Amaranth Games - My Forum Entries

StarChaser

Subject: StarChaser
by Tei on 2009/4/12 8:48:39

No matter how dark we think our hearts are, a star shines in all of us.

The Main Story:

Min’hira Kudarouu was a normal human--twenty-five years old and a master cartographer.

Until...

While creating a new map of the mysterious isle of Vanisa Elitra, where it is always night, Min'hira is attacked by a rival from his school years. He is pushed backwards off a cliff, and the last thing he feels before losing consciousness is a sharp pain through his back.

He wakes up in an unfamiliar castle, with an unfamiliar doctor and an unfamiliar bodyguard. The doctor explains that when he fell, and his back was broken, and...that he was bitten by a vampire before they could rescue him.

Min'hira learns that he was rescued by two of the royal vampires--Kamae Asama, a cleric and doctor, and Ke’maru Itona, the queen's own bodyguard. The queen asks him to stay, and in time, he learns the ways of the castle.

But to Min'hira, being a vampire is worse than being dead. Explore the isle on which you now live, battle monsters, protect your queen, and maybe even find a reason to live.

Features:

-A unique, 5-member party script
-An intricate story line
-Hand-drawn battlers, completely unique, drawn and colored by members of your own forum
-60 quests to complete
-Level-scaled monsters, so you'll never be stuck fighting that stupid level one spider at level seventy-two

...and more to come!

Characters' Information:

Here, I tell you the characters names, ages, ages they appear, classes, race, choice weapons, and a song you can listen to that played a hand in shaping the character's personality.

This list is written in the order that the characters join the party.

Min'hira Kudarouu
(Mih-n-he-rah Koo-dah-row)

Age: 25 human years at the beginning of the game.
Apppears: in early twenties.
Race: Human for about the first five minutes, then a Vampire.
Class: Advisor to the Queen, and a skilled martial artist.
Choice Weapon: Whips of any variety.
Identifying song: Heroes of our Time, Dragonforce.

Min'hira is the main character--indeed, this is "StarChaser" himself. The best way to describe him is quiet, remorseful, and even-tempered.

***

Kamae Asama
(Kah-may Ah-sah-mah)

Age: 82 human years at the beginning of the game.
Appears: early twenties.
Race: Vampire
Class: Cleric to Kiliara, the Goddess of Death.
Choice Weapon: Staffs.
Identifying Song: Gotta Be Somebody, Nickelback

Kamae was nicknamed by Kiliara to be "Dream Runner." He saved Min'hira's life, and is best described as friendly, gentle, and kind.

***

Ke'maru Itona, "Kay"
(Kay-mah-roo Ee-toh-nah)

Age: 83 human years at the beginning of the game.
Appears: in early or mid twenties.
Race: Vampire
Class: Captain of the Vampire Guard
Choice Weapon: Katana
Identifying Song: The Warrior Inside, Dragonforce

Kay is Kiliara's "Flame Singer." He's by far the most cheerful and is proud of being a "crazy damn redhead," as he puts it. Kay is best described as optomistic, candid, and slightly perverted.

***

Heiro'tama Fukaiira, "Heiro"
(Hay-ee-roh-tah-mah Foo-kah-ee-rah, "Hay-ee-ro" )

Age: 23 human years when you first meet him.
Appears: early twenties
Race: Human when you meet him.
Class: Interpreter
Choice Weapon: Shiruken
Identifying Song: Distance, Access

Heiro comes to Neras to translate an unknown dialect, as he was the best interpreter in Krisvyre. His nickname from Kiliara is "Sky Dancer." Heiro is best described as shy, gentle and innocent.

***

Masana Iiyami
(Mah-sah-nah Ee-yah-me)

Age: 19 when you meet him.
Appears: late teens or very early twenties.
Race: Human when you meet him.
Class: Necromancer
Choice Weapon: Parry Knives
Identifying Song: The Nightmare, BUCK-TICK

Masana "Shadow Weaver" Iiyami is essentially Heiro's polar opposite. Masana is best described as being cold, dark, and rather violent.

More detailed profiles with pictures can be found HERE

This is, of course, only the main characters, and the only other profile on my website (above) is that of Kiliara, the Goddess of Death.

A sampling of the other characters:
-Onyxia Terina, the Vampire Queen
-Andris, the Alpha Werewolf
-Vin Viktrin and Zak Trannyth, the combat and magic teachers, respectively, at the Krisvyre Academy, who cannot have a conversation without getting into a pointless argument
-Chiida Koroma, the only woman who can get Kay to shut his mouth
-Ren Kenoz, who just might melt Masana's icy heart.
-Captain Ed, who just doesn't believe that the Northwest Island is a myth.
-Sashura Kulikova, the Lich Alchemist
-Dr. Rex Punctilious, or "Evil Dr. Rhino" to his potions students at Spectral Hall Magic Academy

ScreenShots:

MENU WITH ALL FIVE CHARACTERS

MAIN MENU

KILIARA'S SHRINE

KILIARA'S CASTLE

NIGHT ELF PALACE

PRINCESS ILYANA'S ROOM

LICHES' CAVES

THE PIRATE BAY

LICH ALCHEMIST'S

ARENWELL

CHANSWOODE

LARGE HOUSE IN SEIRYOU

Places

Vanisa Elitra
An isle where the sun never rises and the moon never sets. Home to Vampires, Liches, Night Elves, Moon Elves, pirates, witches, warlocks, necromancers, and goddesses of death.

Neras
The only city in the world enhabited entirely by Vampires. Civilized Vampires at that. Neras can also refer to the castle in said city, which is where Min'hira & Company live. Late in the game, the city is also home to Necromancy Guild Hall.

Chanswoode
A town of witches and warlocks on the south coast. Home to Shada Darksbane, Ren Kenoz, and Miss Coralynn.

Kylock
Another town of witches and warlocks, but much smaller and in the northeast. Some say that the only other source of water so pure is in the Deepwell Caves. Home to Masana and Noriaa Iiyami, until they grew up.

Arwennell
The town of the Moon Elves, more-or-less smack in the middle of the isle. Home to Prince Scimitras and all other Moon Elves. The Moon Elves are very peaceful, and almost ineveitably avoid combat. Or call for help. But that doesn't mean that the prince can't take care of himself...

Deepwell
A labrynthine series of caves, home to the Liches and the Night Elves, who usually don't get along. Unless, of course, you happen to be watching Prince Alexei of the Liches and Princess Ilyana of the Night Elves. Rumor has it that Deepwell is also home to a vicious Harpy Queen and a pack of Vampire Hunters...and a master alchemist named Sashura.

Spectral Hall
A girls' school of Magic, where Shada Darksbane went after she decided that staying Chanswoode wasn't going to get her anywhere. Home to one of the best alchemists around--Dr. Rex Punctilious. But where has he been for the last few weeks...?

Pirate Bay
As it sounds, home to pirates from every crook and nanny--er, nook and cranny--of the world! A favorite landing place of Pirate Captain Catilain and the crew of Calypso's Revenge, and Captain Ed and his Ship of the Gale.

Krisvyre
Krisvyre is the capital of the Eastern Isle, as well as Heiro's hometown, and the home of a large academy teaching both combat skills and magic. Its two best teachers are Vin Viktrin and Zak Trannyth, who argue constantly. Rumor has it that the werewolves have made their home under the city...

Seiryou
Seiryou is also located on the Eastern Isle, and is Min'hira's hometown. But it has changed since he lived there--at least, he doesn't remember anything about evil sorceresses and kidnapped young sorcerers...

Andao:
Andao is located on an island just off the coast of the Eastern Isle. Some say that the younger prince of the Andao kingdom is very ill, and others claim that the elder is under the spell of one of his servants. What a mess!

Demo:

AND WE DO THIS AGAIN!
CLICK ME!
Credits:

Those on the Forum:

Daeva_Agas: for turning my scribbles into proper battlers and facesets. A huge thanks to you! I'd be stuck with the Facemaker facesets if not for you (Kiliara forfend XD)

FlowerAria: for letting me experiment my plot ideas on you…er, I mean for letting me use your D&D characters! (yeah, that’s what I meant…XD). Also for being my manpower (womanpower?) in recoloring all those sprites while I did more important things XD

Scimitras: Largely for putting up with me XD But also for letting me use you...even though you aren't a drow like you requested...

Kinnison: for that custom party script. This would never have happened if you hadn’t given me that.

Brewmeister: for the journal script.

Amanda: for the tilesets, and Aveyond. Thank you so, so much! Without Aveyond, I never would have discovered RMXP. And without the tilesets...I hesitate to think what my maps would look like.

Ren: for keeping my creative juice flowing. Masana is all yours.

Sources of Inspiration:

Dragonforce: for writing the song “Heroes of Our Time,” without which this game would still be nameless.

Access, Iceman, and Scarecrow: for giving me music to listen to and inspiration for characters. Again, without you, this game would never have happened. EVER. EVER, EVER, EVER.

Hayatebune: Thank you, Captain Ed. Dragonracer24 got his secret island because of you. Don't worry, this is not a thought process that is meant to be followed XD

A more complete list of credits can be found HERE

*************************************************

There! Now that you have a handle on what I'm doing, please read the following--yes, I have ground rules:

1. Please, PLEASE do not offer to beta-test. I know who my beta-testers are, and I'm a very long way from needing them.

2. I welcome constructive critisism. But please be gentle. I've been working on this game for over a year now--yes, it's been a long time--and I'm very proud of it. (not neccessarily of my level of progress, but...XD)

3. These characters are like my family, and I love them very much. Be nice to them. On the same note, if you have issues with homosexuality, leave this thread. Now. Go. If you can't keep an open mind about these things, don't use my characters as a catalyst for an argument. Express your feelings in a mature manner in the Gay Marriage debate thread in the Village Square, not here.

4. Please DO tell me what you think! But please also refer to #2--be gentle.

5. NO ART THIEVES. please and thank you. I and several other people have worked very hard on the art for this game, and I'd rather not see it elsewhere.

6. StarChaser and all related (C) 2008-2009 Tei Raven.

***7.*** Please do not modify the document you download, or I WILL cut the demo down to its bare bones without any of the maps from parts 2 and 3 attached. This wouldn't be entirely a bad thing--the size of the download would decrease drastically, for example--but it would be a little annoying for me to do, and a moot point for those of you who already have the demo. So, you're hereby honor-bound to leave the original document intact.

Thank you for taking the time to read this extremely long post!