Part 1: Gig

Chapter 1: Gig

Thursday

They suggested that I should keep a journal. It's not really for me, it's so that Danette might remember to write in hers. But I don't really mind.

I had that dream again last night. It was the same woman. I wish I could remember who she was or what she said. I feel like maybe then I'd be one step closer to understanding who I am...

Friday

Ughh. Today we had to repeat a history lesson. Again. Danette's my best friend. I love her like a sister. But sometimes her complete inability to remember the simplest things begins to grate. Meanwhile, I can recite the damn history of how our village came to be by heart:

VIDEO



525 TA

The continent of Prodesto...
The grueling war had finally ended, and one man had unified the land.
Lord Median the Conqueror...
Though only one man, his heroism swept across the world.

535 TA

The harmonious empire stood for 10 years, before it crumbled once more.
Lord Median and his son passed away. Prodesto returned to a state of bloody war.

550 TA

It was then that a clarion vesper rang throughout the halls of history.
Median's daughter, Layna, had come into her own and become a true leader.
Neighboring countries formed treaties, and for a moment the world knew peace.

600 TA

But then the world was darkened by a single malign shadow and its cruel heralds.
The violent echoes of agony and murder shattered the land.
The shaky alliances were pushed to their limits by the merciless creatures.
But human as they were, they fell victim to weakness and temptation.
Some cowered and fled, while others pledged allegiance to the beasts.
Layna rallied her few remaining comrades for a final confrontation.
The venerable warrior queen sacrificed her life to banish the shadow.
They were both consumed, and the three behemoths were silent...



I've always wondered what the truth behind this was, because if that's what really happened, Layna would have to be more than 200 years old...

Oh well. I've got to get some sleep, Danette wanted to train early tomorrow.

Saturday

Morning

Training went well. I decided to run back here really quickly and take a bath. Lady Layna's awake and wants to speak with us, and it's not generally good form to go into meetings with the head of the village smelling like a mangy phynx.

VIDEO

Also available on Vimeo now!



And I've been training forever! I'm totally ready to become a full-fledged Sepp warrior!
But Lady Layna still won't make me a Town Guardian!
It's all your fault. You're too weak. That's why Lady Layna won't take me seriously.
Fine, whatever. She thinks we need more training? Then let's train! This'll be our 1,083rd training session.
Or, wait, lemme think... Maybe it's the 1,542nd... No, no... 931st?
Hmm...



Let's see how you handled my Blaze Slash!
You better give me all you've got! Or else I'll make you pay!

Feinne on Soul Nomad:
The tutorial in the video does a decent job explaining the basics of what's going on in a battle, but I'll summarize how things work.

We begin all maps with the Protagonist's room deployed. I'll discuss in a later section how other rooms enter play.



In this screenshot we can see the turn order. This order is based on the ACT stat of the room leaders. The ACT stat also determines how far a room can move. Each tile you cross has a movement cost based on what sort of terrain it represents. We cannot raise ACT by simply leveling, we use another method that will be described in a later update.



In the video you can see a basic combat. The range at which an Attack command can be given is governed by the Range (RNG) stat of the room's leader. We can also raise Range, but as with ACT not by simple leveling. You also notice that combat works much like combat in, say, Ogre Battle. Each character performs an attack based on the rank they are in (front, middle, rear). The attacks can vary wildly from rank to rank. As we unlock new classes I will discuss them and their abilities.

You might also notice that we have both a green bar, which represents health, and a blue bar. This blue bar is Stamina (STM). As we move, attack, and are attacked, our STM goes down. While below 50% STM our stats decrease. However, to use attack skills, we must be at below 80% STM. We can recover STM by resting a turn without acting, or by using some other means that will be described later. Managing your STM is a careful balancing act, especially when using few rooms. As with ACT and RNG, we do not raise STM by leveling.

And now we return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

A bell began to ring in the distance.



I didn't think you'd actually try to kill me. Geez...
Maybe you're better than you look. I guess you're not a total waste of skin.

Then the ground began to shake. There have been quite a lot of earthquakes recently. The others try not to show it, but they're clearly worried by the frequency.



What are you talking about?
There's always been lots of earthquakes. Let's go! I don't wanna be late.

I'm going to go now. Danette's waiting outside. I'll write some more later tonight if Layna has anything interesting to say.

Evening

I'm not really sure where to start. There's so much to take in. I guess I should start from the beginning, though. Lady Layna callhey, I did it! I can write shit!ed dammit, don't do that! It's really anheh, this is a start at leastnoying. You did it again. Could you at least not interrupt me mid word? Possibly let me finish sentences if you'd be so kind? I don't see what's in that for me. Is it really that amusing to cause me grief by interyes, yes it isrupting... okay, fine. Whatever. Be that way.

Oh, fine, I'll let you write. But I get to comment too, soulmate. Heh... Thank you. So anyway, Lady Layna called us in. She had something important to tell us...

VIDEO

Also available on Vimeo now!



Today, I shall grant you the weapons you will need to watch over our home.
?!
Does this mean... you're finally gonna make us real Town Guardians?!
That's correct.
You shall have the power to protect those who cannot protect themselves.



Ahh... you have no idea how long I've been waiting for this!
Now, which one should I take... They're all so... deadly.
Lady Layna, I choose the sickle sword!
Ah... this is called the "Whisper of Tranquility."
So long as you carry this, you will bring nothing but good into the world.
You have chosen well, my dear.

It was my turn, now. I had thought long and hard on what sort of weapon I would prefer, but Layna seemed to have made my choice for me. And the right one, I might add!



Huh? I thought we got to choose...?



Voice: Holy crap, that took forever! Pick up the pace, ya old hag!
So this is my sacrificial lamb, huh?
Heh. It's sorta soft around the edges, but it's definitely got potential.
200 years... 200 years I've been waiting for this moment!
Indeed, it has been many years, Gig.
I, too, have long awaited this day.
L-Lady Layna?!
Wh-what is this?
What's going on with that sword?!
200 years ago... I gazed into a black shadow. And it gazed back.
It threatened to destroy everything. But I hunted it down. And this sword was the trap.
?!



This jewel is called the Crimson Tear.
Now, behold... the fusion begins!

And the world went black...



Me? Oh, just the most hardcore asskicker to ever walk the planet is all.
The destroyer of everything! The commander of the World Eaters! But hell, you can just call me Gig.
Why were you in that sword?
Oh, that. Well, thanks to that old wench, I had to abandon my body 200 years ago.
I killer her first, of course. But that tricky witch must have had another soul up her sleeve or something.
She caught me off-guard and almost killed me for good. But I stole some of her juice and jumped into that sword.
I never figured out why she kept the sword around, but I stayed there, waiting for my chance to get out.
I've been waiting for 200 years... But now I've got you! A nice, young, healthy set of limbs!



What, you still don't get it?
I'm taking over your body, stupid!
You mean... you're going to kill me?
Kill you? Heh. Nah, that'd be too easy. What'll happen is, your soul will just... disappear.
And then I can just beat this meat puppet to hell till I'm done with it! Hahaha!
Now, give me dominion over your body...



Whatever, it doesn't matter. I knew things weren't gonna be easy.
*sigh*
Okay, here's the thing. We have to make a deal so I can use your body.
Now that you've signed over your body, you can command power totally unknown to the average peon.
That should keep you happy for a while.
But maybe you're really greedy. Maybe you'll need even more power. That's when you give me a call.
I can lend you all the powers of a god... for a price.
The more of my power you use, the more control I gain over your body.
You can use your power to get what you want.



I don't need that kind of power.
Hehe. Fine, if you say so.
But if you change your mind, you know where to find me. I'll be waiting, my little soulmate...

And then it was all over. The world around me began to come back into focus.



Tell me... how do you feel?
What happened just now...?
It appears you and Gig have become one.
It was he who nearly destroyed our land .He was the leader of the World Eaters. Or rather, they were his puppets.
His powers are unfathomable.
We have been searching for many years for someone who could contain the power of Gig.
Of all the children to pass through this village, you were the only one...
I've waited ten long years for your mind and body to mature...



We are the only ones left. This is why we have no outside contact, and why you were forbidden from leaving the village.
!?You mean... everyone?
That's correct...
All the villages were either sieged and killed slowly, or outright annihilated.
Considering the scale of these attacks, it must have been the work of the World Eaters.
Yes, those dark beasts who have been silent for so long now gather their strength once more...
Have you not heard the weeping of the world?
Open your mind and listen closely... You will hear the crumbling of our civilization...
If things continue as they are, the land will continue to weaken, and eventually all will perish.



It's up to you to dismantle these foul relics of a long-dead world and breathe new life into our own land.
Do you understand what I ask of you?
...Yes, I understand.
Now, we will go and inform the others of what must be done.

So we gathered everyone together. I still can't believe you didn't tell her off. I mean, I'd be pissed if I were you. You're getting used by that hag. I won't lie, I was pretty pissed. But whining wasn't going to change anything.



Finally, the day we have prayed for has come... Gig's power has been released.
This could not have happened without your years of loyalty. And now, we-
Lady Layna!
I'm... I'm not happy about this!
Danette...
Why did you keep this a secret from us?!
It seems like everyone besides us already knew about this. That's just... mean!
And that sword... Why couldn't I have that power?
I'm way more ruthless and devoted... And you can trust me better than anyone to protect this village!
I mean...



If the shoe fits, that's all I'll say. See, what I'm saying is that she's a retard. I know what you're saying. You don't need to explain it. Oh, I'm just saying.



We were all in the same boat as you, once. I was never told anything until my 17th birthday, either.
But Lady Layna sees something in this child that's different from the rest of us.
You shouldn't say such hurtful things in Lady Layna's presence. Remember your place, child.
...
...Yes, sir.
I am truly sorry for lying, Danette.
But you must understand...
I never wanted to deceive you like this.
I know that... I mean, I guess... It's not that I don't trust you!
I know that, child.
Now, everyone! Heed me! From now on, we must do more than merely guard our solitary village!
We must remember the faces of the fallen and help this brave child stand against the tyranny of the behemoths!
Consider each of you what your role shall be in the coming war...
Go now, and think on this.
Dismissed!

Everyone else left. You know none of them are going to help you, right? What do you mean? Everyone in your village is an old geezer or pathetic. Hell, most of them would just get in the way anyways. You have a point there.



Anyway, I decided to go calm down and head to the hot springs.



Looks nice and toasty.
...
Huh? Hey, what's the deal? You're not gonna take off your clothes?
Um... aren't you a guy?
Haha! Don't be an idiot.
I really couldn't care less about your equipment, okay?
Well I care!
Ugh, what a pain...
If it's really that big a deal, just close your eyes. I can only see and hear what you see and hear.
Does that mean... you can feel...?
Well duh. You and I are one mind, one body. Forever.
I get to experience anything and everything you do, kid.
?!
Anyway, it's too late to say no now. We're in it together from here on out, for better or worse.
So you may as well just give up. Hell, try and kill yourself if you want. I don't care.
You mean... even in the bathroom?



After that little fiasco, I'm getting some sleep.

Sunday

So, Gig had a dream last night. Dammit, don't write about it! I thought it was interesting.





Rivers of blood... mountains of flesh! A glorious world of pain! Feeble humans crushed like the insects that they are!
My lovely pets seem to be enjoying themselves. What useless relic shall I have them destroy next? Ah, that castle!
Alright, Feinne! Do your worst!



Hehehe... hahaha! Shattered to its very foundations!
Come on, you little shits! Are none of you man enough to stand up to me?!
Then put your heads between your legs while I cut you down one by one!
Ah ha, finally someone steps up! You numbnuts better not waste my time!



Oh, hey kid. You saw that, huh?
I didn't mean to.
It's because we're joined, like I said.
That friggin' sucks. Listen, next time? Don't look!

I'm getting ready to leave the village for good, now. I'll write more after I'm on the road. There's supposed to be a World Eater in Raide, and someone suggested that I should head to Astec to find more information on what's going on in the world. I'm thinking that the latter's a better idea. Yeah, you'd have zero chance of beating any of my World Eaters. After all, they used to work for me.