Integration Notes (Chapter 3)
"Heh... heheheh... Philia. It's all your fault. You betrayed me."
- -- Gabriel
The following file contains a brief explanation of the major changes that have been made to Chapter 3-specific themes. Additionally, it serves as a primer to explain the breakdown of major themes on Chapter 3. Given that Chapter 3 only adds the Energy Nede elements of Star Ocean and Pokémon, it is comparatively brief.
Please see Integration Notes for the reasoning behind these changes. This file supersedes anything in that file that contradicts these specific themes.
Star Ocean 2 (Energy Nede)
Setting
Energy Nede is still the remnant of the capital of an ancient spacefaring civilization. It has been reduced to a fragment of a continent, floating endlessly through space. The cause of its near-destruction, the Symbological constructs known as the Ten Wise Men, have returned and seek to bring about the end of Energy Nede and the entire universe. Unfortunately, Energy Nede's people are not well equipped to stop them alone... but they have help from people from other worlds.
Integration Notes
- We're not destroying Filgaia and Lunar. There are large, somewhat unstable rifts that link Filgaia and Lunar to Energy Nede in fixed locations.
- Nede's ancient history happened 40,000 years ago, not 3.7 billion years ago.
- Energy Nede has been merged with the Kanto Region from Pokémon. Generally, we've gone with names of Pokémon cities and locations, but we're mixing elements of both games in.
- All monsters on Energy Nede are Pokémon, but this means that Star Ocean 2 monsters from Nede are also Pokémon.
- Nedian FCs can also be Pokémon Trainers. Noel Chandler is a Champion-ranked Trainer.
- At this point, Star Ocean 2's plot has been heavily sequence broken. Don't worry about where we are in it (besides being on Energy Nede).
Pokémon
Setting
The Kanto Region is the only part of Energy Nede that survived the devastation of the Ten Wise Men so many millennia ago. Society has largely become peaceful, as people have learned to work in cooperation with wildlife known as Pokémon. Many become Pokémon Trainers, who seek to become Champion-ranked Trainers by testing themselves at the eight Gyms and then battling the Elite Four. They also now have to deal with the criminal organization known as Team Rocket.
Integration Notes
- Because it is set on Energy Nede, only the Kanto Region of the Pokémon world is intact. The others existed once-upon-a-time and their Pokémon are still around. However, these regions aren't accessible, except for the ruins of half of the Johto Region.
- For Pokémon, we're emphasizing Pokémon: Let's Go, with the main characters from the two games being siblings. One has Eevee, one has Pikachu, which can be decided by whoever apps them. We will borrow from Generation 1 and its remakes, though, as needed.
- We're using the anime sparingly to fill in blanks.
- All Pokémon FCs are Nedians. This means they have pointed ears.
- Pokémon FCs can have access to Symbology, martial arts, and Nedian technology.
- Team Rocket has awareness of the Ten Wise Men and Star Ocean 2 theme elements.
- The Let's Go characters start at the beginning of the game.
- Silver, being Giovanni's son, can be applied for. His mother is Dr. Mirage from Star Ocean 2. However, his circumstances are changed to meet only the Kanto Region existing (and Team Rocket still existing). The first player gets to set a lot of specifics about him.
Final Fantasy X-2
Setting, Chapter 3 Act 2
Sin was defeated two years ago, by a coalition with High Summoner Yuna at its forefront. The Otherworlders have proven a part of Spira's life for better or worse when they helped to defeat Sin, and one of them, Pearl, was even named High Summoner with her--though hardcore traditionalists exclude Pearl for her incomplete training and being an outsider. Now Spira has begun to move on, however, the initial euphoria of the Eternal Calm has given way to tension.
The Seekers appeared soon after Sin's defeat, an organization led by a Yevonite Priest named Trema. They sought Spira's past through spheres, and to this day Sphere Hunters follow their example, seeking to illuminate the past through all the signs of it that they can find, in opposition to the way Yevon concealed the truth for ages. ...But the simple truth is that most Sphere Hunters these days are in it for the excitement more than the noble mission.
However, a year ago, the leader of the Seekers founded a new organization: the New Yevon party. Instead of sharing the spheres he had gathered with all Spira, Trema kept them hidden, and united many under the banner of 'One Thing At A Time.' They would care for the people left behind by a changing Spira, and allow for a more gentle change for those who could accept them. In response, the Youth League formed for the express purpose of opposing New Yevon and freeing the Spheres for all Spira. A third faction rose at the same time, a faction of machinists--those who would not only restore ancient machina but create new ones. The Al Bhed lead it, but they are no longer the only ones.
The Guard's impact on the region can't be understated, either; a fourth faction may well take shape in time, that of the faraway Goddess who blessed Lunar as a whole. ...Even if they don't, many of the converts in Kilika oppose New Yevon on theistic grounds as well as political.
Meanwhile, the Ronso and the Guado likewise have brewing trouble on the horizon. Though the Ronso largely survived Seymour Guado's relentless attack, many Ronso still blame the Guado for their leaders' action, and the Guado have few allies among the rest of Spira. Guadosalam cannot remain completely closed, but more and more the Guado isolate themselves within their homes, remaining primarily to tend the Farplane... which grows increasingly unstable despite their efforts.
So, two years on from Sin's defeat, Spira is simmering with conflicts under the surface. Sphere Hunters travel all over to uncover the past, but now there's much more organization--as the Youth League and New Yevon are poised to break into open war anytime. With Sin a thing of the past, weapons and knowledge are being stockpiled. Will Spira repeat the same mistakes that led to Sin? Or will the efforts to uncover its past illuminate its future?
Relevant are the general FFX integration notes in Chapter 2, repeated here:
Integration Notes
- The inclusion of Final Fantasy X in no way implies that other Final Fantasies outside of FFX-2 are integrated, not even Final Fantasy 7 via that one fan theory. Shinra’s just a kid.
- Magic on Spira operates on the same rules as those for other Lunar-born characters, i.e., characters have access to either White or Black magic, not both, and generally specialize in a few elements. Lulu, who has access to four elements, is a rare prodigy, which helps explain why three different Summoners sought out her services as a Guardian.
- White Magic is a codified and structured craft relying on the Blessing of Althena, which is obviously not called as such in the lands of Yevon. It is usually referred to as prayers, if it’s referred to at all. Despite the religious themes, untrained white mages can and do exist.
- Black Magic is not widely practiced in Spira, both because of a lack of formal schools (such as Vane or Neo-Vane) and a cultural bias toward temple service. To be clear, black mages are considered rather inauspicious rather than forbidden. The premier black mages of Spira tend to be found among the Guado and the Al Bhed, both of whom have lived outside of Yevon’s teachings for centuries.
- While Al Bhed possess the Blessing, the number of practicing mages among their people is comparatively low. This is mostly because the Al Bhed as a culture tend to view white and black magic and its trappings as a tool of Yevon, and exhibit a strong preference for technology and the arts of machina. Symbology, as a quasi-scientific discipline, is more common.
- Summoning can no longer be done; the Fayth are gone, and their Aeons with them.
- Additionally, there is another form of magic related to summoning known in particular to the Guado, which can coalesce fiends out of the ambient pyreflies in an area. This exists as per canon, but as a rule is reserved for antagonists for thematic and narrative reasons. (We don’t need Drifters summoning random encounters to deal with their enemies.)
- Malevolence is exceedingly rare in Spira, to the degree that it is unheard of. It can enter Spira through the actions of newcomers, but will dissipate quickly without reinforcement. The mechanism that causes this will be revealed in time.
- Some canon truths have been adjusted to fit the overall setting that are not listed here. Before you assume detailed knowledge of Spira’s past, please speak with staff.