post-apocalypse based in a fantasy realm. Much less Mad Max or Fallout, and closer to Thundarr the Barbarian meets Final Fantasy X. Lush natural environments and civilizations broken by otherworldly causes, where despite everything people are still holding together.
In a sense, it's best described as an apocalyptic future, but with fantastical elements; more or less science-fantasy in tone. Magic and blasters, monsters and mono-blades, otherworldly labyrinths in otherwise-normal nature and burned-out urban sprawls overgrown by nature.
The game itself? Will consist of episodic adventures themed around one's journeys in the strange fantasy world, interwoven into a developing plot. While players are allowed to jump in and out of the different episodes, I'm also thinking of running player-character-based story arcs for those who might be interested. In due time, of course.
So what do I need to play? Simply grab the Wanderlust rules off my Google Drive link (the one in larger font and the game's name in capital letters), whip up a character, and PM me what you've got so we can discuss any questions, comments or concerns either party might have. The goal of this sort of game is to have GM and players collaborate on the world they're playing in, so I'm very much open to whatever ideas you might have in mind for your characters and the world.
For each character, I'd prefer both a character race or species as well as their career. Any fantastical race that could be hand-waved as being purely human or some kind of mutant works. Your character's career should be something that they were prior to being an adventurer.
I'm also allowing one extra ability score point per character that cannot be swapped out "between seasons", as long as you offer even a brief explanation why this point is static (backstory, career, species, et cetera). As for equipment, anything you can reasonably carry that would make sense for your character's career is acceptable to start with.
Characters
- Aveena, Dark Elf, Minstel (Player: pianotm)
- Foxglove, Fair Folk, Psychopomp (Player: coelocanth)
- Draven, Human, Swordsman (Player: aneko)
Adventures
- Prologue: The Grimalkin's Song
Seeking 8-bit music and monster sprites!
UPDATE! 4/4/2018
So someone is picking up some of the work already! For now they'll be anonymous, but I was asked to credit them in the game page and game itself. Right now they're tackling the base sprites I'll need for a demo, as well as one song that I've been dying to see worked upon. Specifically, the for-now anon will be working on the Be Prepared inspired dungeon theme.
For now, I think my planned budget is spent based on the assets thus far; the monster sprites will likely be handled by the aforementioned anon artist, but I may also accept work from others looking to tackle the other music in the future?
Greetings and salutations! I've finally got another game scheme in mind, a veritable love-letter to the original Dragon Quest trilogy done in my own weird way and with a Bronze Age twist! While I'm making a lot of the map assets and intend to create the game itself with VX Ace, I might need some help with a few of the asset that are above my abilities.
In particular, I'm looking for exactly what my thread subject asks for -- monster "battler" sprites and 8-bit music. My biggest goal is to get ten types of palette-swapped monsters created, but I'm also tempted to include some custom tunes if my budget allows. As such, I'll cover the two types of assets I need below...
The Beasties
For my game, I'm looking for ten types of monsters. There'll be three palettes I need for all but one variety of monster, and I'm looking to have them be in the NES palette swatch. At the largest, am aiming at 100x100 pixels of the big baddies.
Style doesn't quite matter, but if able am hoping for a happy medium between Final Fantasy 1's "realistic" feel and Dragon Quest's "cartoony" feel. What's more, try to keep the color limitations mostly accurate to NES -- there were tricks to include more than three colors in a sprite, and the backdrop for fights will be pitch black.
Without further ado, it's time to meet the monsters...
The Beats
Soooo... I'm not good at describing music I'd love to see made! :p But I do know songs that I like, which I'd love to give off a similar feel for my games. So I'mma list the songs that I'm aiming for, to provide inspiration to the composer. The songs themselves can be made with a NES soundfont directly, or can even be made as MIDI files that I could convert with my own via SynthFont or something. Whatever works best! I'm mostly just hoping for a minute loop for the tunes at the longest, in the style of those old RPGs~
So here's the list of tunes I think I'll need, listing where they'll exist in-game and a link to YouTube for a sample of the song I want it to imitate. My inspiring song choices are a bit... eclectic.
Closing Bits
Alrighty then! So... while I am on a budget for this month, I feel the need to disclose that these are all very much "name your price" and will send the funds when all is squared away before you begin if hired. As a (crappy) artist myself, I understand the need to be compensated for adequate work. Needless to say, the artist also has full rights to their own content and can distribute them anywhere they see fit; they were the ones to make 'em after all!
For now, it'd probably be easiest to just make an offer here if you want to make either type of asset. Gimme your terms of service, a rough estimate of your rates, and a means to seeing/hearing samples of past work. If I'm interested in working with you, I'll reply back and we can discuss more via PM, email, whatever. For the sprites, I'll also give you an idea of the palettes I'll need. For now the easiest way I can compensate is via PayPal, but I might be able to send the dosh in other fashions if need be.
Thanks to any and all viewers for their time and consideration. :D
So someone is picking up some of the work already! For now they'll be anonymous, but I was asked to credit them in the game page and game itself. Right now they're tackling the base sprites I'll need for a demo, as well as one song that I've been dying to see worked upon. Specifically, the for-now anon will be working on the Be Prepared inspired dungeon theme.
For now, I think my planned budget is spent based on the assets thus far; the monster sprites will likely be handled by the aforementioned anon artist, but I may also accept work from others looking to tackle the other music in the future?
Greetings and salutations! I've finally got another game scheme in mind, a veritable love-letter to the original Dragon Quest trilogy done in my own weird way and with a Bronze Age twist! While I'm making a lot of the map assets and intend to create the game itself with VX Ace, I might need some help with a few of the asset that are above my abilities.
In particular, I'm looking for exactly what my thread subject asks for -- monster "battler" sprites and 8-bit music. My biggest goal is to get ten types of palette-swapped monsters created, but I'm also tempted to include some custom tunes if my budget allows. As such, I'll cover the two types of assets I need below...
The Beasties
For my game, I'm looking for ten types of monsters. There'll be three palettes I need for all but one variety of monster, and I'm looking to have them be in the NES palette swatch. At the largest, am aiming at 100x100 pixels of the big baddies.
Style doesn't quite matter, but if able am hoping for a happy medium between Final Fantasy 1's "realistic" feel and Dragon Quest's "cartoony" feel. What's more, try to keep the color limitations mostly accurate to NES -- there were tricks to include more than three colors in a sprite, and the backdrop for fights will be pitch black.
Without further ado, it's time to meet the monsters...
- Goblins with a pointy cap, at least shorts, a sneer and a knife
- Oozes rising from a puddle of their own goo, with no features (eyes, etc)
- Ghosts, kind of resembling flying rags with glowing eyes and gaping maws
- Ghouls, slowly walking toward the party but without gory details
- Rats, rather ragged-furred (and maybe not so threatening compared to the others?)
- Scorpions, bigger than the rats and with tail ready to sting
- Werewolves, wearing ragged pants and with a hungering grin
- Golems, made from various segmented parts and with a blank stare
- Mages, with a scepter, robes, a skullcap... and a blank stare betraying their manufactured origins (think Black Mages from FF9)
- Serpents, huge, with glowing eyes, and with smilodon fangs if such look good
The Beats
Soooo... I'm not good at describing music I'd love to see made! :p But I do know songs that I like, which I'd love to give off a similar feel for my games. So I'mma list the songs that I'm aiming for, to provide inspiration to the composer. The songs themselves can be made with a NES soundfont directly, or can even be made as MIDI files that I could convert with my own via SynthFont or something. Whatever works best! I'm mostly just hoping for a minute loop for the tunes at the longest, in the style of those old RPGs~
So here's the list of tunes I think I'll need, listing where they'll exist in-game and a link to YouTube for a sample of the song I want it to imitate. My inspiring song choices are a bit... eclectic.
- Child of Lions (Title/Character Customizing) - "Shrine", The Dark Spire
- Palace - "Royal Castle", Dragon Quest 2
- Town - "Town", The Dark Spire
- Catacombs/Tower - "1st Floor, The Dark Spire
- Do or Die (Random Battle)"Battle", The Dark Spire
- Dying Gasp (Game Over "Fanfare") - "GAME OVER", La-Mulana
- Titanic Brawl (Boss) - "Hero's Cradle", Glory of Heracles (NDS)
- Teeth and Ambitions (Dungeons) - "Be Prepared", The Lion King
- Tearful Rage (Dramatic Cutscene) - "Cold Justice", Etrian Odyssey 3/5
- Beneath the Dusk (Final Dungeon) - "The Evil God Lurking in the Abyss", Etrian Odyssey 3
- Stormbringer (Final Boss) - "Tyrhung", The Dark Spire
Closing Bits
Alrighty then! So... while I am on a budget for this month, I feel the need to disclose that these are all very much "name your price" and will send the funds when all is squared away before you begin if hired. As a (crappy) artist myself, I understand the need to be compensated for adequate work. Needless to say, the artist also has full rights to their own content and can distribute them anywhere they see fit; they were the ones to make 'em after all!
For now, it'd probably be easiest to just make an offer here if you want to make either type of asset. Gimme your terms of service, a rough estimate of your rates, and a means to seeing/hearing samples of past work. If I'm interested in working with you, I'll reply back and we can discuss more via PM, email, whatever. For the sprites, I'll also give you an idea of the palettes I'll need. For now the easiest way I can compensate is via PayPal, but I might be able to send the dosh in other fashions if need be.
Thanks to any and all viewers for their time and consideration. :D
Monster Tamer Projects?
So lately I've been getting rather nostalgic about Monster Rancher. Yes, that obscure series. I'd been pondering a way to fuse elements of Monster Rancher with Digimon World 3 (which feels the most traditionally JRPG out of any of the Digimon RPG video games out there), without making it suck. The concept is very much a work in progress. :p
But it makes me think. Whether in the vein of Pokemon, Digimon, Monster Rancher, Dragon Quest 5, Shin Megami Tensei, or any other game that involves the player raising monsters... anyone else out there have a monster tamer RPG Maker game at any stage of completion? Any thoughts on the genre? Any words of advice, other than "don't do it" (I intend to heavily lower the scope of my own project so it's not an impossibility for myself)?
But it makes me think. Whether in the vein of Pokemon, Digimon, Monster Rancher, Dragon Quest 5, Shin Megami Tensei, or any other game that involves the player raising monsters... anyone else out there have a monster tamer RPG Maker game at any stage of completion? Any thoughts on the genre? Any words of advice, other than "don't do it" (I intend to heavily lower the scope of my own project so it's not an impossibility for myself)?
[RMVX ACE] Looking for RTP-Style Pixel Artist to Commission
Hello, folks. Am looking for someone who's able to do sprites in a style similar to VX Ace's RTP style; would be willing to negotiate compensation for a completed sprite sheet of my character. Color scheme for said character will be provided for whoever wants to take up the job.
[RMVX ACE] D&D Systems in Video Games: Obsolete?
Hey folks. So I know this may have been covered a bit by a previous thread by Toaster_Team (found here), but I figure I may as well as despite the similarities: are dice-based systems a la D&D or other tabletop games obsolete in computer/video games?
Let me explain. In trying to come up with a more retro-styled game, I've looked up ways to implement a d20 system akin to Dungeons and Dragons for VX Ace. For those unaware, the system involves rolling a twenty-sided die and trying to meet or exceed a certain static number, applying bonuses or penalties to the rolls based on stats.
The thing is, I'm not entirely sure if it would go over well. Games such as Knights of the Old Republic use D&D 3rd edition rules to determine whether or not attacks and Force powers (among other special effects) hit or work at full power. Even old CRPGs like Wizardry use such mechanics.
But the problem is, if not handled well or if the digital dice roll like garbage against your favor, it comes down to relying on RNG. Or potentially grinding, which in my mind isn't fun. Even the more modern Japanese-made Wizardry games utilize a more JRPG-esque system.
So, I am wondering what you fine folks think of such a dice-based system in your computer/vidya RPGs. Can a D&D-esque dice system to determine attack and spell accuracy/potency be salvaged, or is it a facet of a bygone era of video games?
Let me explain. In trying to come up with a more retro-styled game, I've looked up ways to implement a d20 system akin to Dungeons and Dragons for VX Ace. For those unaware, the system involves rolling a twenty-sided die and trying to meet or exceed a certain static number, applying bonuses or penalties to the rolls based on stats.
The thing is, I'm not entirely sure if it would go over well. Games such as Knights of the Old Republic use D&D 3rd edition rules to determine whether or not attacks and Force powers (among other special effects) hit or work at full power. Even old CRPGs like Wizardry use such mechanics.
But the problem is, if not handled well or if the digital dice roll like garbage against your favor, it comes down to relying on RNG. Or potentially grinding, which in my mind isn't fun. Even the more modern Japanese-made Wizardry games utilize a more JRPG-esque system.
So, I am wondering what you fine folks think of such a dice-based system in your computer/vidya RPGs. Can a D&D-esque dice system to determine attack and spell accuracy/potency be salvaged, or is it a facet of a bygone era of video games?
Can't Write a Review? (Help)
So, there was this game I'd played as far as I could, and I wanna write a review for it and all. The problem is, the "Write a Review" section is greyed out on the game's page. I have no idea if the dev has any ability to lock out reviews from being written, or if there's a set amount of time it has to be out before one can review it, or what.
So... IDK, can I get some help with this?
So... IDK, can I get some help with this?
[RM2K3] Skill-Based Weapon Proficiencies?
So I had an idea for an RPG Maker 2003 game, but have little to no knowledge of how to handle variables, despite having used RPG Maker programs since 2000. There was a feature I had in mind for balancing equipment, as the game itself would lend to the player having access to any equipment. However, this would make it harder for the player to just be able to switch play style 100% on the fly, but would force them to devote to a certain build.
Basically, the idea is such: having a type of "skill rank" system that limits higher-tier versions of some weapons and armor from the player. In order to get access to those tiers, as each category of equipment lends itself to different builds, you'd have to spend in-game currency to obtain the skill ranks; otherwise, those bits of equipment can't be used.
Is there any such way to handle this system? Or, is there any way to implement something similar, but without it being as easy as "switch from Class A to Class B whenever you want"?
Basically, the idea is such: having a type of "skill rank" system that limits higher-tier versions of some weapons and armor from the player. In order to get access to those tiers, as each category of equipment lends itself to different builds, you'd have to spend in-game currency to obtain the skill ranks; otherwise, those bits of equipment can't be used.
Is there any such way to handle this system? Or, is there any way to implement something similar, but without it being as easy as "switch from Class A to Class B whenever you want"?
[RMVX ACE] Random Attack Element/Ailment?
I have recently begun to take up game dev again, and I've been thinking up abilities for a class-system game. One of the available classes is a ninja, and in that game, I already have two abilities for them. Only problem is, I don't know how to implement one.
To get to the nitty-gritty, my secondary ninja power would do this: they swing with their weapon, and apply a random element based off the five Japanese classical elements -- they'd either do fire, cold (water), air, paralysis (earth), or instant death (void) damage in addition to their attacks.
Here's the stumper, though. How could I randomly assign a chosen element for each use of the attack? Most importantly, I intend for the insta-kill "void" element to pop up less often than the others. So not only would I need to randomly apply one of three damage types, I'd also need a way to randomly apply a negative state instead of an element.
To get to the nitty-gritty, my secondary ninja power would do this: they swing with their weapon, and apply a random element based off the five Japanese classical elements -- they'd either do fire, cold (water), air, paralysis (earth), or instant death (void) damage in addition to their attacks.
Here's the stumper, though. How could I randomly assign a chosen element for each use of the attack? Most importantly, I intend for the insta-kill "void" element to pop up less often than the others. So not only would I need to randomly apply one of three damage types, I'd also need a way to randomly apply a negative state instead of an element.
Any artists willing to do a faceset commission?
Hello, folks. By any chance, is there anyone here who could potentially do a faceset akin to the RTP? Furthermore... anyone willing and able to do a faceset that would include anthropomorphic animal characters?
Long story short, I'm looking for the following characters who need faces for my game: my main character (see avatar for her) and her mom; a teenage woman with pointed teeth, long elf-like ears and ragged dark grey hair; and my character's best friend, a female djinni. The facesets would contain the following emotions:
* Main character: Calm/happy expression, startled expression, sad expression, devious expression.
* Lioness mom: Calm expression, worried expression.
* Bestial teen girl: Irate expression, evil expression, face gashed open and in pain.
* Djinni girl (preferably with Arabic skin tone and pointed ears): Happy expression, worried expression, irate expression.
If there is anyone brave enough out there, I will be able to compensate once the holidays are done; I'm hoping for something with flat colors, and while I hope $15 USD will be fine, I'm also willing to negotiate price.
Long story short, I'm looking for the following characters who need faces for my game: my main character (see avatar for her) and her mom; a teenage woman with pointed teeth, long elf-like ears and ragged dark grey hair; and my character's best friend, a female djinni. The facesets would contain the following emotions:
* Main character: Calm/happy expression, startled expression, sad expression, devious expression.
* Lioness mom: Calm expression, worried expression.
* Bestial teen girl: Irate expression, evil expression, face gashed open and in pain.
* Djinni girl (preferably with Arabic skin tone and pointed ears): Happy expression, worried expression, irate expression.
If there is anyone brave enough out there, I will be able to compensate once the holidays are done; I'm hoping for something with flat colors, and while I hope $15 USD will be fine, I'm also willing to negotiate price.
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