There ought to be some sort of carefully crafted plot twist or mechanic. Just something that goes beyond the cookie cutter collect 7 items->go to final fortress->beat bad guy->save princess/treasure storyline that makes the game notable. It's something that can be entirely thought of between now and during planning week and won't add any work. 

 

Theme permitting how about the twist is that the protagonist actually has a split personality and is also the main villain?  The end could be either a shadow battle (zelda2), the final world might inside your mind, etc

 

Characters

Main Character (Lapis/Corone/Stella) -- A skilled con artist and thief. Prefers knowledge and fame over riches, and steals only to make a point - that her country is becoming too materialistic and her people too poor. As such, she is also none too pleased of other skilled thieves outside of her group. 

     Basic desc: Lavender grey hair, olive green eyes. Hairstyle and jacket style resemble this picture. Jacket is dark brownish red.

     Rough sketch: Here

Maple -- Demolitionist and engineer in MC's band. Sees MC as a big sister. Repairs/upgrades items and weapons that MC finds in dungeons (this is just flavor, nothing actually happens when you take the item back to Maple), and describes to MC what they do. Easily excited over the items that MC brings back.

     Basic desc: Dirty blonde hair in pigtails, amber eyes. Dark green shirt under blue overalls. Very slightly tanned skin. Light olive goggles. Physically small, probably a head shorter than MC.

     Rough sketch: Here

Pierce -- A thief in MC's band. Tired of cheap mercenary and protection missions for the government, he joined MC's band for a challenge. Impressively skilled with blades and swords. Teaches MC swordsmanship in the beginning of the game.

     Basic desc: Brunette short hair, bangs partially held back by a dark blue headband with green goggles on top. Goatee. Brown, sleepy-looking eyes. Wears a brown jacket over a black undershirt, with dark gray pants. A little tall.

     Rough sketch: Current design and alternate design

Hanlon -- An elder thief in MC's band. A former troop leader until the last days of the former monarchy, he is highly knowledgeable of terrain, as well as folklore surrounding old relics and buildings. Gives MC tips about dungeon topology and what traps to watch out for.

 

Meyer -- A government investigator with expertise in catching the craftiest thieves like MC. He pays less attention to bureaucracy and fame than being able to decipher every thief's tricks and exploits, which he is proud of. MC has been his biggest target, and the two have a professional rivalry.

     Basic desc: Short brown hair, moustache + beard. Wears spectacles over piercing blue eyes. Wears a brown jacket, buttons open, over a white dress shirt. Light olive pants and dress shoes. Smokes a pipe and cannot think well otherwise.

 

Supreme Commander -- The leader of the country. Textbook megalomaniac, with an insatiable demand for progress.

     Basic desc: White hair, imposing beard and mustache. Bronze helmet/mask covering a part of the right side of his face, which includes an eyepiece and several pipes. Wears a red and gold long ceremonial overcoat over the standard blue officer's uniform.

 

 

Setting

"Supreme Nation" -- I elect to not make up a name for the country depicted in the game. Instead, all the government characters reverentially call it "Our Supreme Nation", while MC's band simply calls it "the country".

 

Plot

 

Stage 0

MC sits tied in an interrogation room on an airship. Meyer walks in.

(Short conversation introducing MC as a skilled thief)
Meyer: "Master Thief %NAME%. Well, catching you only took 8 years."

MC: "Worth all of 64 million. I hope you enjoyed the chase at least?"

Meyer: "I ask the questions now, %NAME%...."

MC: "Hmph, fine."

Meyer: "You're trying to steal something extremely important. At least, that's what I think is happening with all the troops the big shots sent after you. They won't even let me watch over you."

MC: "Well, that was a silly choice."

Meyer: "So, of all the good stuff out there, why this one?"

MC: "Look at it, it has a whole battalion guarding it. Don't you know how much fun it is to steal it from that many people?"

Meyer: "Cut it. Is there someone you're working f..."

Screen shakes as MC's friends blow a chunk off the airship's frame. Screen slowly flashes red as sirens blare all over the ship.

Meyer: "The mighty Dauntless had a hole blown in it?"
MC: "I guess my demolitionist made it to the party."
Meyer: "Impressive. He must be some piece of work."
MC: "Who said it's a he?"

Pierce, dressed as a soldier, breaks into the room, and backs Meyer to the wall.

Pierce: "Good day. I'm here to meet an old friend."
Meyer: "...uh-huh."
MC: "Yep. Told you that was silly."
Meyer: "I'll take that as a compliment."

 

Screen shakes with another explosion.

 

Pierce: "Dammit, Maple, at least wait until we're out before blowing the ship up!"

Pierce: "Get moving, %NAME%. I'll cover you. Head to the cargo deck."

 

MC is now free to explore the airship. There should be a fairly linear path leading to the first gem. Along the path are soldiers, posed by MC's band, holding up the officers.

MC reaches the ship's hold

MC takes a box in the middle of the ship's hold

 

Maple: "%NAME%! They didn't bully you too much, did they?"

MC: "Nope. Did you rig another charge somewhere?"

Maple: "It's already done. Rear stabilizers. Can we not blow it all up? It's such a pretty little thing..."

MC: "Sure thing, we got what we came for."

Maple: "Yay! We should have plenty of time while they're trying to defuse it. If they can. Hehehe."

MC: "Right, let's go!"

Maple: "Aww, but it's the first time I've ever seen a Dauntless class up close..."

Pierce (arriving and exiting through the wall): "Come on, Maple, I got you their new radio!"

Maple: "Wha- wait!" (exits)

Pierce: "Easy now!"

MC exits through a hole in the wall.

Switch scenes to the escape vessel (a tiny room with windows at the cockpit). MC's band gathers around the box, and discuss what it is. Hanlon, the elder thief, makes the description.

 

Maple: "Oh wow, they make them so light these days..."

Pierce: "So what's in that box?"

MC: "Who knows? Hanlon, you wanted to look at it, right?"

Hanlon: "Ah... she's safe, alright..."

(screen glows white for an instant)

Maple: "Whaaaa what did you do?!"

MC: "What the..."

Pierce: "Well... that's a new one."

Hanlon: "The Water Stone..."

 

(Copy-pasted from original synopsis)
After the elemental gods created the world, they constructed temples hidden throughout the world where they supposedly reside to this day in the form of a stone. (The stone you found contains the soul of the water elemental) These temples were built specifically above energy points in the earth that act as taps into the greater energy below. Energy, if harnessed, could give the person who commands it god-like power of that element. In the ancient times, the Order of Haskell (tentative) protected the temples. But they were hunted to extinction in the early days of the current government.

Hanlon describes what they have as the Water Stone. It shines brightly as he says so, as they fly over the coastline. Hanlon notes that one of the sealed caves in the area is supposedly a vast underground reservoir. The band lands outside a sealed cave nearby, where Maple drills the cave open (show this while they're inside the escape vessel to save on work). She notes that she is working on a smaller version of the drill that MC could bring along.

 

 

Stage 1 - Water Temple

Pierce gives MC a tutorial on how to use her sabre first before she enters the dungeon.

 

Pierce: "Hold it. You're still green with that sabre."

MC: "Is this really a good time?"

Pierce: "You got yourself caught. If this isn't one, I don't know what is. Now let's go over this again."

 

When MC successfully replaces the Water Stone at the altar, it glows, and the Water Spirit explains the current events.

 

The current government came to power by seizing most of the elemental stones, which became the driving force to the government's dominance, having enabled significant advances in science and technology, bringing the country out of its agrarian feudal roots to become the unmatched technological and industrial power of the continent. However, the continuous extraction of energy from the earth is prompting its imminent collapse. The Water Spirit urges MC's band to recover the other stones in order to prevent the world's destruction.

 

Water Spirit: "Ah, brave ones. I must thank you. It has been far too long."

MC: "How long have they been holding you?"

Water Spirit: "Sixty long years, brave ones. A most unpleasant containment, being thrown around like cattle."

MC: "What were they doing with you?"

Water Spirit: "Your lords have been harnessing our power. Even now, part of me lives in your vessel on the surface."

Maple: "Wait... the steam engines run on your power? The entire nation's?"

Hanlon: "..."

Water Spirit: "I sense them through your land. Mere mortals cannot fathom harnessing more than a hair of my power. Your people are ahead of your time."

 

We shift scenes to a meeting room, where several heads of the government receive word of the airship's destruction and their loss of the Water Stone. They overrule Meyer's inquiries to the nature of their cargo and order him to pursue MC.

 

Meyer: "..."

Supreme Commander (SC): "Well?"

Officer A: "The Tempest and the Unstoppable have reached the Dauntless. We suffered few casualties, all light injuries, but the cargo is missing."

Officer B: "The cargo?!"

SC: "This is most disappointing, Sir Meyer."

Meyer: "I have no excuses, Supreme Commander."

Officer B: "You better not! What imbecile allows thieves to get away with the St-"

SC: "Silence. No one ordered you to put both the cargo and a thief on the same ship."

Officer B: "I... I..."

SC: "Get it back. Our Supreme Nation demands it."

Meyer: "..."

 

Perceiving distress from the other spirits, the Water Spirit sinks the entire temple into the ocean after MC's band leaves in order to prevent the government from reaching it.

 

Water Spirit: "Hmm..."

Water Spirit: "You must go. They are coming. Worry not. I shall lie in the ocean for a while. Let me deliver the rain that your land has long thirsted for."

MC: "I see."

Water Spirit: "May my brother Light benefit from your assistance? He is at His temple, shackled and weary."

MC: "I shall, spirit."

Water Spirit: "And little one..."

Maple: "M-me?"

Water Spirit: "Let me carry your ship onwards. Yours shall be a vessel of glory."

Maple: "...yes!"

 

Stage 2 - Light Temple

The Light Stone is held at its location by government troops at an artificial altar. The Dark Stone was also temporarily placed there for a government experiment. When the MC defeats the boss, she acquires both the Light Stone and the Dark Stone, and frees the Light Spirit by placing the stone back on the original altar.

 

The light temple is located in the south east desert. The light temple is also made out of metal. You need to buy a compass and a shovel in the nearby town. Somehow the player must be hinted to do this and to go loooking for the light temple in the desert with the compass and then dig it up. 

The Light Spirit reveals that the government has been using the stones on artificial Energy Altars to fuel the country's burgeoning need for energy, as well as power massive scientific experiments.

The Light Spirit aids the party by showing the location for the Darkness Temple, and muses that MC's party may be the new Knights of Haskell before sinking the Temple into the ground.

That location is the northwest swamp. 

 

 

Stage 3 - Darkness Temple

When the MC defeats troops stationed at the Darkness Temple and places the Dark Stone on the altar, the party notices that it does not glow. Hanlon reveals himself to be the Dark Spirit. He explains that he once activated himself on his altar to the body of a mortal upon sensing the disappearance of Water, Fire, and Light. He then assassinated the Supreme Commander's father in a bid to stop the rise of the dictatorship, but was ultimately unsuccessful, as his more capable son took over the Supreme Nation and seized the deactivated Dark Stone, leaving the spirit stranded in Hanlon's body. Once the Knights of Haskell leave the temple, Hanlon sinks the temple, thanks them via telepathy, and urges them on.

 

This should all occur on dark_J.txt

 

dark_stone_1.scr

MC: "...huh?"

Pierce: "What?"

MC: "The stone... it's not glowing."

Maple: "Wait... is this a decoy?"

Hanlon: "No, dear. It is real, alright."

END dark_stone_1.scr

 

*Hanlon walks up to the stone. It begins to glow. Hanlon glows white and disappears.*

 

dark_stone_2.scr

MC: "Hanlon..."

Hanlon: "You've all been quite impressive. Entrusting you to this great mission was a just decision."

MC: "You're the Dark Spirit?"

Hanlon: "Aye, it is I. This old man's body is becoming a nuisance. I fear every day of becoming a wayward spirit if it expires. I remember when he came to me as a young heartbroken soul. By that time, Water, Fire, and Light have become silent, and I grew worried. He accepted my company with a smile."

MC: "..."

Hanlon: "He and I became a most capable musketeer. We waited long enough to put a ball between the Eternal Commander's eyes."

Pierce: "You assassinated the Supreme Commander's father?!"

Hanlon: "If only that did a thing. His son knew better. He took my stone, leaving me in this body. I'm sorry."

MC: "For what?"

Hanlon: "For imposing such a great responsibility on your shoulders. Us spirits have deigned to seek nothing from mortals, though Fire always found it amusing that Water would get rivers of blood sent to her. Haha..."

MC: "..."

MC: "Well, old man, where to next?"

Hanlon: "!"

Pierce: "Yeah, quit sitting there now, we need a place to go!"

Maple: "Tell me where to steer, Uncle Hanlon!"

Hanlon: "...youngsters have no patience for things. Fire is stuck feeding the dogs in Mesembria."

MC: "Mesembria Power Plant?!"

Maple: "That's... the biggest power plant in the country!"

Pierce: "What else has the government been hiding from us?!"

Hanlon: "Everything, boy. Now go. Water and Light and I need to talk."

END dark_stone_2.scr

 

Stage 4 - Fire Temple

General Roxford: "Enjoying your paid leave, Meyer-boy?"

Meyer: "..."

General Roxford: "Hah, you gendarmes just don't understand how the world runs. We've been dealing with guerillas and the Western Front since before you're born! It's survival of the fittest out here. I have no clue why Supreme Commander put a shrimp in charge of the most important power plant in the country."

Meyer: "Because we're up against smart thieves. They're nothing to sneeze at."

General Roxford: "Whatever you say, kiddo. Don't get lost out there now. Heheheh..."

 

The Fire Energy Altar is the most important energy source for the country, so it is heavily guarded by government troops, armed with flamethrowers. Meyer is grudgingly in charge of guarding the Fire Temple, though the boss disregards him and attacks the MC. Meyer witnesses the MC replace the Fire Stone at the altar, and begins to question his government. He tells the MC that the Life Stone is also housed at its temple, which is located deep inside a forbidden forest. Knowing that the government will not forgive his failure, he urges MC to leave while he destroys the conduits and go undercover.

 

Stage 5 - Life Temple

The Life Stone, located deep in a forest that is sealed from public access, sits on an Energy Altar, and is being used to fuel biological research. Upon entering the forest, the MC hears sirens, and the forest is suddenly filled with monsters and chimeric humans that run towards the player. Along the way, the MC finds dead soldiers and scientists.

 

The drill is first found here. When brought back to Maple, she will finally construct her portable drill and give it to the MC. (Nothing changes here, she just explains what it does and doesn't keep the drill from the MC).

 

The lead scientist introduces the boss of this level, revealing that the government ordered him to release all the monsters in a bid to stop the MC. The boss is some evil chimeric monster that launches energy balls at the MC, who should reflect them back to defeat it.

The Life Spirit warns the MC that the Death Stone is being activated, and urges them to stop the government.

 

Upon exiting the forbidden forest, Pierce informs the MC that Maple has been kidnapped. Meyer meets them in a separate ship and tells them to hurry towards the Temple of Death.

 

 

Stage 6 - Death Temple

MC's band and Meyer help the MC reach the Death Stone.

When the MC reaches the Death Altar, she witnesses the Supreme Commander placing the Death Stone on the altar, instead of removing it. The Supreme Commander then disintegrates painfully into ashes, as Maple looks on beside him.

Death Spirit reveals that it was the first stone to be activated and stolen by the Supreme Commander's father, and was responsible for killing off the entire royal family and initiating the monarchy's collapse. It then took control of the current Supreme Commander, and aims to have the other stones controlled under its will in the Energy Altars, the design of which it supplied to the Supreme Nation's scientists.

Final boss battle.

The battle centers around firing different types of ammunition at the Dark Stone, while using other items to evade its wide-area attacks.

 

 

The End

Everyone is happy (or not, if Maple can be killed and is killed). Meyer respectfully tells MC to leave before he takes chase after her again, she smiles and accepts his challenge.