Castle Paradox

[Pepsi Ranger]

Hey everyone,

This is the official Epic Marathon Story Thread.

In this thread, you may share information on the towns you choose, the towns you create, the areas you develop, and even major characters (such as government officials or war heroes).

You may not use this thread to share your plot line, or any story idea that will give your plot away. The idea here is to display details that other contestants or fanfic writers can use in their own works, but not to ruin the experience for the players.

As long as it gives nothing away about your story line (save locations and dates used), you can post it here.

Ideal details shared would include the name of the city you're sharing, the nation and continent where it can be found, the general location within a country where it can be found, the geographical and economic details of the city, major landmarks found within the city and surrounding regions, character mentality, major transferable characters (such as messengers, diplomats, etc.), and the month and year that you're basing your story in. And that's just for starters.

You may use this forum to flesh out any of your cities or landmarks to its fullest, just don't reveal your story line.

If you absolutely must share your story ideas with someone, do it in private, not on the message boards. There's a steep point penalty for sharing your story line in public before the contest ends, so don't do it.

Other than that, good luck and have fun.

If you need additional ideas about what to post, check the story information on the contest page at http://www.cp-games.org/marathon/ for more details.
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Progress Report:

The Adventures of Powerstick Man: Extended Edition

Currently Updating: General sweep of the game world and dialogue boxes. Adding extended maps.

Tightfloss Maiden

Currently Updating: Chapter 2

[LeRoy_Leo]

Oh boy!

Religion:
Aoi Sanctus~ A sanct of worshippers of the healing powers and destructive powers of water. Located on a lone High island. Only those trained to be an Aoi sanctus can come and go as they please. Unless they have a flying machine of some kind. Air attacks are the worst enemy of Aoi sanct. Biggest concern is the world's well being. An incentive to want to be involved in this war.

Marine~ Newbie in the Aoi sanct. Wears a turquise training robe and carries a wand given to her to save her captured comrads. Has green hair (maybe because it was bleached with clorein 0_o) and is a very good swimmer. Able to turn wandering water spirits into "constructs" or creatures created to serve for a limit of time only (summonig only they are created and not channeled). She is slightly incompetant...

Land:
The broken island ~Destroyed during a past war and never fully recoverred like the other places effected. It is composed of crags and jagged terrain. No loping hills or gentle forests here. Only wastlands. Any forest there would have to be conifferous and very dry and acidic. Home of The Ergis Pricipality; a very small trade center... People of the Aoi sanct go there sometimes to trade for jewels found under their island, but have to go in cognito as they are not liked there. All other people are.
perhaps Jubock should try to make a major trade agreement with Ergo, (no relation to the island... Maybe named after it for some reason.) the land's ruler. But Ergo is just a helpless infant... Or is he?
[Edit] I forgot to metion why Broken land is so prosperous, it is a lot like RockLandia in it's geography, only it is one of the farthest away from the volcanic islands. Also they like to steal things from other countries like pirates. They have a massive black market trade system and sell many desireable goods the are rare to their land because they came from other lands.

Misc.:
Constructs~ An art perfected by the sanct of Aoi. Using water's molding aspects they are able to contain them in a false electro magnetic field. They can make the water into different shapes this way. Also give them a soul!

That is basically what I got... I tried hard not to reveal any secrets about anything here. Just the basics.

Anyway, Aoi and the broken island are minor players in the story, and my entry (if all goes well) will definitely concentrate on them a little more than anyone else's proll'y will. mainly because yall' don't have to use them at all if you please. Just wanted you to see. Also, I read (most) or the contest stuff so far. I was at ease to find that gold stone rocks could be a favorite place for Aoi's to hange out because they are good swimmers, you know?
Hint: They all wear blue if you are interested in poking fun at them...

PS: We should have religions play an important role in this if it isn't too late... And wow... You named an isalnd Ergo... I swear I named prince Ergo a long time ago, and this is some sort of great coincidence. 0_o Cool!
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Planning Project Blood Summons, an MMORPG which will incinerate all of the others with it's sheer brilliance...

---msw188 ---
"Seriously James, you keep rolling out the awesome like gingerbread men on a horror-movie assembly line. "

[Pepsi Ranger]

Leroy,

Excellent use of the thread. For anyone uncertain of what or how much should be shared, this is a good example. The only thing missing, as far as I can tell, is the location of the Broken Island. You said that Jubock has a trade relation with it. Is it near Jubock (offshore I assume), or is it somewhere else?

I didn't include religions into the document because I had already put so much else into it. You all are free to create religious, political, and other various systems that have not already been mentioned in the text. The rest of the background stuff is in your hands. Just write in your ideas here.

Also, to Aethereal,

If you have the chance, would you mind posting the shared information stuff (such as Leroy's Broken Island example) in the User Additions section at the bottom of the webpage? I appreciate it if you can. Thanks.
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Progress Report:

The Adventures of Powerstick Man: Extended Edition

Currently Updating: General sweep of the game world and dialogue boxes. Adding extended maps.

Tightfloss Maiden

Currently Updating: Chapter 2

[Me]

Yes, I'd like the location of any new lands as well, so I can add them to the maps.
By the way, regarding the maps, sorry it's taking so long, my digital camera is out of battery power and the charger is nowhere to be found . . . ;_; You should have your maps relatively soon. Pepsi, you have Serpentine and a rougher version of Ulknar, I think those can be posted for now. Immensica is on the way.
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UP DOWN UP DOWN LEFT LEFT RIGHT RIGHT A B START

[LeRoy_Leo]

Ok. I edited and know that broken land is farthest away from the volcanic islands. A very lucky place. The residents all feel so lucky that they become arrogant. And you know; the "Nothing bad is ever going to happen here. Bahaha!" kind of attidude too. They don't have any religion. They are primarily a trade post with training for pirates and warriors. (Pirate training is illegal, so it is part of there black market and secret society ring)

I think it should be somewhere in the South.

Hmmm... In fact, anywhere in the South would be a good place for me to start in my edition. Gah! (I still need to choose my date though )
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Planning Project Blood Summons, an MMORPG which will incinerate all of the others with it's sheer brilliance...

---msw188 ---
"Seriously James, you keep rolling out the awesome like gingerbread men on a horror-movie assembly line. "

[Aethereal]

Added that stuff to the page -- let me know if I need to change anything, Pepsi.
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[LeRoy_Leo]

Hmm... Not many poeple seem to post here...

Well, anywho...

Characters:

~Three Hundred-year Buccaneers- Three skilled Pirates who are over three hundred years old. Very mischievous. Their ultimate goal is to rejuivenate themselves and take back the high seas, where they once ruled. Not that they aren't already strong enough to do so.
Who knows what dastardly schemes they have concocted to gain their ends. They could interfere with all sorts of important epeditions. <hint>

Cap'n Mirk: A massive pile of bones. Tries to regain his control over the seas after the volcanic wave smashed most of his fleets. He is an skeletal menace who is over three hundred years old. He commands his two underlings; Quick, and Quiet. If he wanted to, he could destroy the two of them and recreate them (in case they get any ideas and attack him)...

Quick: A tough fighter who is clever and sneaky (most of the time). Also over three hundred years old and after a way to regain power over the high seas. A berzerker. Never speeks a word and is more or less like a Ninja/Pirate.

Quiet: A more intelligent fighter with several techniques that he only uses when they are strategically necessary. Also over three hundred years old and skeletal. Likes to hide in dark places before he strikes, unlike Quick who would right out and charge any convoy even over the plains.
Quiet never speeks a word and is the most loyal to Cap'n Mirk. Is also like a Ninja/Pirate.

Where would these guys come in? I dunno'. Maybe never in some games, but in mine they will be major at the end. <hint>
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Planning Project Blood Summons, an MMORPG which will incinerate all of the others with it's sheer brilliance...

---msw188 ---
"Seriously James, you keep rolling out the awesome like gingerbread men on a horror-movie assembly line. "

[Sephyroth]

Seeing as my game will be based COMPLETELY in Enia, I'll be posting info for new towns and characters as I think of them.

The Ferrick Fortress and Pirates
- The Ferrick Fortress is an ancient abandoned fortress that is capable of travelling undergrounds (Think Figaro from FF6 or the Yggdrasil from Xenogears). A while ago, the Fortress was salvaged by some pirates, in which they have made their base. The Fortress is named after Helms Ferrick, the leader of the pirates.
- At first, the pirates did not shy from raiding petty trade expeditions. However, as their notoriety grew, the pirates began accepting jobs from anyone who would offer them one, be it a fleeing fugitive or a corrupt minister of the king. As their professionalism is known throughout Enia, it is only meet that their services don't come cheap.
- The Fortress runs on steam power. However, this means that the Fortress at some times must extend a chimney from the earth to release the exhaust gas, or the structure will overheat, killing everyone within. The Fortress usually releases its exhaust gas in Dexprielle, which is fairly abandoned in the first place. However, on extended missions, the chimney is disguised as an ordinary shop. The shop is not only used as a disguise, but also a source of funds when the pirates have some goods they want to get rid of.
- There are at least a hundred men on board the Ferrick Fortress. However, there are a few characters of significance:

Helms: The leader of the pirates. Wears an eyepatch on his left eye and wields a broadsword.
Weisem: Helms's navigator. An old man of graying hair and a long beard.
Trams: A master of disguise. The pirates do not conduct their business in the open, and usually Tram is sent as a messenger between the patron and the pirates themselves.
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im realy ded

[LeRoy_Leo]

Cool. Maybe your pirates can hook up with the Three hundred years gang too.

It's funny that I you choose Enia. It will be in my game too. A very pirate infested region. Full of low lives and all so well masked as a humble scene.

*Leroy has a plan, but will not reveal it as it would be a spoiler*
Are we able to PM ideas? I guess that would be like working with a ... What do you call it?... Collaborate?

Ok... Pirate mode off... I will think of some other things now.

~Blue Rubies= A strange ruby. Has all of the properties of a buby except the color. A dark and entrancing blue. A beutiful gem found all over the world at one time. Now only found in scatterred locations. needless to say, they are almost priceless gems valued across the world. Almost impossible to get without the help of technology or magic, or what ever is used. Still so hard to find.

~Deep Mine= A mine set deep under water. A place abundant with the precious blue rubies. The very walls are encrusted, gigantic, smooth, and glistening with them. The floors are paved with tiny glossy blue rubies as well. The Aoi's divers have constructed a shaft below the ocean that leads from their island to the mine. It requires very powerful lungs or gills to get to the mine. But once you get there, it won't be the lack of oxygen that will leave you breathless.
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Planning Project Blood Summons, an MMORPG which will incinerate all of the others with it's sheer brilliance...

---msw188 ---
"Seriously James, you keep rolling out the awesome like gingerbread men on a horror-movie assembly line. "

[Pepsi Ranger]

Aethereal,

Yeah, the update looks fine. I'll still have to send you those reference maps that Me made, so watch for those in the coming week. And save room for the other two maps that I'm waiting on (Imensica and the World Map). I wanted to submit them all at once, but there's no telling when he'll be able to get them photographed, and I don't want the people working on either of the first two regions to have to wait for them any longer. So look for them this week sometime.

Leroy and Sephyroth,

Your ideas are quite interesting. Leroy, as I was reading your idea for the three-hundred-year pirates, I was thinking that these guys should be a part of that final assault on the Volcanic Island, and nodded in agreement when I saw that you seem to be thinking the same thing. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if the Volcanic King decided to manipulate them into attacking the nations instead, but that's just my humble opinion. You don't need to say what actually happens because that would be a spoiler, but I wanted to say that I like what you're doing with the place. And with Sephyroth's thinking along those same lines (being pirate themed), it makes me think that the oceans of Alamar are unfriendly places.

One thing I wanted to point out to Sephyroth; you say that your characters in Enia are unscrupulous, and that's fine. But I wanted to remind you that Enia is primarily a nation of nobility, so your pirates should be misfits rather than commoners. Wystlen is a more suitable place for a group like that if you plan on making everyone in your game of that variety, but it might also be worthwhile to think about making your pirate castle part of a great relocation project into Enia from Wystlen. Just a thought though. Good stuff nonetheless.

And I also wanted to remind all contestants that even though you can make up as many cities as you want, you still have to use at least one of mine to have a valid entry. I'm sure you all remember that, but I haven't seen too much mention given of them (or the hotspots within them), so I wanted to be sure that you all at least have some thoughts about them.

And to answer your question, Leroy, you are allowed to share anything you want over PMs and instant messaging. Just keep the public postings (including mirc) free of spoilers. That's where things will count against you.

You guys can also share screenshots and sketches in the Graphics forum too if you'd like. Just make sure that they don't reveal anything important (as in spoilers). I won't be starting a thread for it though, so if you guys want one, the first person to post will have to be the thread starter.

And that's it for now. Keep the updates coming.
_________________
Progress Report:

The Adventures of Powerstick Man: Extended Edition

Currently Updating: General sweep of the game world and dialogue boxes. Adding extended maps.

Tightfloss Maiden

Currently Updating: Chapter 2

[LeRoy_Leo]

Yes... I have been doing my hardest to not spoil anything (plot wise).
Ooo... And I got a really good thing planed with the three hundred years group. I must avoid saying it.

The game is coming along fine, but I need a good map of the world. You do describe the world well in the geography and such. I know what general region each continent is in, but it would be so much easier if I could have a map layout. My project might make it this time, as the grapchics are nearly complete, but with a layout, part of the work will be eliminated. If it isn't too much to ask. I am sure you have it visuallized in your head.

Also, I have been sharing some of my completed graphics with some of the public just to shoiw them what I am up to. Not boasting, mind you.
And, man have they helped me. It's a good idea to go on MIrc or make a thread to help perfect them. Listening to suggestions and soaking up the "oo"s and "ah"s...

Pepsi: I will make a thread. Hell knows you have worked hard enough putting this thing together. I will try and help.
http://www.castleparadox.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2081

PS: More ideas are in production. Maybe some creatures next time...
Creatutes will include: detailed description, abilities, and role in the environment (optional, but good) ex. Cleans things by eating dirt.
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Planning Project Blood Summons, an MMORPG which will incinerate all of the others with it's sheer brilliance...

---msw188 ---
"Seriously James, you keep rolling out the awesome like gingerbread men on a horror-movie assembly line. "

[Sephyroth]

Hope I didn't make the Ferrick Pirates seem too evil. They're more like outlaws than anything else, as in "Chaotic Good" rather than "Chaotic Evil" (Chaotic by Tactics Ogre standards). The Ferricks' main goal during the game is to defy Drafil's corrupt rule over Enia, and they eventually help with settling the chaos that falls upon Enia after Drafil's suicide. (This isn't really spoiling much, I hope)

Also.. :

Gears: No, this is not a rip off Xenogears. The gears are a system of transportation that connects the many major cities of Enia. Each city is connected by a floating ridged rail to leads to the Center Gears Station, located between each of the cities. The "Gears" hang off these rails, and move by turning the gears (their namesake) that are attached to the rails. Since the system is rather unflexible, passengers cannot travel directly between cities. Rather, they must take a Gear to the Center Gears Station, and take another Gear from there to their destination. The entire process takes two hours.
There are always two sets of Gears on any one route at a given time. It takes each gear 30 minutes to travel between any town and the Center Station, and it waits for 30 minutes at each destination to pick up passengers. Thus, a full rotation takes 2 hours. As there are two gears on each route, a gear departs from a destination every hour. The Gears run from 6 AM to Midnight, when the Gears are shut down to allow the maintenance crew to polish the rails.
Each set of Gears consists of passenger Gears, which carry people, and transport Gears, which carry goods. The goods that are transported are often the target of the Pirates. However, they are scrupulous enough to make sure that both Gears on a given route are disabled, to prevent a collision.
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im realy ded

[Aethereal]

OK guys. I *FINALLY* got the maps up. Click on the name of the appropriate continent at the top of its section to see the map. The maps are big so they might take a little while to download on a 56k.
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