As stories go…

Psychosis

Psychosis will be one of two playable hidden characters within the game. In many ways Psychosis’ story could be seen as the games’ keystone. His story will start with a cinematic accompanied by a spoken narration of his initial arrival in the pre-industrial time period via a time portal. Through playing Psychosis the player will gain foresight into an event that will occur in the near future. The player may have already gained some insight into the nature of the event through playing the other characters’ but this will illuminate the planet’s fate. Once the initial narration ends the character will begin play as Psychosis. Unlike the other characters, Psychosis is not native to the time period and thus his ideas and technology are quite bizarre to the natives. Psychosis also has a completely different subset of technology. In his time period fusion, nanotechnology, plasma, and laser devices as well as various other high technology are commonplace.

This is a story in the past that begins in the future. The planet of Hesitant, once home to millions, has now been scalped. The atmospheric skin that once protected the skeletal terra has been lifted on wings of fire. Without the atmosphere to maintain breathable air the planet has lost all semblance of life on the surface. All hope is not lost. Technology has stepped in and allowed life to avoid extinction. What is left of civilization has congregated into the infrastructure of an immense system of tunnels deep within the planet. The process of adaptation has begun. It is often said that time heals all wounds. This story is no different. Hesitant is slowly beginning to forgive its children of their misgivings and plans are underway to revitalize the planet’s skin. Through cooperative efforts the races have formulated a plan to reabsorb enough elements to again establish the atmosphere. This will be accomplished through a process called “comet catching.” Despite the progress of the world around them many find it hard to accept the loss of their families and homes. The technology prior to the scalping was such that nearly all those retreating to the caverns were saved. To this day many of the inhabitants have endured a degree of pain and hardship that has festered over the three hundred plus years of their lifetimes.

The degree of pain cannot adequately be explained, the pain of living all this time with the memory of your life, your home, your family, your friends, and your world reduced to ashes and memories of ashes. While many have absorbed and dealt with the pain of their past, others have used their long life to dwell upon the event allowing the seared images to consume them. They refuse to accept the progress of the present and are clinging to the visage of their culture long lost. One such person with gifts unmatched has died a thousand deaths since the scalping. A scientist by the name of Psychosis, brilliant beyond the cage of the normal intellectual scope, has relived the disaster every day of his life. While the world continues to evolve and adapt, Psychosis has sought a way to undo the damage done. A project three hundred years in the making has left him an old estranged man and the council of the new world denies him every resource to complete his experiment. In his madness he has found the necessary energy to trigger a temporal-flux drive; the one machine that will right the wrong; the machine to rip time’s crimes away from his mind and restore his home, his life, his love. He will use the hope of the present to destroy the world of lies and rekindle the flame of his world long since extinguished.

The doctor is not alone in his madness, and throughout time he has rallied those who would not simply place the past on a shelf. Over fifty of his followers have devoted their lives to his cause, and have dreamed of the day when his plan will reach fruition. Today their wish is granted in death, sacrifice, and pain.

It is the day of the comet catcher. The artificial gravity well will draw thousands of pre-selected comets and meteors to the surface of Hesitant where they will be disintegrated and assimilated into the planet’s own gravity. The end result will be the beginning of a surface world anew. The energy needed to fuel this attempt has been accumulated over time in large batteries the size of small towns. This is the source of energy Psychosis needs to navigate time itself. Just one of these batteries will supply more than enough power to rip a tear in the space-time continuum.

In an animated sequence the time-terrorists will succeed and the time portal will pull the battery as well as the terrorists back in time. Along with these terrorists, weapons and technology chosen by Psychosis will follow. In the past Psychosis will succeed in erecting a modern marvel in an ancient world. A fortress of technology at ends with nature. The battery will provide unlimited energy for Psychosis’ campaigns into this none-too-foreign world. He plans to erect a stronghold and investigate the cause of the scalping in order to perpetuate its prevention. Soon enough Psychosis will learn that the technology from the future will only allow him to compete in this world not to dominate. There are forces that are at present entrenched. He will soon find that the surrounding forest is not hospitable and armies of enchanted ancient machinery are more than a match for his energy weapons and shields.

The army of high technology begins its march on the nearest town but not unnoticed. While traversing a forest en route the army is attacked by the trees themselves. Though remnants of the army escape to the other side, the army is horribly worse for wear. Many machines were entangled and dissolved by the trees. Others were torn to pieces by supernatural beasts of untold horror and savagery. Though the army has been thinned to a considerable degree Psychosis commands them to march on. In time the army reaches the town. A small, mechanized probe floats over the towns’ walls on a wave of magical energy. It is immediately targeted and destroyed by a plasma blast from the frustrated army of Psychosis. As the march continues, a gargantuan automaton exits the town and stands before Psychosis’ army. The automaton stands twenty feet tall and fifteen feet wide. It has clearly discernable gears and a slipshod, makeshift appearance. Readily apparent on this mechanical beast is a series of runes. So elaborate are these runes that one would believe that a story sets transcribed on its’ body. Each shot fired seems to diffuse into the runes, and as the assault continues they begin to glow with blue fire. Another resonance is present within this moment and it is no longer the hum of high technology, it is the synchronous melody of magical energy and mechanical friction. The automaton leans forward and a large assembly of gears and pulleys push a large cannon out of the machines back and in line with the high tech legion. A series of runes rotate rapidly around the length of the cylindrical cannon and in a moment later light waves of magical energy ripple through Psychosis’ ranks. Several moments pass before the impenetrable armor of the futuristic arsenal liquefies into pools of mercurial goo.

Count Vladimyr

Many stories speak of courageous knights and honorable combat. In reality the most effective knights were often the most brutal. It is doubtful that the defeated and maimed victims would speak of the knight’s courage and honor. It is now time for a lesson in reality. Knights kill. Whatever their manners, their gallantry, or their chivalric demeanor knights are the enforcers of their kingdoms will. They are minions. This is a story of one such knight.

Vladimyr was a knight through to the marrow of his bone. He fought with passion and purpose striking down all who threatened or opposed his kingdom, his home. He was savage on the battlefield. With blind eyes he followed every order believing the greater good was being served. The reality was that there was no true evil in the land, just a difference of opinion. The council thought they should possess more land and the residents of the besieged kingdom believed otherwise. Vladimyr was far from sophomoric in wisdom, quite the opposite he learned quickly, he read often, and had an affinity for various languages. The problem lied not in his intelligence but in his trust of morality. He believed his kingdom, his home to be the bastion of hope for all its’ people. He spent many nights staring at the white towers against the darkness of the night. In the castles’ beauty he found a sense of obligation to the cause of good no matter the cost.

While the council itself did not approve of this decision (what decision?) the people would not relinquish their insistence. They believed that he would bring the will of the people to the council. Once a council member Vladimyr attempted to promote the people’s interest to no avail. Every suggestion, every effort, and every good intention was voted down by politicians who were not concerned with the welfare of the common citizen rather they were more concerned with lining there own coffers with decadence assuring their own political stability. But Vladimyr was wise and through his vision he adapted to the environment. As a knight of the realm Vladimyr was a man of action over words but as a politician Vladimyr came to know the importance of discrepancy and the absolute necessity of deceit. He adapted to the nature of individual members, learned their interests, listened to their agendas, and exploited their weaknesses.

Despite these forays into political lifehis years in the council were suspiciously unproductive. Larger threats always seemed just over the horizon when the conversation turned to the people’s needs. In all his wisdom he failed in the art of deception and while he saw the practicality of this deceit he hated himself for bowing to it. He hated his fellow body politic for their corruption. In old age Vladimyr’s values had become more intense and his attitude toward the lies of his fellow council members more judgmental and piercing. From the count’s perspective it was the politicians’ inability to invoke order that allowed evil to manifest itself in the land. As the cause they became the greater evil, and in so doing the council earned his wrath. After his many years of service Vladimyr rebuked them. He openly assaulted the council with accusations of treachery. His accusations fail on deaf ears. His days of knighthood had long since passed and though he had made every effort to restore honor to the council the people had witnessed little to establish his good will. Good intentions as a politician are no substitute for action. Fearing he could do little to incite support, the count retired to his home.

Despite his age the council had much to lose. They feared the count had insight into the true nature of their agendas. In their greed and fear they sought to strike at the count before he could move against them. The Count lived in a stronghold just outside the capital. He owned land, had servants but insisted upon no visitors of any kind. He felt alone and planned to live until his death in isolation. One night he heard a woman screaming from outside the castle wall. The wailing reverberated in his mind and with all haste he rushed to the call of this maiden in distress. He took up sword, dawned his rune’d armor and stormed from the castle to find his fiefdom lit ablaze. A woman entered his field of vision; her clothing ripped and burned, her face drowning in tears and pain. Her eyes told the story of innocence and purity betrayed. It was obvious she had been ravaged, but by whom did not matter. In that very moment the aged count regained his fire. He kneeled beside her, took her hand, and vowed never to forget his obligation as a protector. He knew in that moment that he must assume power over the realm to cleanse it of its’ corruption. It was in that defining moment that he was disrupted by four assassins closing in behind him. While aged the count turned about to face the onslaught and in a display of ferocity tore asunder the soft flesh of opposition.

The Bond

The count knew death was walking near, but he also knew that he must survive to protect all that was innocent in the world. He must find a way to restore his youth and procure the time needed to purge the kingdom of evil. The answer was found in a forest rumored to contain an ancient savage power. There had been stories circulating in the kingdom about people seeking this power. The majority of these stories ended in tragedy. There was also rumor that many had been granted this power only to embrace its dark penetrating nature. The count entertained no ideas about the evil or good of the object but he knew that to protect the people he must regain what was lost with time. After a long and perilous journey...

Story/Cinematics [Prototype Ideas]

Mad Scientist

Opening Cinematic

In the opening animation the scientist will be performing an experiment that will have slight side effects, mainly his transformation into a wolf man. Shortly after which the scientist will make his way out of his laboratories tower and into the neighboring town. After a violent encounter with the towns’ security a guard is left dead with one other maimed. The maimed guard escapes to tell the terrifying tale and an investigation is begun as to the nature of the attack.

After the attack the scientist will retreat in the forest of his home and the wolf form will pacify leaving the scientist disoriented and confused. While he does not remember the violence of the encounter he is very familiar with the rush of the entire experience. The adrenaline pulsing through his veins is a vivid reminder of a fervor long lost with his youth and he can’t help but be optimistic about continuing his research.

Returning to the lab the scientist records the results of his experiment, along with any obvious side effects, its benefits and detriments, possible avenues of further research, and post-experiment emotional and physical status.

As Stories Go…

The specifics of Tobias’ ascent within the scientific community are inconsequential. His fall better illustrates the true nature of his character than any prior accomplishments. Tobias is motivated, capable, and quite possibly the most intelligent being in existence. His genius could best be described as mastery of philosophical reasoning and not as innate scientific genius. He has an in depth understanding of theoretical science, but his theories are much too radical and potentially dangerous for the scientific community’s acceptance.

Along these lines a problem began to develop. As his ideas became more developed so did resistance to them. His ideas were so far beyond practicality that morality would not allow them to be tested. The scientific community has very intense regulation for humane experimentation regarding all test subjects and without risky and unorthodox testing it would be unlikely for Tobias to see the fruition of any of his work within his lifetime. Reasoning that the ends justified the means and that the needs of the many must take precedence over a few guinea pigs Tobias began a series of experiments focusing upon making the human form more resilient to the perils of life and the inevitability of deterioration.

In the third paragraph under “Count Vladamyr” you talk about a decision…what decision…it is unclear…

Tobias also…where did this character come from? I might have missed it…Is this just a name change from psychosis to Tobias?

Also highlighted in red…this is repeated in the description of the mad scientist…is this intentional to brainstorm for the opening?

The Quadra of Masks

Four masks interlocked in dreadful stare

Observation changing all before

Entangled weave of gazes entwined

To make all, that once was not,

Now there

Four masks encaged in pained haunt

To build, To burn, To act, To plan

A raging storm with no end or halt

The vortex spiral of dreamland

Four masks making haste to plan all fate

Fighting for a secure place in the abyss

Longing to fill a thirst they cannot sate

Creating chaos

A black blanket stretches beyond all thought. From some omniscient perspective a point of interest garners attention, four shackled masks in the barren ebony chasm. Closer inspection of this enigma reveals the diversity of each and plaques beneath each one, respectively. One nervous and shaking, the face of a paranoid obsessed labeled Control. The second sleek and composed, the guise of a starved villain inscribed below as Entropy. The next stout and strong in features, defiant and vain etched below as Forge. The fourth and final mask was marked as with the others and called Fracture.

A catalyst to all things known, it was four abstracts competing which sowed the seeds of time.

From these seeds a spire erupted in the void, a towering twisted vortex ripping the abyss asunder. All within a spark the convergence of opposing wills brought dynamic action and content to what was once blissfully shallow and silent. Before isolated, now intrigued by the creation before them. The breath of each Mask twisted by another forming a great tower standing in stark contrast against a never ending black stage. The culmination of this maelstrom was a new essence floating adrift in the universe searching for its place. As the wills before them entangled a play unraveled before them, a dance of timid infancy.

It was conflict that created these new shapes. Chaos tore at the bonds of control. The light of creation flickered in defiant hope against all efforts to distinguish it. Each new child a hybrid of will and purpose treading in the tumult to survive. The ascending amount of progeny danced before their sires and for eons never ceased to entertain. Then at a sudden jolt the dance stopped. Whether it was the void’s will at work or the equation, long since created, balancing itself out the Masks did not know. For a moment all was still…

It was in that moment that something miraculous took place. The Masks were not at first aware, they were to concerned about the intermission before them. But there it was, hidden in the depths of the spire, a small planetoid with a system of independent motion. It was the single source of movement in the universe. Captivated, all dynamics save this one, ceased. With the halt of interaction the Quadra looked on breathless. It was only through the torrent of the spire that the void was kept at bay. Now after eons of guidance it threatened to unravel before them. And yet…it didn’t. This single stalwart system kept the dark eternity in shackles.

The Mask of Forge

Forge is the rage of creation and the temperance of those that would endure. The furnace of all matter and energy, forge takes the most basic of forms and expands upon them. Striving toward a perfection of stability and sparking the spire’s cultivation in the void of the abyss. It is the one force in existence that provokes the endurance of being and resist the spurn of degradation. The Mask of Forge stokes the flame of existence. Always eager to seek out new form and nurture it through infancy. As with the other three, it possesses no bias or inclination toward what sentient minds call morality. It matters not the nature of a new idea or form. Hate, love, death, life, pain and bliss are all equal interests in its smelter.