Integration Notes (Chapter 2)
"Don't leave me here! How about having a party to boost morale? The alternating events of joy and sorrow will taint future developments."
- --Unknown
The following file contains a brief explanation of the major changes that have been made to Chapter 2-specific themes. Additionally, it serves as a primer to explain the breakdown of major themes on Chapter 2.
Please see Integration Notes for the reasoning behind these changes. This file supersedes anything in that file that contradicts these specific themes.
Wild ARMs 2
= Setting
A peace in Aquvy is shattered by the survivors of the civil war in the destroyed nation of Slayheim: an army known as Odessa declares war against the prosperous kingdoms of Meria Boule, Sylvaland, and Guild Galad after they stood by when Celesti and Slayheim self-destructed. Odessa promises to put the heroes and soldiers who fight to protect others in control of their own destinies and world, led by the dangerous and charismatic Vinsfeld Rhadamanthus.
To stand against this danger, a multinational task force is created by the Merian nobleman and descendant of a legendary hero: the Advanced Reconnaissance Mission Squad (ARMS). ARMS employs an elite group of Drifters, soldiers, mages, and others hired directly into the service of its founder, Irving Vold Valeria.
The world is the stage for this duel in the shadows of politics and the hearts of the people. However, a deeper threat lay beyond that: powerful beings who pose a danger to the entire world, and fell powers that are poorly understand.
Integration Notes
- The "demons" of Wild ARMs 2 are typically not called that. Lord Blazer is something else; his servants might be called demons by some, but it is widely known and understood that said demons have no relationship with Hyades.
- Odessa is a broader coalition than in the game. Vinsfeld is its leader, but he has made alliances with Ganondorf Dragmire, Brionac, and the Prophets; people working for them are also in Odessa, and Odessa's armies include Moblins with shotguns. Additionally, the Claw Man is one of Vinsfeld's top lieutenants.
- Sielje Academy teaches both Crest Sorcery and Symbology. It is the best university on Filgaia.
- The Aquvy Baskar are a related culture, but have vastly different beliefs. The Ignasian Baskar emphasize a partnership between Guardian and human, where humans are the junior partners. Aquvy Baskar think that sacrifice is the path to salvation.
- The exact metaphysical details of the Kuiper Belt, Lord Blazer, and other factors may differ considerably than the games. They are also not terribly relevant to the plot of Wild ARMs 2 Disc 1.
- Anastasia Valeria died 5,000 years ago. She is venerated in Granasian churches in Aquvy as the "Sword Magess," a legendary saint-like figure. The truth, of course, is more complicated.
- Chapter 2 will start after the main party has gathered, and ARMS is moving to stop Vinsfeld's opening gambit. Vinsfeld has not made his big speech.
WIld ARMs 4
Setting
The Republic of Celesti collapsed nine years ago, after a twenty-year-long civil war that left the northern half of Graden Island in ruins. Most of its surviving citizens emigrated to Guild Galad, or the St. Heim Papal State, leaving only scattered settlements behind.
The war might be over, but not all of Celesti's soldiers have stopped fighting. Many have joined Odessa in the wake of its formation, including the members of Brionac, an elite special-forces unit that once served the Congressional Knights. Led by the charismatic officer Lambda Zellweger, Brionac seeks out weapons and technologies that could endanger Filgaia. Foremost among these are several Zeboim-era ARMs excavated by Celesti before its destruction. Utilizing an esoteric science called "nanotechnology", these devices can only be operated by people with rare genetic sequences, and their raw power makes them a threat to Odessa and its plans.
A shame, then, that one has found its way into the hands of a young man with both the talent necessary to wield it, and no idea what he's gotten himself into.
Integration Notes
- The conflict between the Congressional Knights and the Global Union has been reworked so that it makes sense in Filgaia. Rather than being an apocalyptic world war, it was a violent civil war that tore apart a nation.
- Prior to its destruction, Celesti was about as technologically-advanced as Meria Boule or Slayheim--roughly comparable to late 19th century. More advanced ARMs, such as the Land Gears, Kresnik's motorcycle or the Eulalia flying fortress, were excavated during the war.
- Brionac has more than eleven members. It's primary goal is to retrieve and control Zeboim-era ARMs, as well as other any other weapons that must remain in responsible hands. While officially aligned with Odessa, Brionac may serve other masters as well.
- The nanomachine ARMs featured in Wild ARMs 4 were retrieved by Celesti from the sunken ruins of Zeboim. These ARMs are secured with powerful genetic locks, which only Gene Drivers may bypass. To everyone else, they're piles of inert silver dust.
- Jude Maverick is the only "natural" Gene Driver. Players may apply for artificial Gene Drivers as Original Characters.
- The Guardians are elemental manifestations of Filgaia's lifeforce, not temporary nanotech constructs. Yulie's summoning works differently as a result; the exact details will be hashed out should she be applied for.
- As Chapter 2 opens, Jude has escaped from Ciel Shelter and linked up with the other members of his party. Brionac is aware of their existence, and is actively pursuing them.
Final Fantasy X
Setting
The continent and associated islands that make up Spira rest far to the east of known Lunar, across an ocean from Meribus and Glenwood both, well outside of Althena’s Barrier. Life, civilization, and culture there are dominated by the titanic monster called Sin, whose rampages across this entire part of Lunar have been ongoing for a thousand years with only brief reprieves known to the weary people as the Calms. Spira is dominated by the ruins, and cities shattered by Sin are abandoned to be ruins or built over constantly. Only a few cities, such as those with the temples and Luca, are large and persistent.
The spiritual guide of (most of) the peoples of Spira, Yevon claims that Sin is a punishment given forth for the hubris of ancient peoples in their use of ‘machina’, great machines, and under Sin’s reign no attempt at recapturing that glory has yet been successful on any large scale. Yevon represents the only hope of the people; if they believe, and repent their sins, one day they may be spared Sin’s ravages by way of the Summoners, who pilgrimage between Yevon's Temples, seeking to reach lost Zanarkand, great metropolis of the north, and there gain the power to challenge Sin and see if now, finally, Spira has atoned.
Spira is not entirely united, however. While the Ronso of Mount Gagazet in the north and, as of recently, the mysterious Guado whose city sits on the gates to the Farplane largely count themselves among the peoples of Yevon, the scattered Al Bhed do not. The Al Bhed have long been scorned by Yevon and have come to scorn it in turn, instead relying on rationality, loyalty to one another, and ancient machina they recover and restore.
Spira is roamed by Fiends, the unquiet dead that were denied their proper funerary rites and now become with hatred for the living. The strange lights that give rise to these Fiends and to the Aeons summoned forth by the faithful of Yevon all bear the scent of the distant Farplane, and are the most visible way in which Spira differs from the rest of Lunar. An age of different development means that outsiders will find much that doesn’t match with what they’ve known... ff visitors themselves can survive the ravages of Sin for long enough to learn.
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 is independent from the Blessing of Althena, i.e., a Summoner can be either a Black or White mage.
- The most popular Summoning tradition descends from ancient Zanarkand, relying upon the Fayth--statues that contain the souls of once-living people--and a Summoner’s relationship with same to bring forth a powerful ally known as an Aeon. The relationship between Summoner and Fayth determines the strength of the resultant Aeon; two Summoners might summon a very different form of the Aeon we know as Ifrit. (And yes, as per game, they can name the Aeon something different.) Notably, all PC Summoners must be trained by Yevon.
- For reasons of plot progression, there are no active Summoners at this time who have access to a Final Aeon except for that one guy who knows what he did.
- 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.
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Setting
In the world of Dream Chasers, the “Great Sea” and the islands found within it are contained entirely within the oceans in the centre of the Aquvy archipelago. These islands are populated by small villages whose inhabitants tend to keep to themselves, and have remained studiously uninvolved with respect to the major events in the region. Aquvy’s major powers generally consider them to be a bunch of flyspeck islands filled with hunter-gatherer tribes, and hardly worth the bother. This dismissive attitude has carried over to most merchant traders, who have given the region a rather unflattering nickname - the Deku Isles.
The Deku Isles are really only noteworthy for three reasons. First, more than half of the population are elves, a percentage that reaches 100% on some of the smaller islands. The second is a (comparatively) large, heavily-forested island referred to as the Forgotten Island. All attempts to make landfall on the island have been unsuccessful - massive wind gusts have threatened to wreck any ship coming too close.
The third is an island known as Death Mountain, which is occupied by a winged race of Beastmen. People generally don’t go there either, because a place called Death Mountain doesn’t get many tourists.
Integration Notes
- The Hylians from Wind Waker are elves on Dream Chasers.
- Tetra’s pirates are in operation primarily around the Deku Isles, occasionally striking into other parts of Aquvy.
- Aquvy, broadly, can be assumed to have monsters and races from Legend of Zelda, with the exception of the Gerudo (who are extinct, as far as anyone knows). Moblins are a common form of beastman.
- Events from previous Zelda games may have happened in the past, but happened very differently. It is strongly suggested to not make any assumptions. These legends are unknown by the vast majority of characters, save those who lived them.
Megaman Legends
Setting
Of all the ruins of many lost civilizations across Filgaia, some of the most lucrative are buried beneath the seas of Aquvy. Sealed bunkers from the Zeboim era, many patrolled by still-functioning machines called Reaverbots, have survived even the cold and the damp of the sea, and the devastation that sunk that mighty civilization besides. Many secrets lie beneath Aquvy's waves, and the Diggers of Aquvy, so-named for the central guild that governs them, are eager to lay them bare. Because of these ruins, Diggers in the Aquvy region frequently have access to advanced travel technology like airships that'd be difficult to keep maintained in Ignas.
Most valuable of all, and in some Diggers' eyes their only real job, is the location and recovery of Quantum Refractors. Powerful energy sources from the Zeboim era, Refractors power much of the salvaged technology that makes Aquvy the technological marvel it is. So useful and powerful are refractors that even chips from central Refractor cores contain valuable amounts of power, and such chips are frequently used as an informal currency among Aquvy's Diggers, called the Zenny. Every Digger in Aquvy seeks these refractors hungrily, and every one of them whispers of the biggest find of them all: The Mother Lode, a mythical Refractor said to hold such power and value that it could power the whole world for centuries, or make a Digger rich beyond their wildest dreams - depending on which one the current teller finds more interesting.
There are several islands of note in the Aquvy regions that the Digger Guild protects. One, Kattelox Island, is home to a massive Dig site, a multi-layered ruin whose endless trickle of Diggers keeps the local town thriving. Kattelox is rumored to be struck by devastation every hundred years or so... a timer that is almost up. The other, Forbidden Island, is a mysterious place to which no Digger has ever successfully gone - the whole island covered by a seemingly perpetual storm...
Integration Notes
- Megaman Legends' inclusion does not imply that every other Megaman theme is integrated. Some pieces from non-Legends games and series may be included where staff deems it appropriate, but this is exclusively at the discretion of staff.
- Robots from ancient eras may be applied for; there were artificial intelligences akin to (and called) Reploids in the Zeboim era, but very few have survived. Most that did were destroyed during the Metal Demon Wars. Memories should be limited and have degraded with time.
- The general 1990s-ish technological level of Megaman Legends is not present. General technology is enough above that of Ignas to support island cities connected by shipping. Diggers do have access to higher technology like cars, airships, and radio, but it should not be simple to find or maintain.
- Radio is powered by Empathite and Telepath Towers, rather than, you know, physics.
- The Flutter is coasting into Kattelox Island near the start of the chapter.
- Per chronology, the Misadventures of Tron Bonne has already occurred.
- The Master System has undergone major revisions.
- The history of Megaman Trigger is very different.
Gun x Sword
Setting
The Clawed Man leads an elite unit within Odessa, having originally risen to prominence during the Slayheim Liberation War. His past crimes have earned the ire of Van of the Dawn, Ray Lundgren, and others who were wronged by them. This conflict involve the seven Sky Armors, a series of mysterious Gears which are known to appear mysteriously from the heavens under the command of skilled and determined individuals, but whose origin remains a mystery even to their pilots.
Integration Notes
- The Original Seven Armors are instead known as the Sky Armors in Aquvy - their nature and origins are a mystery, with the only known facts being that they can be called from the sky by their pilots, and ultimately return there when their battle is complete.
- Armors in general are adapted into Gears on Dream Chasers, although the term ‘Armor’ does pop up in regards to some unusual machines salvaged from underwater ruins around Aquvy.
- The Clawed Man’s organization is much smaller on Dream Chasers, and is part of Odessa rather than an independent force.
- In general, Gun x Sword is a tertiary theme. It is available to be applied for, but staff are unlikely to run its plot to completion and will leave that to a cast. Its antagonists may be used for boss fights at staff discretion.