Book 1: The Plot Begins
Ch. 1: Awaken
POV - 3rd Person
There was a farm girl named Amelia. Normally, when a story begins like that in the Lightlands, once would expect her to be blessed by a Light god or pick up a legendary sword or discover an arcane secret, become a Hero, then proceed to save lives, slay dragons, or topple empires. After all, that was the way the Narrator created the world, saying that things couldn't get worse is a surefire way to make things worse. In the Darklands, however, said farm girl is either to be part of an oppressed people insignificant to the Plot, or have a tragic story or revelation making her a Villain. This is the second kind of story, one that started quite typically with our main character becoming an orphan. No, the small farming village she lives in is not about to the wiped out, it's just her parents that are about to die.
We begin two months after the Twelfth Crusade, with the Lightlanders having returned safely to the Light kingdoms, not that your average farmer really cares about that. They're stuck farming and paying taxes, which wouldn't change no matter who won the Crusade. Amelia's doomed parents, whom we shall not name because it would be quite pointless, were selected to bring the portion of the harvest to be payed to Baron Greyhill as taxes. Unfortunately, Baron Greyhill was in quite the temper about losing his treasury to the Lightlanders and has both of them killed, with Amelia learning of their deaths through a messenger. Faced with such tragedy, the depressed girl does the only thing she knows to do in such an upsetting situation and begins to sing a mournful tune.
POV - 3rd Person Limited: The Trickster
The Trickster was bored. If she had stated that out loud in a tavern, any sane person would begin to run away as quickly as possible. Which was exactly what happened, with chairs and tables being knocked down. Normally, this would not amuse her quite enough to resolve her boredom, but she had discreetly installed a tripwire across the entrance which entering, which did exactly what its name would suggest: it tripped people. There was quite the literal pile up at the door, the people at the bottom groaning, everybody giving her frightful glances. The Trickster snapped her fingers, casting the spell Pinkify, which did what its name suggests as well and turned everybody in the pile up's skin pink, then she cast Villainous Exit, swirling dramatically in her black robes and disappearing in a puff of sulfur scented mist while cackling frighteningly, reappearing stealthily on the roof of the tavern. She quietly watched as the pink-skinned people extricated themselves from the pile at the door, appearing on the outside beneath her, appearing quite relieved, waiting for enough of them to gather outside. She cast Rainbow Rain, dumping a waterfall of rainbow-colored dye upon the vict- people lurking outside, then skipped off down the road, whistling and, unfortunately for the poor farmers, still bored. Let's see how the farmers react to the airhorn sounds, rainbow-colored wheat, and tripping grass.
POV – 3rd Person Limited: Amelia
Amelia felt- , she wasn’t sure how she felt. She was depressed, from her parent’s death. She was angry, at the Baron for carelessly killing her parents in a fit of rage. She was ashamed, for having to bow and scrape to the Baron for his “generous” reimbursement for her parent’s deaths. All of this translated to a haunting melody that spilled forth from her lips as she brooded, off in her own world with her eyes closed, unaware of everything around her, such as the farmers further away tripping into rainbow colored wheat, mocked by airhorns sound coming from seemingly nowhere. No, she concentrated on nothing but the melody, managing to sound mournful and vengeful at the same time, with a soft, sad melody containing a harsher undertone. Due to this, she was completely unaware of the townspeople stopping to listen, beginning to cry, and eventually falling unconscious. As of such, she was only snapped out of her singing trance when what sounded like an airhorn blasted right next to her ear, making her jump, open her eyes, and see the sea of unconscious townsfolk around her. She turned around towards the sound, saw a figure with a black cloak wearing a jester’s hat and a masquerade mask, half white and half red with a teardrop on both sides, and gasped. Everybody in the Darklands knew of the Trickster, a rare Villain with no political aspirations whatsoever who only spread vicious pranks to sate her own boredom. In that moment, Amelia felt as though her heart might leap through her chest.
“Did you knock them all out?”, Amelia asked.
The Trickster laughed, “No, that’s all you, darling. Wonderful voice, by the way.”
“But ... but that’s not possible. I don’t know magic, and I’m not a Villain,” Amelia stuttered.
“Well, you’re obviously on the verge of the becoming one, silly. Oh this might actually be interesting,” the Trickster said sounding far too eager.
Amelia’s heart sank. Anything remotely interesting to the Trickster could not be good news. “Well then what –“
And Amelia fell unconscious from the Glittering Stars spell the Trickster cast, as glitter rained down upon the two.
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POV – 3rd Person Kevin
By Lumina’s grace, Kevin was terrified. His initiation to a priest from a mere acolyte was only minutes away, but he couldn’t wait. Would he become a priest of Lumina, smiting evil with her holy grace, or perhaps a priest of Lucien, revealing truth and administering justice. The priests of Michael, the god of mercy, were even more amazing, both capable to fighting with weapons made of light and healing soldiers on the battlefield, the sole reason the forces of good managed to win the Twelfth Crusade. With the Light’s victory in the Crusade, the gods are clearly smiling upon the holy lands. As much as he has daydreamed about becoming a Hero like the Holy Smiter, he was aware of the disastrous consequences. It would mean that a new Plot has started, another tumulus time for the forces of good until evil is finally cleansed. Occupying the Darklands has only led to tragedy, with both soldiers and Heroes alike falling to freezing temperatures and terrifying monsters lurking in the darkness.
The Narrator is a mysterious god over whom many debates have started. Some believe it to be a benevolent light god, granting Heroes tremendous power, testing the Heroes’ faith, and guaranteeing that good triumphs in every Plot. Others are not so sure, with the rare times in history evil has won in a Plot and the devastating powers Villains have to achieve their nefarious ends. Due to its duality, the Narrator is not part of the Light pantheon according to Church doctrine, although its mention is not taboo unlike the dark usurping gods.
“I pray to Lumina for her strength and Pelos for her kindness to get through this day, and may the Narrator pass me by,” Kevin said. The last part was traditional to some families, as even living through one of the Narrator’s Plots usually leave one scared, with a tragic backstory, and depressed for life, despite the happily ever after. Even worse, you may end up as a mentor to a hero, in which case death is as guaranteed as had a Villain declared himself immortal or having ascended to godhood.
Kevin heard the High Priest, High Priest being a title and not a Hero, call out his name, his name echoing throughout the hall. ‘Darn it, I started daydreaming again, Lucien forgive me.’ With trepidation he stepped forwards, walking on the white, glowing carpet under the stares of the rest of the clergy and his few friends, until he reached the Altar and kneeled besides it.
“Do you, Kevin Faithkeeper, vow to support the forces of good and destroy the forces of evil?” the High Priest asked.
“Yes,” Kevin replied simply
“Do you vow to protect the innocent and uphold justice?”
“Yes”
“Do you vow to follow the laws of the Church and pledge yourself to the gods of Light?”
“Yes”
“Then as the High Priest, I declare Acolyte Faithkeeper a full priest of the Church!”
Kevin began to glow noticeably, far brighter than he was supposed to, and as he panicked, everything suddenly turned black.
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POV - 3rd Person: The Squire
The Squire is a Hero and cynic and he good reason to be cynical. He is the Squire of the Shining Knight, and despite what the story says, the Squire stabbed the Overlord in the back during their “honorable duel”. Since the Overlord is dead and nobody else was there, they said he died in honorable combat and nobody could dispute the claim. Bravius, for which the Kingdom of Bravaro was named, is the god of honor and frowned upon their actions on that day. Since then, the Shining Knight is no longer a Hero, although a careful masquerade kept anybody from noticing.
‘This is not going to end well,’ the Squire thought to himself, ‘Shining is going to get ousted one day, and then what? Will he be executed, or worse, will I be executed as well? Darn this all to Hell, I told him to play it straight and the Plot will carry us through.’
Shining is getting his medal of honor for slaying the Overlord today, which meant that they had to dress up. The Squire carefully waxed Shining’s armor, as the Shining Knight’s Heroic powers always had the side effect of keeping his gear shiny. He climbed into his own armor and stepped to the bathroom where servants were waiting to clean him up for the ceremony. He just hoped that, Narrator forbid, something bad wouldn’t happen today.
Yep, he jinxed it. The Narrator sure loves its irony. It rained the day before and the mud clinging to Shining’s boots was visible during the ceremony. Some townsperson asked how it was possible, one thing led to another, and mob lynched Shining while the Squire ran away. He made it past the border before the guards received notice Shining has lost his Heroic Blessing, sprinting into the Darklands beyond.
‘Oh by Bravius’ grace I forgot it’s deadly to be in the Darklands during winter,’ the Squire realized, ‘I should have hid in the sewers or something, at least I’d last a day or two before someone found me.’
The Squire crested the next snow covered hill, lightning stuck, a blizzard stirred, and last thing he could see was white before he passed out.
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POV – 3rd Person Limited: Amelia
Amelia’s eyes opened.
“Congratulations kiddo,” the Trickster said, “Welcome to Villainy.”
“You’re the Charmer, bewitcher of men, the voice behind the throne,” said the Trickster, uncharacteristically serious.
“No way, I have no idea what to do!” Amelia complained, already plotting Baron Greyhill’s downfall.
POV – 3rd Person Limited: Kevin
Kevin found himself in a white void.
“Greetings champion,” a soft voice said, “I have work for you.”
“You are the Blessed Healer, savior of the dying, the returner of the dead,” so spoke the Light goddess Melisandre.
“I am grateful for such an honor,” Kevin replied, feeling anything but grateful.
POV – 3rd Person Limited: The Squire
The Squire unexpectedly woke up to a scroll hovering midair in front of him.
“Fallen hero,” a raspy voice said, “Would you like to make a deal?”
“You can become the Fallen Knight, breaker of faith, the disillusioned hero,” the Dark goddess Rumida whispered.
“I accept. I will not die today,” the Squire said confidently, desperately hoping he did not make a horrible mistake.
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So the Plot begins with three offers given and accepted. Three people now at the mercy of the Narrator. And the Narrator has no mercy.