Opening
prophet
A mighty warrior of limitless courage,
bearing a lance that shatters the heavens.
A carefree healer with a kind heart
bearing a staff of immense power.
A studious sage wise beyond his years,
bearing a tome of enigmatic designs.
A stalwart hero from another world,
bearing a sword which extinguishes evil.
They shall first slay the Three Great Evils,
then the Tyrant himself shall be slain,
and this land shall be free of wicked reign
before the last sunset of the summer.
(That's nearly half a year, I think that is
a very generous timeframe for them.)
village elder
Could this all be true? Will it
all really be this simple?
prophet
Do you question my gift of prophecy?
You know well what futures I speak
of have always come to pass.
village elder
Of course not, Great Prophet!
I am merely happy the land
shall be saved from the Tyrant,
within such a short time too.
Village
(A shadowy swordmaster approaches the village. The Hero sneaks up behind and kills her easily.)
hero
Holy shit, I just one-tapped the area boss.
This gear the prophet gave us is broken.
Now this is the kind of power fantasy I enjoy,
imagine if I landed in Grimgar or some shit.
(The other heroes join him.)
hero
Alright, guys. I'm experienced enough
with the genre to see how this goes.
The General's area is up ahead, so
we'll need some gear that can-
(The Chancellor approaches with a squad of mages.)
chancellor
We meet at last, Four Heroes.
Do you really think you wouldn't catch our
attention, bumbling across the country?
Your may cover your ugly face with an ugly
mask, but you know little of hiding your trail.
hero
The Chancellor? This isn't your area.
And that was an out-of-pocket comment.
I suppose there needs to be some
kind of early villain build-up,
otherwise there'd be no payoff later.
chancellor
Payoff? You'll see payoff soon enough.
(The General, High Priest, and Tyrant appear, flanking the heroes with a squad of monsters.)
tyrant
This oddly dressed creature is who the
prophecy states will bring about my end?
I tire of your fraudulent utterings, Prophet.
Allow me to put these rumours to rest.
high priest
He has delicious looking eyes.
hero
What?
tyrant
What?
hero
The final boss, already? I get it. This is
one of those unwinnable cutscene fights.
tyrant
An astute observation, Hero.
This is indeed, unwinnable.
(The screen fades to black over the sounds of fighting and death.)
Five Months Later
village elder
Horrible news, Great Prophet!
The Four Heroes have all been slain!
prophet
My hearing appears to have grown worse, as
I thought I heard the Heroes were slain.
village elder
You hear correctly! The Tyrant is bringing
their corpses to be displayed at the Capital.
prophet
How could this have happened? I gave them
weapons powerful enough to kill an immortal,
much less some self-proclaimed despot and
his three cronies! When did this occur?
village elder
Two months ago!
prophet
Why was word not given
to me more quickly?
village elder
With all due respect, your abode in the
mountains is difficult to get messages to.
Could it be that the prophecy was-
prophet
You dare to suggest that my prophecies
could be wrong? After hundreds of years?
village elder
No! I mean, it must be... that the Four
Heroes were not the Four Heroes!
Yes, that must be it! You need the
right Four Heroes for the prophecy!
prophet
... Hmmm. Yes, this could work. But
there's no time to find another four!
There's only a month left, and even
travelling to the Capital will- I know.
village elder
What have you understood,
Great Prophet?
prophet
Your bravery to deliver me this message,
climbing all this way despite your age,
yes, it must mean you are the Warrior
among the four prophesied heroes!
village elder
Huh? But-
prophet
Fear not. I have the exact spear and
armour needed for a legendary warrior.
Now, as for the others....
(The prophet looks to her child attendants.)
prophet
Well, children. You always did say
you wanted to see civilisation again.
How about a short trip to the Capital?
It will be a wonderful learning experience.
girl
Isn't the Capital where the bad men are?
I hear they eat children and babies!
prophet
Some exaggeration, but pretty close.
boy
We're going to die!
I don't want to go!
prophet
Don't be ridiculous. Just listen to what
I have to say, and you'll be totally safe.
In fact, I'll even buy you some tasty
gingerbread men! They're really sweet.
girl
Gingerbread men...
I do want some.
boy
No! I don't want gingerbread,
I want to live!
prophet
It is written in the prophecy
that the Four Heroes will prevail.
boy
But those other four heroes died,
you were just talking about it!
prophet
With this tome and staff, even mightier
than what those... false heroes got,
you'll be in absolutely no danger at all.
girl
It's fine, we'll get gingerbread.
And we're pretty smart
ourselves, we can handle it.
prophet
Now this is the heroic
attitude I like to see.
boy
*Sniff*
village elder
If these weapons are more powerful, why
weren't they given to the previous holders?
I don't mean to question you, of course.
It is just an old man's idle curiosity.
prophet
These weapons... They harbour certain side
effects. Nothing important, I assure you.
boy
Huh? Like what?
prophet
Let's get you into this armour.
village elder
Oof! I can hardly move a muscle!
There must be some curse of fatigue.
prophet
I was talking about the tome and staff,
these are just normal armaments.
village elder
Oh.
prophet
And here are yours,
mighty Sage and Healer.
boy
It's really cold... Why is
it cold? It's a book.
girl
Woah... Hot.
village elder
But then... Who is the hero
from another world?
prophet
That shall be me.
I do know a little of swordplay.
Get your bags ready, children.
We depart on the next sunrise.
(The children receive The Vessel and The Hunger.)
boy
I don't like this... I think I'm hearing
something. Do you feel that too?
It's... It's... not right. It's whispering.
girl
Nope. I just feel really hungry.
But I'm always really hungry.
boy
I really, really don't like this.
The Prophet is crazy, we're gonna die!
girl
If we run home, our parents will just
sell us again, but to someone worse.
At least the Prophet thinks of us,
even if she's probably crazy.
boy
Is that all we can do?
Can't we, I don't know, run away?
girl
It's so bad out there.
We will actually get eaten.
boy
Yeah...
I don't want to die...
girl
I don't want to either. Going with the
Prophet will be safe. If it isn't, then...
We're probably dead anyways.
The Capital
man 1
It can't be... Those are the
corpses of the Four Heroes.
old woman
Is our land doomed to be ruled by
these monsters? Is there no hope left?
man 2
Mother! If the guards overhear
you saying this, we're dead!
old woman
We're as good as dead, anyways.
man 1
No. The prophecy... There must be something
more to the prophecy. There must be hope!
general
What should I get? Their signature steamed
chicken on rice? But the beef is great too...
I just can't decide! Maybe both! But if I eat
too much, I don't sleep well, and then...
I still have an hour to decide. This is the
only thing I can do while standing guard.
tyrant
This is the last sunset of the summer.
For many nights, I could not sleep,
thinking about this so-called prophecy.
I see now! It is all lies, all falsehoods!
How could my glorious ambitions be
shaken by just some petty rumours?
Finally, I am free to shape this world
to my vision, and sleep well doing that.
high priest
Congratulations, Your Highness. You can
finally mandate the teachings of HE.
tyrant
Hmmm... I'll still have to think about that.
Chancellor? Is there anything you wish
for, on this glorious day of our victory?
chancellor
I am in no rush, Your Highness.
This tome taken from the Four Heroes...
it is everything I could have asked for!
Such brilliance! Such majesty! I will
have to spend years studying this.
tyrant
Yes, is it not pitiful that I, mightiest lord of
all these lands, holder of uncountable wealth,
do not possess a sword as mighty as the
one pried from the Hero's cold dead hands?
chancellor
We must hunt down this Prophet.
She must possess so much more, if she is
freely handing out such powerful weapons.
high priest
All I got was this useless staff.
What is healing good for?
tyrant
Of course, Chancellor. It is time for me to
make my speech. Leave the stage, you two.
(Below, the Prophet and her “heroes” enter the city.)
boy
I'm tired! Can't we rest a bit?
girl
We could have got
some gingerbread first.
prophet
There's only minutes! Minutes left
before the last sunset! Move!
tyrant
Who dares to cause a ruckus?
Is that... The Prophet?
Ha! Have you come to witness
the moment your prophecy fails?
Surrender, and I may allow you
the role of court jester.
girl
Is he... Saying something?
I can't quite hear.
prophet
No matter! Children, Elder, remember
everything I have taught you!
Slay all three of his cronies, then
take his head! Fulfil the prophecy!
village elder
For justice and the forces of good!
boy
Oh god, there's so many people!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
girl
Don't embarrass yourself.
People are watching.
narrator
Hero, Sage and Healer can transform.
Each form has its own HP and action.
The unit dies only if all forms are dead.
ANY unit dying will cause the prophecy
to fail and the world to be unsaved.
Ending
tyrant
Why did you even send those so-called heroes
after me if you could do all this yourself?
prophet
Do you send a a knight
to do a labourer's job?
tyrant
This is all this means to you? Some kind
of game to showcase your foresight?
To think I had such hopes to usher in
a brighter era, ruined by such... absurdity!
prophet
Do not be angry.
This is merely destiny.
tyrant
Destiny, my as-
(The Prophet kills him.)
village elder
Who could've thought an old man
like me could achieve such deeds?
All it took was courage, and some of the
most powerful relics known to humanity.
boy
Wow... They're cheering for us.
girl
There's no need to be proud. We only
won because of our super weapons.
boy
But it was still us. My goal of becoming a
baker... It feels so small and pointless now.
girl
I want gingerbread men.
prophet
I tire of this noise. We'll get
those gingerbread men and leave.
man 1
And that's how the Four Heroes
saved the land from villainy.
man 2
Yeah, I saw the whole battle
from the inn's second floor.
man 1
Then why did you let me
waste my time retelling it?
man 2
You looked like you were getting into
it and it seemed rude to interrupt.
man 1
Bah.
man 2
Isn't it absurd that someone who made the
prophecy announces herself to be the one?
Heck, I could do the same. Make a prophecy,
and then just do what I just declared.
man 1
Fate works in peculiar ways. Even those who
can see the signs find themselves immersed.
man 2
Sure. Don't even get me started
on how shady the prophet looks.
Full black hood? Face-covering mask?
Evil red eye? Why do people trust her?
man 1
Are you badmouthing the Prophet,
greatest of the Four Heroes?
offscreen 1
Oi! Dan, is someone
talking shit again?
offscreen 2
Lads, get the axes!
offscreen 1
Aye, though I still haven't
cleaned the blood off yet.
man 2
Woah there! It was merely a
tasteless joke, forgive me.
man 1
Good. You can all put away
the hatchets, it is no big deal.
offscreen 2
Aw.
man 2
...
I think I will retire for the night.
Character Descriptions
Hero
A legendary oracle who has yet to
issue an incorrect prophecy and she
won't let some empire change that.
Skinshaper
It's like being a person but one
can also stop being that person.
Hero
A legendary hero that
will save the world.
Champion
Like a hero, but less heroic
and more champion-like.
War Monk
They war, and they monk.
Adventurer
Adventure, awaits.
Oracle
Rumors say they make oracles.
Weapon: Humansbane
Purifying the world,
one human at a time.
Staff: Relocate
Are you the same you
as the one before
teleporting? (Yes.)
Sage
A child attendant to the Oracle.
He wants to be a baker someday.
Child
The common form taken by humans
who have yet to reach maturity.
Demon Lord
An echo of the Demon Lord's spirit.
It is said he perished when half of
him was eaten by the Dragon King.
Equipment: Magic Shoes
Stubby child legs weren't enough
to make the journey.
The wings are for
decoration only.
Healer
A child attendant to the Oracle.
An incredibly talented tree climber.
Child
The common form taken by humans
who have yet to reach maturity.
Dragon King
An echo of the Dragon Lord's spirit.
It is said he tried to eat the Demon Lord
and was torn asunder from the mouth.
Weapon: The Hunger
Why does my friend
look so edible?
Equipment: Magic Shoes
Stubby child legs weren't enough
to make the journey.
The wings are for
decoration only.
Warrior
Has achieved nothing in his life except
grow old enough to be the only person
eligible for the position of village elder.
Elder
A rare variant of human which has
lived past its average life expectancy.
God King
The armour of the king who declared
himself to be a god. The Emperor looks
like a complete chump next to this.
Weapon: Heresiarch
A truly fine lance and nothing more.
Equipment: King Plate
The King wanted this
to be be pure diamond,
but it didn't work out.
Hero [the real one]
The hero grasps onto his mask even in
death, maybe wishing it can protect him.
His eyes were scooped out regardless.
Sage [the real one]
An apprentice who wishes to learn
every magic in the world one day.
Is missing his brain and most organs.
Healer [the real one]
A devout priestess to some an unnamed
god of light who is secretly a romantic.
There is not a single drop of blood left .
Warrior [the real one]
A bold and rambunctious man who
spends his days drinking and fighting.
All his bones have been pulverised.
Spy
An insider in the Tyrant's forces
selling information to the Prophet
for an incredible sum of gold.
Tyrant
Formerly a knight, he became enamoured
with his own banal vision for the world.
This cause justified every crime, allegedly.
Emperor
The title of king wasn't grand enough,
so the kingdom became an empire with
no change whatsoever in territory size.
Weapon: Flamebrand
Flames of holy justice.
Chancellor
The Chancellor of the old King who
sold him out just to get a better tome.
The King deserved it for trusting him.
Wizard
There are many mages within this world,
but only a single wizard. This is because
said wizard invented the term for himself.
Weapon: Storm Eye
Divine punishment.
High Priest
One has to wonder how a religion about
child sacrifice, cannibalism and purging
the weak got as many followers as it did.
Dark Priest
Follows of HE. HE advocates for a
variety of family friendly activities, a
favourite being tasteful executions.
Weapon: Serenity
Blessed energy heals all allies.
General
He slew his own king to follow the Tyrant.
He claims he did so because the Tyrant's
cause is just but he could just be stupid.
Goliath
A monster clad in metal who can cleave
apart mountains in a single blow. This is
how the armor is advertised to the buyer.
Weapon: Peacebringer
One stab brings peace.
Obstacle
A slab of meat that stands
between you and victory.
Casset [Unused]
A woman of controversial character.
Generic Class Descriptions
Swordmaster
They sword and they master.
Dragoon
Nice horns. Nerd.
Warrior
You'll never believe what they do.
Marksman
Snipers but with a cool helmet.
Sage
Knows a lot of trivia probably.
Conjurer
They aren't wrong, society is.
Dullahan
Don't want these guys getting ahead.
Gore
Enjoys pulled long pork.
Earth Dragon
Kinda like moles but not really.
Falcoknight
Why use a lance when one can be cool?
Good Knight
Makes criminals say good night.
Great Knight
Even better than good.
Corpse
Deader than fried chicken.
Citizen
Helpless observers to the carnage.