All right, I'm usually the type to go sink-or-swim, but I've had this idea in my head for a while and I'd like to get it down somewhere before I forget and get some relevant feedback on it. (My friend's are great, but I've only got so many of them that play games.)
Background
King Jole rules over his kingdom as a kind and generous soul, beloved by even the poorest peasant woman. There are festivals thrown, parades and once a year he invites a lucky few to a grand dinner in his castle. However, despite his warm and appealing nature to his subjects, a dark plot is brewing behind closed doors. King Jole comes to address his townspeople on a bright, sunny morning, and tells them that a neighboring village has tried, and failed, to take over the kingdom by witchcraft. The king has had the entire village burned and any villagers found, whether man, woman, or child, to be brought to the castle dungeon and tried for their crimes.
Now, if only someone had told the villagers before the soldiers broke in.
The dungeons quickly fills with the confused cries of the villagers. The scholars of the village were first to be tried for their crime; their disappearance from the dungeon was only barely recognized before the more villagers were called out. The numbers thin as every day one or more villagers are sent off to proclaim their innocence, never to return again.
Story
Tamirah, a young woman, was dragged to the dungeon with the rest of the villagers, becoming separated from her family in the chaos. She, like most of the villagers, has no magic powers to speak of. She plans to prove her inability in court. She knows her turn will come soon. <Something happens here that causes a big gaping hole in the foundation of the castle. I was thinking earthquake.> She and a few lucky villagers escape to the dank darkness of the sewer system under the city, and flee from the chasing guards, once again becoming separated. She is alone in a far corner when she hears weeping, and turns to see a young girl, only 8, crouched in the murkey water, tears streaming down her face. She can't leave her alone, so she stays with her until she can't hear the guards. The little girl piggy-backs as she searches for a way out of the noxious darkness. <Yeah, I haven't decided how she gets out yet. A ladder, somewhere. Or a door.>
The two set off towards the banks of a nearby water source, and sneak aboard a craft. They are quickly discovered, but the captain takes pity on them (because they're girls) and allows them to stay on until they reach their destination. Upon landing, the girls realise they must support each other as the only family they now have.
Stuff that's harder to explain in pretty prose
-Your goal is to find out if Tamirah's sister is alive, dead, still in the village, in the dungeon, etc.
-The villagers of other towns steadfastly ignore Tamirah. She must use the young girl to communicate.
-Why did the king do that? Was he really looking out for his townspeople's best interests?
Characters
Yeah, I only have 3 so far. And one of them's an NPC, so.
King Jole
The righteous king of his kingdom (which doesn't have a name yet). Easily swayed by the whims of his wife and three daughters.
Tamirah
The main protagonist. A young woman of about 20 (or so) from the village of Renne. Has no magical powers whatsoever, despite the king's impression that everyone from the town is a witch. Lived with her older sister and her mother. She worked as a farmer in the village, so she knows how to wield a scythe.
Jolie
Tamirah's new friend, also from Renne. She's eight. She can be haughty and very immature at times, but she's mostly quiet and serious, especially after the onslaught. She does have magical powers.
I'm planning on having at least 2 more party members, because I want the style of the game to be in the likes of the early Final Fantasies, Chrono Trigger, etc etc. I plan on the art style to reflect this as well.
Obviously, the story is pulling from various real-life sources, most obviously the Holocaust.
Other Planned Stuff
It will be single-continent exploration. When you dock (after escaping) you will have no idea where you are until you buy a map and start asking questions. You'll find out that you only crossed a wide river. Likewise, until you buy a compass, you won't know where you're going until you find villagers and ask them questions.
There will almost certainly be wild battles ('cause you'll be out wandering around, y'know?) Killing certain beasts will yield you meat, which will give HP (and maybe certain other ones will heal status ailments or something).
Money will come from defeating birds ('cause they like shiny things) and selling things you get from the beasts, as well as doing stuff (like helping people or performing deeds well).
You will start off with no weapons (they would've been removed in the dungeon.)
Background
King Jole rules over his kingdom as a kind and generous soul, beloved by even the poorest peasant woman. There are festivals thrown, parades and once a year he invites a lucky few to a grand dinner in his castle. However, despite his warm and appealing nature to his subjects, a dark plot is brewing behind closed doors. King Jole comes to address his townspeople on a bright, sunny morning, and tells them that a neighboring village has tried, and failed, to take over the kingdom by witchcraft. The king has had the entire village burned and any villagers found, whether man, woman, or child, to be brought to the castle dungeon and tried for their crimes.
Now, if only someone had told the villagers before the soldiers broke in.
The dungeons quickly fills with the confused cries of the villagers. The scholars of the village were first to be tried for their crime; their disappearance from the dungeon was only barely recognized before the more villagers were called out. The numbers thin as every day one or more villagers are sent off to proclaim their innocence, never to return again.
Story
Tamirah, a young woman, was dragged to the dungeon with the rest of the villagers, becoming separated from her family in the chaos. She, like most of the villagers, has no magic powers to speak of. She plans to prove her inability in court. She knows her turn will come soon. <Something happens here that causes a big gaping hole in the foundation of the castle. I was thinking earthquake.> She and a few lucky villagers escape to the dank darkness of the sewer system under the city, and flee from the chasing guards, once again becoming separated. She is alone in a far corner when she hears weeping, and turns to see a young girl, only 8, crouched in the murkey water, tears streaming down her face. She can't leave her alone, so she stays with her until she can't hear the guards. The little girl piggy-backs as she searches for a way out of the noxious darkness. <Yeah, I haven't decided how she gets out yet. A ladder, somewhere. Or a door.>
The two set off towards the banks of a nearby water source, and sneak aboard a craft. They are quickly discovered, but the captain takes pity on them (because they're girls) and allows them to stay on until they reach their destination. Upon landing, the girls realise they must support each other as the only family they now have.
Stuff that's harder to explain in pretty prose
-Your goal is to find out if Tamirah's sister is alive, dead, still in the village, in the dungeon, etc.
-The villagers of other towns steadfastly ignore Tamirah. She must use the young girl to communicate.
-Why did the king do that? Was he really looking out for his townspeople's best interests?
Characters
Yeah, I only have 3 so far. And one of them's an NPC, so.
King Jole
The righteous king of his kingdom (which doesn't have a name yet). Easily swayed by the whims of his wife and three daughters.
Tamirah
The main protagonist. A young woman of about 20 (or so) from the village of Renne. Has no magical powers whatsoever, despite the king's impression that everyone from the town is a witch. Lived with her older sister and her mother. She worked as a farmer in the village, so she knows how to wield a scythe.
Jolie
Tamirah's new friend, also from Renne. She's eight. She can be haughty and very immature at times, but she's mostly quiet and serious, especially after the onslaught. She does have magical powers.
I'm planning on having at least 2 more party members, because I want the style of the game to be in the likes of the early Final Fantasies, Chrono Trigger, etc etc. I plan on the art style to reflect this as well.
Obviously, the story is pulling from various real-life sources, most obviously the Holocaust.
Other Planned Stuff
It will be single-continent exploration. When you dock (after escaping) you will have no idea where you are until you buy a map and start asking questions. You'll find out that you only crossed a wide river. Likewise, until you buy a compass, you won't know where you're going until you find villagers and ask them questions.
There will almost certainly be wild battles ('cause you'll be out wandering around, y'know?) Killing certain beasts will yield you meat, which will give HP (and maybe certain other ones will heal status ailments or something).
Money will come from defeating birds ('cause they like shiny things) and selling things you get from the beasts, as well as doing stuff (like helping people or performing deeds well).
You will start off with no weapons (they would've been removed in the dungeon.)
Earthquake sounds like a reasonable explanation for Tamirah's escape.