FY Q1 Report: Special Projects, Cooperative Universal Publishing (CUP)
Prepared by: Elenora Beatrice Perez, Project Coordinator, Special Projects
Executive Summary:
This report provides an account of the Special Projects Department's latest quarterly performance relative to its project plan and evaluates the effectiveness of the department’s activities.
Introduction to the Department’s Project Plan:
In addition to the shady circumstances surrounding our sudden arrival in Speranza (i.e., abrupt transportation via an interdimensional portal without our explicit consent by content creator Eura “Euphridia” Abrams), we were insufficiently briefed on the project plan. Going only on our client’s request to my colleague Rachel Emily Smith (nicknamed Rae), which was “do whatever you need to do to make things right,” I took the initiative to create a comprehensive yet flexible project plan that goes far beyond this vague assignment of Purpose.
This plan’s overall goal is to “Save Speranza” and includes character development arcs, plot progression timelines, and contingency strategies for unexpected events (like surprise antagonist attacks or impromptu hiatuses). My proactive approach will ensure we stay on track and deliver an engaging narrative for our audience.
While we encountered a few weaknesses and threats on our Q1 journey (colloquially referred to as “Book 1: A Reluctant Return”), I am pleased to report on the strengths and opportunities we have leveraged to ensure continued improvement throughout the project’s lifecycle. For each project highlight noted below, you will see an introduction, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, and a Proposed Future Activities section to align with strategic goals and objectives.
Project Highlights:
1) Assembling the Project Team
Understanding the need for a strong support team, Rae and I meticulously reassembled most of the original hero’s party, a group of talented, skilled individuals to aid in our quest:
* Aleph: The calm and collected ox-man who wields a giant war hammer to solve significant problems.
* Tetora: The hotheaded martial artist with white tiger features, always ready for a fight.
* Vernie (Laverna): The thief with a knack for collecting stories and valuables while being invaluable for gathering intelligence.
* Relias: The verbose holy sage whose healing powers and wisdom have led the world’s heroes through demonic crises while guiding humanity since the fall of Paradise.
* *Oliver: Due to his true identity as the current demon king who banished Speranza’s last heroine, Oliver has not been invited to reprise his role in the party.
SWOT Analysis:
* Strengths: All the individuals listed above (except for Oliver) are committed to saving Speranza and working to form a collaborative team.
* Weaknesses: Our colleagues continue to believe that demons and demons alone are the root cause of all suffering in Speranza, despite evidence of other antagonists’ involvement (e.g., Prelate Dolus, a corrupt priest benefiting from the enslavement of hybrids in Turri).
* Opportunities: Continued exposure to other perspectives during our journey has the potential to identify other systems-level issues for improvement (e.g., reclassifying certain ‘demonic’ beasts like Malodorous Mustelids into a new category of sentient beings may help to bridge peace and understanding between different species).
* Threats: Several external harmful factors influence our companions' obligations and motivations. For example, Aleph and Tetora are hybrids whose kin have been enslaved in certain parts of Speranza. Vernie was also unfairly accused of collaborating with the current demon king by the Church of Speranza. Even Holy Sage Relias was forced by the Church to serve penitence for seven years after he was unable to save “Captain Raelynn Lightbringer” from worldly banishment by the current demon king. Oliver also remains a threat to the project, given his oppositional Purpose of ‘destroying the things Euphridia loves the most.’
Proposed Future Activities:
* Continue to seek out and engage with skilled individuals to grow a robust, multidisciplinary team.
* Git gud. Routinely evaluate the group’s overall development, with the goal of reaching team flexibility and a high level of collaborative performance.
2) Character Development
Rae, our reluctant heroine, continues her journey of self-discovery while battling demons (literally and metaphorically) and learning (or perhaps re-learning) about her abilities to manipulate amity. I am also working on discovering my newly granted abilities to utilize animus as a dark mage, providing magical support (and the occasional explosion as needed).
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
SWOT Analysis:
* Strengths: Rae seems to be making gradual but significant strides toward assuming a leadership role within our party. My abilities also seem to be strong despite my lack of formal education.
* Weaknesses: Rae occasionally backslides in her role, either by keeping secrets due to fearing judgment from her peers or sometimes because she questions her past and related memories. She has also faced multiple crises of confidence, questioning her role as the Chosen One. While it was hard for me to come up with a weakness about myself, given my commitment to the project, I will admit to sometimes being a little too enthusiastic. But only sometimes.
* Opportunities: All our party members have engaged in skill-sharing sessions with us. (Vernie taught me how to throw knives and pick locks!) Aleph and Tetora have taught Rae how to use her weapons. (For some reason, she favors a big stick instead of the sword she will inevitably need to use!) Aleph is also working on meditation techniques with her; I, too, find this helpful when I think about demons for too long.
* Threats: The lack of company resources (such as continued education opportunities and employee assistance programs) in Speranza makes it hard for us to continue developing independently. I concede that this job can be stressful at times. With the constant threat of demon attacks, along with the unrelenting political and religious frameworks that drive daily operations, we find ourselves lacking time to recuperate and hone our skills.
Proposed Future Activities:
* Again, git gud. Continue our respective skill training with local subject matter experts.
* Take time out for self-care to ensure continued character development.
* Foster confidence in all team members (mostly Rae - she doesn’t need to see this report, right?).
3) Saving Speranza
Despite not initially arriving in the holy city, our team has identified the critical need to reboot NAUGHT (Not a Universal God Hand Tool) in order to fix a worldly overabundance of ambient Animus that seems to inflict a potentially fatal condition known as Animus Overload on sentient beings (humans, hybrids, even ‘demonic beasts’). Confronting the current demon king also remains our long-term goal.
SWOT Analysis:
* Strengths: Relias, who just recently joined our party, should be able to lead us to Paradise and help us reestablish a better means of communication with CUP’s administration. The current demon king seems embroiled in conflict with two other demon lords (General Ragnerus and Mistress Aziza).
* Weaknesses: It is unknown what resources or timeframes are needed to locate Paradise and NAUGHT, let alone reboot and allow critical updates to re-install. General Ragnerus has demonic recruiters focusing on downtrodden hybrids; he may also have a strong working relationship with Mistress Aziza.
* Opportunities: Clare Mercure, Manager of Human Resources and Information Technology at CUP’s North American headquarters, continues to guide us through confidential corporate memos whenever possible, although she won’t give me unrestricted god-like powers as initially requested.
* Threats: There are too many to list individually; we suspect there are more antagonists than demons alone. (Councilman Pravum and Councilman Procul, I’m looking at you two specifically!)
Metrics and KPIs:
* Team Formation: Successfully reassembled 80% of the original hero’s party.
* Character Development: Rae has shown an estimated 20%* increase in leadership initiatives.
* Conflict Resolution: Resolved 3 major conflicts (banished two demon recruiters, relieved Prelate Dolus from his pernicious position of authority, successfully called for the Holy Order of Blue’s surrender), reducing overall ambient animus by an estimated 5%*.
*Estimation is not based on any facts available.
Future Outlook:
As we move into the next quarter, we anticipate facing new challenges and uncovering further opportunities for growth. Key areas of focus will include:
* Enhancing inter-species relations through diplomacy and other processes devoted to leadership accountability, including threats of physical violence.
* Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our physical and magical abilities through advanced training.
* Arriving in the Holy City of Chairo to teach those corrupt officials a painful lesson, or as Rae likes to put it, analyze the current political situation and react accordingly.
Expressing Regret:
It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the recent passing of Captain Garvith, Holy Order of the Blue. Although his demise was, to a degree, self-orchestrated, given his decision to force Rae to surrender at sword point for monetary gain, it is suspected that there were deeper motivations for his extreme behaviors, including aggression towards the Order of the Silver. Additionally, the tragic battle between the two Holy Orders has left our party in a state of sorrow and uncertainty. We mourn the fallen and extend our sympathies to their families and comrades. Moving forward, we are committed to fostering unity and healing among the Orders, with Rae already taking a lead role on the matter.
Closing Remarks:
Despite numerous hardships, including a continuous lack of employee support and resources, we remain engaged and committed to our job functions. With the respectful submission of this quarterly report, I formally request a promotion commensurate with my efforts to uphold CUP's organizational mission and values.
Elenora Beatrice Perez
Project Coordinator