[Poll comic] The Fall Court. Apocalyptic Fantasy.

[Poll Comics]

I've posted cleaned up versions to cut down on the graphic nature of the blood; I'm suddenly feeling a tad sheepish about my first project being in a darker setting. If the mods still think it's a bit much, I'll hold back and wait for posting here til I'm working on something with broader appeal (I just finished up a 14 month long pun-based sci-fi comedy, so this is a bit of a palate cleanser). Or let me know if this should be in a different sub-forum! TY!

The gender of the red-haired knight is intentionally ambiguous. While most of the setting hasn't been defined yet, medieval gendered norms are canonically thrown out the window.


You are a knight in an age defined by madness.

The world is doomed. It's a decline that began before your birth
and is a fact nearly beyond dispute: apocalypse looms
and the chance to stop it has long since passed.
The changing seasons are now just a slow
countdown to an inevitable end.

In the face of this, some people cling to their convictions. Others
abandon everything they otherwise had held dear. Some
calmly resign themselves to the
lingering twilight of humanity.

Still more fight as if the struggle itself
gave their lives a tenuous sense of meaning.

http://i.imgur.com/VM7K4tl.jpg

You are the red haired knight. You've been tracking a desperately
wounded knight: a criminal who betrayed her oaths.
Who betrayed her sisters in arms.
Who betrayed you.

http://i.imgur.com/fVIuWqe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ebxxwST.jpg

You approach the wounded knight. You can tell
that she's too grievously wounded to offer much of a fight.

http://i.imgur.com/pmbX1fo.jpg

Your wounded former sister in arms looks up at you
with equal parts fear and determination. There is a feeling of
permanence: you are the hand of consequences that could no longer be escaped.

http://i.imgur.com/wuHcaZA.jpg
She doesn't try to justify her actions or claim that she was in the right.
Instead, the wounded knight simply commands you to be quick about your task.
They know why you've hunted them down and they want to get on with it.

http://i.imgur.com/MbIrgbu.jpg

Standing there, it occurs to you that your former sister
might not realize the full ramifications of their betrayal.
This situation isn't nearly that simple.

http://i.imgur.com/Jw6lgaz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vOOVpvt.jpg

You pause to reflect. The wounded knight is unrepentant and their conviction
in the face of a person who could easily be their death is admirable.
Your admiration doesn't change the punishment any,
but it feels appropriate to honor this moment...


What is the punishment for the crime?


A// Death. The red haired knight will execute the wounded knight. Some debts can only be paid in blood.

B// The red haired knight is here to bring the wounded knight back to justice- alive.

C// The wounded knight will be left to their own fate- but only after the red haired knight interrogates them.

D// The companion in green will ultimately decide the wounded knight's fate.

Bonus Question: What does the red-haired knight value more than anything else?

[Jormengand]

The red-haired knight is here to bring the wounded knight back to justice - alive. The red-haired knight values the truth more than anything else.

[Drakeburn]

B) Bring the wounded knight back to justice - alive.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Results:
Poll results are consolidated from all mirrors of the project. We had about 31 votes total for the main poll.

What is the punishment for the crime?

A// Death. The red haired knight will execute the wounded knight. Some debts can only be paid in blood. 8 votes.
B// The red haired knight is here to bring the wounded knight back to justice- alive. 12 votes.
C// The wounded knight will be left to their own fate- but only after the red haired knight interrogates them. 7 votes.
D// The companion in green will ultimately decide the wounded knight's fate. 4 votes.



"Kill me!" The wounded knight
yells up at you.

http://i.imgur.com/ANSnM7T.jpg

There is a slight edge of fear in their voice that snaps you back
from your contemplations. For a moment, you wonder
if the reverie had truly been respect for her...
or if it was the madness creeping over you.

How long had you paused? It had been
longer than you'd meant to.

http://i.imgur.com/Uhzg4r5.jpg

She can see the change in you.

The thought of your slipping sanity flushes your body
with anger. Your muscles tense. You almost lash out.
The only thought that holds you back is that
she was a sister- a member of
your knightly order.

But how much is that worth?
In a world where everything
is dying, does that mean anything?

http://i.imgur.com/Dq5XeSQ.jpg

Even as the madness swells inside you, the true answer
to that question is never completely lost.
Loyalty to a comrade means everything,
now more than ever.

She should be judged- and punished- but
not by you. That's a duty for
the entire Order.

You can tell your judgments are becoming less clear.
The sacred fire- a creeping sickness that plagues
all the peoples of these lands- smolders
inside of you. Convulsions and hallucinations
will come soon. Both your body and mind
will be racked in pain.

http://i.imgur.com/7BmF6BS.jpg

Your fingers tingle as you grip your mace- the beginnings
of the rot that will slowly take them. Within weeks,
the tingle will turn into an unbearable burning.

The worst of the illness is held at bay by the blessings of
a High Priest. Your Order was scheduled for its
annual communion, but it never happened.

Because of the wounded knight's choices, though, it's possible
none of you will ever receive it again.

http://i.imgur.com/G9TCBRe.jpg

Where once your Order fought against the ravages of the land,
you will all now be consumed by them.

The trial of your comrade might be the last thing the Order does
before succumbing- and even then, only if you hurry.
If you can feel it, the other knights
will be feeling it too.

http://i.imgur.com/2WcLUIi.jpg

You call your companion to loosen and remove
the wounded knight's armor, then to bind her.

http://i.imgur.com/fbnvGrs.jpg

The look that you give her says everything she needs
to know. She's going home to face justice.

While on the route to the home of the Order, the knights encounter a healer. What is the nature of the healer? Where do their healing abilities come from?


A// Otherworldly. Maybe fae, maybe touched by the gods. There is something about their very essence that is obviously supernatural.

B// Spiritual. They are definitely human, but their devotion to a spiritual cause- and the values of that cause- drive their actions.

C// Worldly. It's a rough world and they've risen to the challenge. While they may use the supernatural, they're not defined by it.

D// Pure skill. The healer has eschewed the supernatural entirely. They have a deep understanding of medicine grounded in real world abilities.

BONUS: Describe one of the healer's distinguishing features or traits. Where possible, traits will be consolidated and sythesized into a selection of options to be voted on (tentative schedule: this poll will close some time on Thursday and a follow-up poll will be posted).

EXP and comments from previous poll:
Jormengand. +10 exp. Idealism +1.

The red-haired knight is here to bring the wounded knight back to justice - alive. The red-haired knight values the truth more than anything else.
Bringing morality to the apocalypse! To be fair, if anyone was going to do that, I'm sorta glad the person with the armor and the heavy weapon is on their side.

Drakeburn. +10 exp.

B) Bring the wounded knight back to justice - alive.
It'd seem the people agree with you!

[Lethologica]

The healer is worldly. It's a rough world and they've risen to the challenge. While they may use the supernatural, they're not defined by it.

The healer is fatalistic. They have a gift, which can make some small difference to some few people, but they cannot halt the dying of the world, and perhaps they wouldn't even if they could.

[Jormengand]

The healer's abilities are worldly. It's a rough world and they've risen to the challenge. While they may use the supernatural, they're not defined by it. The healer is nihilistic. They barely speak unless called to and do not see a purpose in their life beyond doing what is asked of them.

[Cuthalion]

D// Pure skill. The healer has eschewed the supernatural entirely. They have a deep understanding of medicine grounded in real world abilities.

They are Altruistic.

[Drakeburn]

The healer's abilities are pure skill. The healer has eschewed the supernatural entirely. They have a deep understand of medicine grounded in real world abilities. Their methods may seem supernatural, but that is because we don't understand how it works.

The healer is grim. In his line of work, he has seen so much pain, so much suffering, and sometimes even death.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Closed!

As luck would have it, the poll nearly resulted in a tie. A// Otherworldly got 13 votes, and D// Pure Skill got 12 votes. While Otherworldly technically won, these polls are more of an art than a science- so this will double as a run-off vote. I've synthesized nearly all of the suggested traits into four different options- two explicitly supernatural, two explicitly mortal!

Full Vote results:
A// Otherworldly. Maybe fae, maybe touched by the gods. There is something about their very essence that is obviously supernatural.

13 VOTES.

B// Spiritual. They are definitely human, but their devotion to a spiritual cause- and the values of that cause- drive their actions.

2 VOTES.

C// Worldly. It's a rough world and they've risen to the challenge. While they may use the supernatural, they're not defined by it.

5 VOTES.

D// Pure skill. The healer has eschewed the supernatural entirely. They have a deep understanding of medicine grounded in real world abilities.

12 VOTES


While on the route to the home of the Order, the knights encounter...

A// ...a rare plant with divinely inspired restorative powers. It's said that if one drinks rainwater collected in its bell-like blooms, all wounds and diseases will be healed. If one eats the flower, though, they'll be killed instantly.

B// ...a mysterious nature spirit who has abandoned its former ways to follow the path of the New Faith. It is monstrous and large, but ultimately benign... so much so that its powers only work on those that it believes are good.

C// ...a brilliant and eccentric surgeon with a troubled past. She is a savant and arguably knows more about the body than any other expert. Rather than keep a journal, she wears missmatched clothes and trinkets that act as mnemonic devices.

D// ...an herbalist who was originally trained to heal nobility, but who now wanders the lands. He is part of a movement that rejects the supernatural- but his love of stories has led him to collect the folklores and legends of the people he encounters.

EXP and Comments:

Lethologica. +10 exp.

The healer is worldly. It's a rough world and they've risen to the challenge. While they may use the supernatural, they're not defined by it. The healer is fatalistic. They have a gift, which can make some small difference to some few people, but they cannot halt the dying of the world, and perhaps they wouldn't even if they could.

It's the end of the world as we know/ It's the end of the world as we know/ And... well... actually, it'd seem that we really don't feel fine after all. Fatalism has been wrapped into the surgeon.

Jormengand. +20 exp.

The healer's abilities are worldly. It's a rough world and they've risen to the challenge. While they may use the supernatural, they're not defined by it. The healer is nihilistic. They barely speak unless called to and do not see a purpose in their life beyond doing what is asked of them.

I couldn't quite synthesize that level of nihilism into the other character contributions, so I've given you some extra exp. It's possible that any of the three intelligent characters- the nature spirit, the surgeon, or the herbalist- will have moments of this.

Cuthalion. +10 exp.

D// Pure skill. The healer has eschewed the supernatural entirely. They have a deep understanding of medicine grounded in real world abilities. They are Altruistic.

Ah... altruism is like a breath of fresh air. This is most strongly in the Nature Spirit. The herbalist has potential for it, but I'm leaving him open for later developments.


Drakeburn. +10 exp.

The healer's abilities are pure skill. The healer has eschewed the supernatural entirely. They have a deep understand of medicine grounded in real world abilities. Their methods may seem supernatural, but that is because we don't understand how it works. The healer is grim. In his line of work, he has seen so much pain, so much suffering, and sometimes even death.

This is most strongly built into the surgeon character! I have a backstory building in my head for her, largely inspired by your description. Even if she doesn't make the cut for this story, I might feature her later.

[Jormengand]

They encounter a herbalist who was originally trained to heal nobility, but who now wanders the lands. He is part of a movement that rejects the supernatural- but his love of stories has led him to collect the folklores and legends of the people he encounters.

[Lethologica]

They encounter a brilliant and eccentric surgeon with a troubled past. She is a savant and arguably knows more about the body than any other expert. Rather than keep a journal, she wears missmatched clothes and trinkets that act as mnemonic devices.

[Cuthalion]

Oh, how about A// ...a rare plant with divinely inspired restorative powers. It's said that if one drinks rainwater collected in its bell-like blooms, all wounds and diseases will be healed. If one eats the flower, though, they'll be killed instantly.

[Drakeburn]

They encounter a brilliant and eccentric surgeon with a troubled past. She is a savant and arguably knows more about the body than any other expert. Rather than keep a journal, she wears missmatched clothes and trinkets that act as mnemonic devices.

[Poll Comics]

I'm in a bit of a rush today. I'll try to respond to comments after I've had a chance to hack away at some of my freelance work- it's giving me a very disapproving look right now. Thanks for staying with the story so far! We might switch to black and white for a few installments.



As dusk approaches, there's no choice but to set up camp.
You're still a half day's ride from home.
You've had to stay off the trails- they're
too dangerous.

You've already thrown up once. You told your companions
it was the heat, but you know it's the sickness.

http://i.imgur.com/PvfvH2C.jpg

You've started to recognize that your anger has taken on
a level of irrationality. You tell yourself that it's okay
to lose yourself in this anger- that it might be
the last truly justified anger you'll ever feel.
The wounded knight betrayed your order.

Your companion is digging holes for a hidden fire pit
while your attention turns to the wounded knight.

http://i.imgur.com/2Qfo8xp.jpg

You try to goad her into defending herself.

http://i.imgur.com/GfswPWK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/qoXKNlI.jpg

It doesn't work.

http://i.imgur.com/s7dIBrP.jpg

Before you turn around, you can tell that something
has gone wrong. Your companion bumps into you,
backing away in fear.

http://i.imgur.com/h8sYQZ2.jpg

That's when you see Her.

http://i.imgur.com/zI47Yiz.jpg


The Surgeon

When she was a child, the Surgeon was adopted by a court Herbalist from the lowlands. For most of their time together, she was mute- but he could tell she was intelligent. To calm her, he'd tell her stories and folk tales from the lands he had traveled to. She eventually started talking to him by referencing the events and characters in the stories.

It was an eccentric way of communicating, but surprisingly effective. He gave her a formal education and she excelled in her studies. She hated books, preferring observation.

Before the times became even worse- when there was still a sense of hope in the land- the Herbalist was friends with a local Nature Spirit who tended to sacred gardens. They'd have theological and philosophical conversations. He'd take the young surgeon with him on his visits. She developed a special bond with the Nature Spirit.

After the worst of times hit, she was separated from the Herbalist and the Nature Spirit. The Herbalist is presumed dead. She eventually found the Nature Spirit again, but his intelligence and spirit were greatly diminished. He's a shell of his former self who can only bring himself to act when he's given commands.



How does the wounded knight's betrayal of the Order play into the Surgeon's quest to restore the Nature Spirit?


A// The wounded knight took a moral stand, revealing corruption in the nobility- but also revealing the Surgeon's next target. The nobility withdrew patronage from the Order, leaving them to wither into madness. The Surgeon will temporarily purge the Order of madness, but only on the condition that the wounded knight is forgiven.

B// The entire Order knows about the surgeon- and are her chief antagonists. They played a direct role in the diminished soul of the Nature Spirit. The wounded knight's betrayal shows that they're cracking under pressure- and conveniently splits these two off from the main group.

BONUS: What rumors would the Order have heard about the Surgeon?

[Lethologica]

The entire Order knows about the surgeon- and are her chief antagonists. They played a direct role in the diminished soul of the Nature Spirit. The wounded knight's betrayal shows that they're cracking under pressure- and conveniently splits these two off from the main group.

The Surgeon is rumored to be mad. The Surgeon is rumored to consort with demons. The Surgeon is rumored to view humanity as a corruption of nature, and to have spread the sickness as a way to cleanse the earth of man. Layer upon layer of chaff.

[Jormengand]

The entire Order knows about the surgeon- and are her chief antagonists. They played a direct role in the diminished soul of the Nature Spirit. The wounded knight's betrayal shows that they're cracking under pressure- and conveniently splits these two off from the main group. The surgeon is rumoured to be an undead creature masquerading as her former self.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Closed!

I'm tabulating results between this and the other mirrors. I don't have the confirmed results in yet, but I can say one thing: it's going to be close! I'll try to go back to 3-4 options in the upcoming polls. I like how they give a little more variety and diversify the potential outcomes. So far, it looks like a lot of the suggestions are on the same wavelength. The theology of the Order is becoming is developing in interesting ways.

The new installment is scheduled for Monday! Given family and freelance responsibilities, it will likely be black and white.


exp and responses


Lethologica. +10 exp.

The entire Order knows about the surgeon- and are her chief antagonists. They played a direct role in the diminished soul of the Nature Spirit. The wounded knight's betrayal shows that they're cracking under pressure- and conveniently splits these two off from the main group.

The Surgeon is rumored to be mad. The Surgeon is rumored to consort with demons. The Surgeon is rumored to view humanity as a corruption of nature, and to have spread the sickness as a way to cleanse the earth of man. Layer upon layer of chaff.
ooooh. Yes. If they see the nature spirit and the surgeon as being the cause of the sacred fire, that would definitely be cause for them to fiercely oppose her. The idea that they think she's trying to cleanse the earth jives very interestingly with some of the other suggestions.


Jormengand. +10 exp.

The entire Order knows about the surgeon- and are her chief antagonists. They played a direct role in the diminished soul of the Nature Spirit. The wounded knight's betrayal shows that they're cracking under pressure- and conveniently splits these two off from the main group. The surgeon is rumoured to be an undead creature masquerading as her former self.
Excellent! This will be one of the less common rumors, but I can definitely see at least one knight in any given group believing it.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Results: A// The wounded knight took a moral stand, revealing corruption in the nobility- but also revealing the Surgeon's next target. 8 VOTES.

B// The entire Order knows about the surgeon- and are her chief antagonists. 8 VOTES.

It's... a tie.

Solution: The Order is a large organization. The red haired knight and wounded knight belong to a local chapter that has recently been removed from the organization. The Surgeon is opposed to the Order, but her beef isn't necessarily with the local branch- especially now that they've been cast out.


http://i.imgur.com/P03LiJl.jpg

The cloaked woman and her beast stand apprehensively in front of you.
You motion to your companion to hold back. He doesn't need to be told,
but it gives you enough of a moment to refocus your thoughts.
Your fingers tingle painfully. You're not ready for this.
You recognize her as the Surgeon.
You've been warned about her.

She stares at you with unnerving fixation. As near as you can tell,
she's waiting to see what you'll do.

There's something about her expression that's indecipherable: you have
no clue what she's thinking. Somehow the incomprehensibility
of the Surgeon fills you with dread- possibly even moreso
than the massive beast by her side.

http://i.imgur.com/XgGML5T.jpg

You and your fellow knights were given very clear instructions
about her: do not engage. Report her presence immediately.

She's spoken of in hushed and fearful tones. Some say that
she and her beast are the cause of the illnesses sweeping
the lands. She and the beast engage in evil rituals.
She's undead. Some say she used to be a member
of the Order who became an apostate.
Others claim she was born evil.

She says a few words to the beast- you can't make them out-
and it begins to lumber forward.

http://i.imgur.com/eC5nvYy.jpg

The creature gives you a look of measured indifference as it approaches.
It could kill you if it wanted- but it moves more like a beast of burden
than a fighter. Despite being vastly more powerful than you,
there is a defensive edge to its movements.

It sizes you up, taking a long sniff.

http://i.imgur.com/p9G3ufL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jUEeCFg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Wq9CH0k.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VEQelnf.jpg

The Surgeon finally breaks her stare from you to inspect the wounded knight
now cradled in the beast's arms. For a moment you think that the Surgeon
is there to rescue your former comrade from justice...

http://i.imgur.com/QbArDrg.jpg

...but the wounded knight gives you a look of terror
that tells you that she doesn't know what's going on
any more than you do.

What do you do?


A// Attack. Until the rest of your chapter of the Order passes judgement on the wounded traitor, she is still your sister in arms. You won't let the Surgeon work evil magic on her.

B// Attack. No matter how impossible it seems, capturing or killing the Surgeon might earn forgiveness for your chapter. You'll die if it means giving your comrades at home a chance.

C// Wait. There's a chance that just reporting the presence of the Surgeon will be enough to earn forgiveness for your chapter. Finding an opportune moment to escape gives the best odds of survival for both you and your comrades.

D// Wait. You're in too deep to make judgment calls. Your first responsibility is to understand the situation: tactical decisions come after gathering intelligence, not before.

Bonus: The red-haired knight is fiercely loyal- which could be used against them. Aside from that, what do they consider their biggest weakness? What do they care about or are afraid of?

[Jormengand]

You wait. You're in too deep to make judgment calls. Your first responsibility is to understand the situation: tactical decisions come after gathering intelligence, not before. After all, your weakness is that you make decisions too rashly, so perhaps it's time to change that.

[Cuthalion]

D// Wait. You're in too deep to make judgment calls. Your first responsibility is to understand the situation: tactical decisions come after gathering intelligence, not before.


However this is slightly dangerous as our knight tends to overthink things and wait too long before making a decision.

[Poll Comics]

poll results
What do you do?
A// Attack. Until the rest of your chapter of the Order passes judgement on the wounded traitor, she is still your sister in arms. You won't let the Surgeon work evil magic on her. 4 VOTES.

B// Attack. No matter how impossible it seems, capturing or killing the Surgeon might earn forgiveness for your chapter. You'll die if it means giving your comrades at home a chance. 2 VOTES.

C// Wait. There's a chance that just reporting the presence of the Surgeon will be enough to earn forgiveness for your chapter. Finding an opportune moment to escape gives the best odds of survival for both you and your comrades. 2 VOTES.

D// Wait. You're in too deep to make judgment calls. Your first responsibility is to understand the situation: tactical decisions come after gathering intelligence, not before. 18 VOTES.

Author's note: The red-haired knight has, at times in their life, has suffered for both being too slow to take action and being too quick. There's a 50% chance that no matter which choice they make, it's the wrong one. I'll roll a die after votes are tabulated.


http://i.imgur.com/LsT81FB.jpg

The darkness of night overtakes the forest. The Surgeon turns to face you- watching for a sign of aggression. Minutes pass. Neither of you make moves to escalate.

You both know that you'll die if you attack her. The only question is if your righteousness outweighs your sense of self-preservation. To be fair, you're not any more certain about the answer to that question than she is. You feel like you're on a precipice.

http://i.imgur.com/lzmYAOh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Gbh2B97.jpg


Satisfied that you're not an immediate danger, the Surgeon begins digging in a satchel- pulling out a vial of oil. She tosses it to you and motions for you to apply it to your hands and feet.

The oil smells vaguely of ginger. Doing anything she tells you to is a gamble,
but this is the quickest way to find out if she means you harm.

As your skin absorbs the oil, the tingle of the Sacred Fire slowly diminishes.
Your hands flush and feel relieved. You flex your fingers.
They feel better. This feels right.

http://i.imgur.com/Dqkkjv0.jpg


As the Surgeon turns to the wounded knight, she mutters something under her breath. You can tell
that she's paying special attention to the injured arm. It's been blackened by the Sacred Fire.

http://i.imgur.com/ovDffwI.jpg


The Surgeon turns to you and tells you that she is going to amputate the injured knight's hand.
The hand is too far gone to save. Do NOT try to stop her.

Her Beast's hulking muscles and protective stance turn her order into a vague threat.

http://i.imgur.com/WHYwRTq.jpg


The Surgeon may be the most evil thing in the world like some of the rumors say. She may be the cause of the Sacred Fire. She and that Beast of hers might perform twisted druidic rituals under the full moon. She may be a necromancer or have made deals with devils.

But if she's going to kill you or use dark magic on you, at least she's going to make you comfortable first.
That's more than you can say about some of your allies.

You'll kill her- or die trying- if you feel like the oil is causing you to slip.
For now, though- with comfort for the first time in as long as you can remember- you feel like yourself.


What should the next installment focus on?

A// The surgeon and her methods.
B// The wounded knight's crime.
C// The relationship between the knights and the Order.
D// The companion in green's superstitions.
E// The dangers of the forest.

Bonus: The red-haired knight was born into an educated house- but their idyllic childhood ended in tragedy. Their home was burned down, killing most of their family. Who or what is rumored to have caused the arson?

[Jormengand]

Next, we learn the tale of The wounded knight's crime.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Results
What should the next installment focus on?
A// The surgeon and her methods. 8 VOTES.
B// The wounded knight's crime. 7 VOTES.
C// The relationship between the knights and the Order. 4 VOTES.
D// The companion in green's superstitions. 4 VOTES.
E// The dangers of the forest. 3 VOTES.
Bonus Question Results
As always, it's been a great batch of contributions! It's a bit tougher to synthesize all of them together- after all, only one person or group can be directly responsible for the arson. Mixing all of the suggestions together, with slight tempering from myself:


It began with a visit from an Order Inquisitor.

Red's father- and academic and a theologian- was away on an expedition, measuring signs and portents on the nearby rocky slopes, when the Order Inquisitor arrived. The Inquisitor was welcomed into the manor and invited to wait the several days until the father arrived home.

Not knowing better, Red and Red's sister showed the Inquisitor around- including the secret rooms in their father's laboratory where he'd kept heretical notes. The Inquisitor found details and evidence of ancient legends that the mountain had once been the home of the fiercest and most destructive of Nature Spirits. It was believed that the now sleeping Nature Spirit was powerful enough to rip open the earth and create portals to distant planes of existence: in ancient times, Oracles lived on the mountainside and described visions of the other planes and the people who lived there. Red's father was part of a small group that thought these portals might hold a form of salvation for the people.

During the trial that followed, the father was given some protection by the Academics Guild and the Order itself was split between more progressive and conservative factions. The expected sentence was exile- with all of his land and possessions being forfeited and split between the local Magistrate and the Order. The local Magistrate- a wealthy merchant who had bought her way into political authority- was particularly happy about about the expected sentence. If the Magistrate had defended the father- said that the items in the studies had been confiscated from the townspeople for their protection, or any other number of things- he might have been acquitted. The manor, though, was a very desirable property...

Before the sentence could be given, tragedy struck: the mountain groaned and released a noxious gas that killed a portion of the town- including many of the tribunals. The Order Inquisitor, one of the few survivors, declared that the gas was a spell cast by Red's father- that, in his studies, he had allied himself with the dangerous nature spirit. Red's father was taken into custody for violent exorcism.

Much to the disdain of both the Magistrate and the Inquisitor, the manor itself was burned down by a violent mob- with most of the family and servants locked inside. One of Red's defining moments was being protected from the mob by the Inquisitor. He considered the mob violence an injustice and that the guilt of the father shouldn't be extended to the entire manor.

Red's sister was one of the few survivors of the fire, and the only surviving member of Red's family. Even though she was alive, she was burned horribly. Red was ultimately taken to an orphanage under the protection of the Order, while Red's sister was adopted by an Uncle who was also a member of the Academics Guild. To this day, the red haired knight feels guilt over the events: they don't know what was right or wrong- but if only they hadn't shown the Inquisitor the secret rooms, everything might have been avoided.

Before leaving, Red saw their father one last time. Broken by the torture, he confessed to everything.

Six years later, on the anniversary of the trial, a series of houses caught fire- culminating in an eruption of fire and lava from the ground itself that destroyed most of the town. Some say that it was Red's sister- that she'd returned to torch the houses of the people who'd burned down the manor and to ultimately ally with the nature spirit like her father before her. Dust from the fires blackened the sky for weeks and all the people in neighboring territories knew unquestionably that a great evil had been awoken.
All reader comments
I'm still experimenting with ways make sure all comments and contributions feel recognized. I've tried to work as many of them as I can into the red haired knight's backstory, but thought it'd be fun to include the source comments for everyone to read. E-mail subscriber's handles have been obscured for extra security. Forum comments include comments from all forums so far.


E-mail Subscriber comments
j34---
"The knight themself. This rumor is true, but the rumor of their reasons is not."

aaron.vande---
"Perhaps a spirit burned it down in the Madness of the Sacred Fire. I personally put my faith in the surgeon. Oh Dice Gods, may the chance die roll in my favor!"

vaslitt---
"A prodigal son, mayhaps?"

quietdigni---
"I feel like plenty of good plot could be generated if it's suspected to be the nobility who did the burning!"

jjbookwo---
"Their father (they refuse to consider this), their aunt (maybe), a rival house of the aristocracy/academia (maybe), the Order (they know it's not this, the Order helped them pursue--albeit fruitlessly--justice), the mystery cabal responsible the apocalypse (this last is clearly hogwash). I like the ginger-smelling oil, btw. ;) <3"

artheartso---
"The red-head themselves. Whoops, didn't mean to drop it! Or maybe some sleepwalking accident or an angry, mental breakdown? This red head is really gonna have all of those fire-associations, aren't they?"

anonymous---


"C// A good opportunity to discover what this origination stands for.What,why and how does it do what it does?"

Bonus// Not long before a number of homes an the area were mysteriously burned, a local forest was accidentally set ablaze by a group of careless hunters,leaving much of it destroyed. Given that no evidence was found that lead to any human suspects,many began to believe that the fire was caused by forest spirits exacting vengeance for their own home being burned.

Most people were satisfied with that simple and obvious answer.

But a few suspected,though they dare only say it in whispered breaths,that the true culprit was a wealthy merchant.And that he had the homes burned so that he could later purchase the land that many of the burned homes had resided on for a vastly reduced price.Some even say that he was the one who first started the rumor of the forest spirits guilt to cover his own crime."

Forum Reader comments
TheOneGuy-
"I've been curious about B since this started, so my vote is for that."

ThePonyCipher-
">A, current plot point NEEDS to be focused on"

a52-
">B What did she do, anyway?"

Eversor-
">A Good work should always be examined"

2.Create-
"> D. This person needs some character development badly."

Kieros-
"> E: The dangers of the forest can't be too bad, can they?"

Ianflow-
">B, what didn't she do? And is there truly any proof that she did it... >Discrimination caused the arson"

Sageheart-
"I also vote d."

Jormengand-
Next, we learn the tale of The wounded knight's crime.

Curris-

"I vote E. Of course, tensions are high here among everyone gathered, but you've got an uneasy truce going. However, the forest is dark and deep and doesn't make deals. It's a persistent and insidious threat; one that lures you to complacency too easily. The arson was rumored to have been caused by a rift in the earth, spewing fire and lava. No one has been able to explain it."

BlackJim-

"D// The green clad companion has been a mysterious figure up until now. Always lingering in the background, always supportive of the Red haired knight, the green companion seems to be more than a Sancho Panza but less than a fellow Musketeer. Exploring that character before returning to the ministrations of the surgeon or the complexity of the other primary characters would be a good way to set the stage for future developments and motivations.

Bonus: Formative years shape the futures of young lives and the red-haired knight was no different. The tragic fire that killed most of their family had never been solved but someone in the Order knew all the answers and the surgeon has discovered the identity of that person, the only one remaining who knows the whole truth. This is one of the reasons she is approaching the Red Haired Knight now.

Like most children, the knight did not know their parents as well as they thought they did. Their father was secretly experimenting with a type of magic (something to do with teleportation, travel magic, or movement into other planes of existence) that had the potential to transform the world and save it from a prophesy of doom. He was working under the direction of a forward thinking sub-sect of the Order. A rival faction sabotaged his work leading to the fire and possibly causing the Sacred Fire to become an eventuality rather than just a possibility.

The companion in green is secretly a member of the rival faction that committed the arson and, driven by the superstitions of that sect, is there to keep an eye on the Red Haired Knight while posing as their friend."


http://i.imgur.com/Ysh9HVl.jpg
The amputation itself only takes a matter of minutes. Your former comrade, deeply sedated, sleeps through the entire process. Finished, the Surgeon stares at her own work. You can tell that she's thinking deeply.

http://i.imgur.com/zruSo8x.jpg
Satisfied, she turns to you. You notice that she's cut out a small piece of your traitorous comrade's clothing. It's puzzling at first, but you notice that the inside of her cloak is covered with a patchwork of similar pieces of cloth that've been sewn into it. They must be souvenirs from past patients.

It's vaguely unsettling, but she seems more relaxed.

http://i.imgur.com/eWzfk3Q.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/reZ31L1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BK2Zh6m.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cEgj9kk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KJvzGM9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jEe8v0C.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VfwoFD6.jpg


The wounded knight betrayed the local chapter of the Order. What group was the local chapter in conflict with when she made her choice?


A// A local heresy that, by most accounts, is peaceful. They have adopted a communist, pacifistic interpretation of theology. By doing so, though, they've inadvertently threatened the authority of both the Order and the Church.

B// An underground cult that is violently subversive. It's members undergo horrific rites of initiation- ultimately becoming something not quite human in the process.

C// A strange group from foreign lands that has begun exploiting the weakened state of the region by establishing colonies nearby. They are seemingly immune to the Sacred Fire.

D// The local sylvan clans, who have become exceptionally agitated. Nobody knows why they're acting out, but it's led to violent escalation. The danger of outright war grows.

Bonus: What is the most admirable trait of the traitorous wounded knight?

[Cuthalion]

You need to make a page just on how one obtains beaver extract. :smallamused:

D// The local sylvan clans, who have become exceptionally agitated. Nobody knows why they're acting out, but it's led to violent escalation. The danger of outright war grows.

The wounded knight is courageous?

[Poll Comics]

You need to make a page just on how one obtains beaver extract. :smallamused:

That was an actual temptation. As bizarre as it sounds, there's a link between a revolutionary 1800s surgical antiseptic, beaver castoreum, and medieval beekeeping practices. Not at all relevant to the plot, but it made me nerd out for about thirty minutes when I made the connections.

Supposedly, beaver castoreum naturally contains the chemicals needed for carbolic acid (the revolutionary 1800s antiseptic). Beaver castoreum was used by medieval beekeepers to increase the output of their hives. She probably picks up the castoreum at the same time she picks up the honey, then uses anachronistically sophisticated chemistry to make a crude carbolic acid from it.

I already knew honey was used as an antiseptic by medieval surgeons, but finding out the link between honey, castoreum, and carbolic acid made me way too excited. Like... both the honey and the beaver extract were setting appropriate, but the fact that they'd also be economically linked and give her a chance to be anachronistically competent? Gives me the warm fuzzies.

[Jormengand]

The knights face a local heresy that, by most accounts, is peaceful. They have adopted a communist, pacifistic interpretation of theology. By doing so, though, they've inadvertently threatened the authority of both the Order and the Church.

Ironically, the wounded knight is loyal, but not to the order - to her own principles.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Results
The wounded knight betrayed the local chapter of the Order. What group was the local chapter in conflict with when she made her choice?

A// A local heresy that, by most accounts, is peaceful. They have adopted a communist, pacifistic interpretation of theology. By doing so, though, they've inadvertently threatened the authority of both the Order and the Church. 11 VOTES.

B// An underground cult that is violently subversive. It's members undergo horrific rites of initiation- ultimately becoming something not quite human in the process. 6 VOTES.

C// A strange group from foreign lands that has begun exploiting the weakened state of the region by establishing colonies nearby. They are seemingly immune to the Sacred Fire. 13 VOTES.

D// The local sylvan clans, who have become exceptionally agitated. Nobody knows why they're acting out, but it's led to violent escalation. The danger of outright war grows. 6 VOTES.
Bonus Question Results

By my count, we had 30 unique votes- the second highest so far! That's incredibly exciting for me- thanks so much! Two huge themes popped up in people's responses to the bonus question: her strong ideals and her utter tenacity in the face of adversity.

What is the most admirable trait of the traitorous wounded knight?


The wounded knight has, for most of her service, been steadfastly loyal to the Order and a champion of its ideals. She always had a penchant for seeing the big picture and helping her chapter make decisions that aligned their secular commands with the values espoused by the Faith. She wasn't the best leader- her immediate reactions were often brash and direct. Given time for reflection, though, her choices often became nuanced. While not the official commander of the chapter, her counsel was seen as a tremendous boon.

Her brashness and directness came through very clearly in her fighting techniques. She was rarely fooled be feints or wit and almost always saw straight through to an opponents weakest spot. Besting her in single combat was seen as a rite of initiation for new recruits- if she liked you enough to let you win, the other knights instantly considered you trustworthy.

She has become perturbed recently: as the world decays around her, orders from both the local landholders and her superiors in the Order have been harder to reconcile with her faith. Where she was once good humored, she has become withdrawn and melancholic. There are rumors that she's been giving her sanctified foods to local peasants and that the madness of the Sacred Fire has begun to decay both her senses and her fighting ability.
Reader Comments

E-mail Subscriber Comments
vaslitt--
"Resilience."

whittak---
"Her cheerful nature. She was always getting to know her brothers and sisters, always the one with a quick comment, a laugh, a word of encouragement. That made her betrayal that much more painful."

anonymous--
"Fortitude. The will to follow her beliefs no matter what consequences."

aaron.van---
" Faith. In a world where everything ends, I think the Virtue of Faith would be the hardest to hold on to."


quietdignit---
"So far she seems to have demonstrated stoic self-sacrifice. While she fought against capture, she hasn't begged for her life or freedom."

arthea---
"They are themself. A personality type the Order & Church don't like. They can't ignore what they feel is right to them, and it often leads to trouble."

jjbookw---
"Compassion. (Whoops.)"

Anonymous---
"She was forceful and unhesitating. It's often said that, in a crisis, a bad decision now is better than a good decision later, and she was a master of making bad decisions quickly. Not the best person to lead people in peacetime, but there was nobody better to have at your side in an ambush or the chaos of pitched battle."

kitkat---
"Her kindness"

j13---
"He is loyal. His treason was, ultimately, done out of loyalty to the ideals of his order."

dracobruh---
"The knight stands by her convictions. she made a logical choice, one that she knew had consequences. This choice made her a piriah to her fellow knights, and yet she still choose it.

From what i have read, it seems that the Order is a larger organization, one with perhaps hundreds, if not thousands of people. She knew full well that by making her choice, she devastated the local order, but also impugned the honor of the Order itself.

But she isnt defiant. She hasnt thrown it back in the knights face, yet, but instead has just remained resolute. She isnt expecting anyone to understand her point of view, but just understand why she did it.
If given a chance to speak..."
Forum Reader Comments
a52-
"//A"

Kieros-
"> D: Sylvan clans because let's throw as much mystic stuff as possible and see what sticks.

TheOneGuy-
"Let's go with >B. I always like fictional creepy cults. As for the bonus: She would always keep an open mind, and not condemn others just because their beliefs don't match up with her own."

Jormengand-
"Ironically, the wounded knight is loyal, but not to the order - to her own principles."

Ianflow-
">D
or failing that, >A"

Vancho1-
"> C: The foreigners, who call themselves Angar, do not speak the local languages, and they ride strange beasts. The wounded knight's most admirable trait is perseverance - it's why the hunt was so long and drawn-out."


Curris-
"OOC -> You're doing a great job integrating so many suggestions from so many sources at once. Nice work!

I think that the chapter was fighting B// An underground cult that is violently subversive. It's members undergo horrific rites of initiation- ultimately becoming something not quite human in the process.

Perhaps the wounded knight found out that they had some redeeming qualities?

Her most admirable trait was the ability to see the bigger picture in her actions, and the commands passed down from the Order."


sageheart-
"I vote C, though I would place A in there as well. This strange group is a communist pacifistic theologically focused organization that has came from across the waters. The first colonies were seen as nothing more than an unusual grouping of people, with little threat to the authority of the church or the Order. This has changed as more locals start to convert to this new religion.

BONUS:
The traitorous wounded knight's most admirable trait is her loyalty to her abstract/greater cause. Even through the many loses she endured throughout her life, she has remained true to her conviction. The red haired knight had tried to warn the wounded knight, even her former lover had attempted to change her path, but her loyalty to this new Order has overrode anything else."

BlackJim-
"//D How can you not include something having to do with elfs at this time of the year?

Bonus: The most admirable trait of the traitorous wounded knight was loyalty. This world is being completely corrupted. She is completely broken now that the primary virtue, her key quality that had once the foundation of her personality, has been sacrificed. Was it a matter of divided loyalty? Was there something, someone, or some principle that she prioritized to remain loyal to while discarding the lesser loyalty to the Order or was this betrayal something even more sinister? Was she disabused of her dedication to the Order? Did madness deprive her of this core quality?

The wounded traitor had once been so dependably loyal that her honor was beyond reproach.

Nice Ninja, Sageheart! Great minds and all..."


Tojara-
"D! War always gives place to great stories. Bonus: Erhm, i guess that the wounded knights most admirable trait is his swordsmanship. Months ago he was referred as the best fighter in the order never losing against anyone on single combat and his choice of always using light armour instead of the heavier traditional armour from the order made him quite renowned in the whole order. However, he has lately switched his sword to his left hand in what many believe a mocking gesture to their opponents but actually is because his right arm feels too unresponsive to use in a combat due to the sacred fire. With his left arm he remains unparalleled in single combat but isn't able to take many contenders at once."



http://i.imgur.com/mojVivx.jpg

The Surgeon has asked you what your chapter of knights did to be excommunicated by the Order- but when you begin to answer, you realize just how far your mind has slipped.

The memories are buried beneath your anger. For a moment, you almost fear that you've started to lose them. You try to focus.

http://i.imgur.com/jhJxZ6d.jpg

The first memory that surfaces is hazy. The now wounded knight- the one who betrayed your chapter- stands in her studio, gathering her resolve. This is the night she carries out her act of betrayal.

http://i.imgur.com/KaQK3Dj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WLv4RbY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ePe1Jn9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xlJevHg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YnRX9XS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/943ixsy.jpg

What is the wounded knight preparing to do in the flashback?


A// The Colonists' arrival has been approved by the Order- but the wounded knight has learned something dark and corruptive about their agenda. The knight has to stop them.

B// The local heresy is being supported by her superiors, but she's learned that one of its members may soon cause terrible destruction in the area. The knight has to prevent it.

C// The Colonists are a benign group fleeing persecution- but the forces they're running from have far-reaching influences inside the Order. Their leader is a force for good, and the knight must protect them.

D// Wiping out the local heresy is a high priority for the Order, but the knight has learned that one of its members may hold the key to a better future. She can't let that hope be destroyed by bigotry or politics.

Bonus: What is the most positive effect that the Colonists have had on the area?

[Poll Comics]

http://i.imgur.com/BtLdmKL.jpg

We're taking a week off to make sure the Holidays don't make the next installment rushed! The next installment should go live on Monday, Dec 28.

[Poll Comics]

Poll Results
Poll: What is the wounded knight preparing to do in the flashback?
A// The Colonists' arrival has been approved by the Order- but the wounded knight has learned something dark and corruptive about their agenda. The knight has to stop them. 5 VOTES.

B// The local heresy is being supported by her superiors, but she's learned that one of its members may soon cause terrible destruction in the area. The knight has to prevent it. 2 VOTES.

C// The Colonists are a benign group fleeing persecution- but the forces they're running from have far-reaching influences inside the Order. Their leader is a force for good, and the knight must protect them. 15 VOTES.

D// Wiping out the local heresy is a high priority for the Order, but the knight has learned that one of its members may hold the key to a better future. She can't let that hope be destroyed by bigotry or politics. 11 VOTES.
Bonus Question Results
A fair amount of the summary of the Colonists/Refugees made it directly into the installment, but I want to touch on a couple points that didn't make it in:

There was a big emphasis on them having relatively advanced technology, infrastructure, etc. There was also an overlapping theme that the faith of the refugees had an Eastern influence: meditative with an emphasis on balance. The refugees' perspective is foreign to the locals.

It didn't get worked into the installment, but I love the idea that domesticated cats are an import brought by the refugees.
Reader CommentsE-mail subscriber comments
vaslitt---
"Education and protection."

aaron.van---
"The land itself welcomes them. Even as things fail, the land bears crops like it used to."

anonymous---
"Bonus// They have brought strange and wonderful new technology powered by water/windmills."

aeons---
"The Colonists are very self-sacrificing and friendly towards the people of the land, almost to the point where they seem submissive. This has led to cooperation between the people and the Colonists, who have formed a better-functioning community than the entire land has seen in ages."

j13---
"The very existence of the Colonists seems to slow the progression of the Holy Flame."

JKHaz---
"Exotic plants began to grow after a while. Where those plants are, the air is fresher, the mood highens and nature feels more lively."

quietdig---
"Nihilism. Can't make an omelet, stirring stagnant waters, that sort of thing. It's often unwelcome, but frequently necessary."

sirgav---
"The Colonists have brought new technology and ways of thinking to the area and the people."

tms70---
"they have been able to peacefully and amicably resolve a long-standing blood feud that has torn the fabric of the community for generations. It's almost ...mystical... how they managed to do it. Nobody involved will talk about it..."

jjbookw---
"B & C reconciliation: An influential member of the heresy is undermining the peaceful leader mentioned in Option C, as well as inflaming local tensions.The wounded knight's superiors are paying lip service towards the support of the heresy but secretly encouraging this rapidly radicalizing member of the heresy with the aim of destabilizing the organisation from within while simultaneously increasing support of an armed conflict among their subjects so they have an pretext of legitimacy under which to wipe out the heresy.

Bonus: The amount of viable pregnancies in the area have increased, either because of the fresh influx of new and interesting people or because they're better at purifying their water & food and are willing to share their tricks with the locals; likely both. Additionally, in a morbid way, the suspicions and bigotry surrounding their arrival have unified several factions that were previously prone to infighting, and while this spells out the likelihood of potentially devastating conflicts, it also means short term that the local authorities are more successful in their attempts at civic improvement--the roads are better kept, the charitable activities within the local communities are more effective since no subgroup has the focus to sabotage each other's efforts, the law enforcement branch is much quicker responding to emergencies since they're on constant alert (read: paranoid), et al."

arthearts---
"A: but the "dark" and "corrupted" doesn't seem to be so at all. It's rather like Buddhism: peaceful, but still inherently colonial. They push their beliefs onto the natives--and they're such peaceful ones--while taking resources, quietly disrupting the order in wildlife in both their habits & their domesticated animal's, and engaging in cultural approriation. All the while saying that they're doing something positive and dismissing criticisms with odd but hard-to-define-why-it's-wrong counterpoints.


Bonus: Cultural syncretisism is an odd little thing. The peaceful values of this foreign culture do make some individuals who eclecticize/fully convert happier, in at least some regards.

The new culture also makes their lives more interesting: looking at new objects, hearing odd stories that intrigue their intellect and challenge their viewpoints.

They also have useful technology & medical knowledge; including unique purposes (food & medical) for plants that grow within both the colonized area and the colonizer's original home."Forum Reader comments
BreadProduct-
"You know what? No I cannot pick just one. A and C. Bonus: Domestic Cats"

Vancho1-
"C : The colonists are a peaceful folk, and they follow a quaint religion that emphasizes harmony, learning, and understanding. They have contributed to the restoration of a local landmark, as well as working to establish more peaceful relations with the Sylvans. This, of course, is seen as a dreadfully heretical thing by the Order."

Kieros-
"> C. Because they just can't escape in peace."

Ianflow-
"full honesty, I wish more of Dwarf Fortress could be written the way you wrote her best strength. That was some top quality charecterization.>D >The Colonists have caused wildlife that was thought to be disappearing to be returning. Not in overwhelming numbers, but constant balance along with them being more and more tame."

2Create-
"> A. Bonus: Their presence has allowed for more beneficial trading agreements with the area they originated from."

TheOneGuy-
"> C The colonists have discovered the true cause of the madness and the world's doom, and offer the best chance to stave it off or even end it. But those who have instigated the madness are comfortably seated amongst the highest members of the order and wield a lot of influence...

Curris-
"D) The colonists are surprisingly intelligent and inventive. You believe they have the best chance at developing safeguards against the Sacred Fire, and possibly a cure, if they are supported. The Order sees them as a threat, because if their methods succeed, the Order will lose prestige and the support of the people to these 'charlatans'.

Bonus: What is the most positive effect that the Colonists have had on the area?
They developed a good infrastructure for urban areas -> They've dug wells, and channeled aquaducts to increase crop yields and water sanitation. They've built roads and help the locals develop literacy and focus on learning over labor."


BlackJim-
"The story is retold throughout all of time, in every culture of every age on every world. The Colonists escaped tyranny and oppression from the practice of their ancient culture in a far off land. (C//) A new force, strong and unyielding, highly intolerant of the Colonist's traditions, has threatened them with annihilation had they chosen to stay in their native lands. As these refugees dispersed in search of a new home and a way to survive, they found the Order's territories. The foreign power is one of frightful power and technologies far beyond those of the Order. Out of fear for its own survival, the Order has chosen diplomacy and appeasement as a means to prevent an invasion from that acknowledged foreign threat.

The wounded knight knows that submissiveness to that influence would ultimately destroy the order from within. It would allow the sacred mission of her faith to be slowly eroded like the shores of a fast flowing river until the Order would never again be able to return to its true course, its true mission.

The Chapter has been commanded by the Order, at the behest of the foreign power, that the Colonial Leader should be returned to the foreign juggernaut. The leader had been responsible for developing much of the modern technology that other civilization now enjoys. He is a genius of unparalleled magnitude. When the Colonists were forced to leave, the foreign power had not known that this gifted man was a member of the ostracized society and when their mistake was realized, the cost of making an exception would have done too much political damage to the leaders of that foreign power. They had hoped to secretly repatriate the genius but were unprepared for his open opposition once the Leader had been freed from direct control of the oppressive government. The wounded knight's betrayal is largely responsible for the Chapter's excommunication from the Order.

The wounded knight was asked to capture him and bring him back to the Order but she knew his value, his ability, and his desire to bring everything he knew to support the Colonists and his newly adopted home in this new land. If the Leader were protected, it would balance the scales and give the Order an equal footing and a hope of preserving the Order's way of life. The man's genius might be the only hope of saving this world from its seemingly certain demise. She admires the man and secretly loves him. It isn't a romantic love, rather, it is the kind of love that a disciple might have for the embodiment of her potential salvation through the capabilities of this gifted man. Therefore, she plans to betray her orders and help the Leader to sanctuary rather than return him to the Order for delivery back into persecution, exploitation and certain slavery.

Bonus: The Colonists have a number of technologies, largely developed by their Leader, that improve the quality of life. Food grows easily and bountifully under their care and the Colonist's generous nature has shared this abundance freely."


Tojara-
"Damn that's some good stuff Jim! Can i vote for Black Jim's idea?"

sageheart-
"Yeah right! Awesome stuff."


http://i.imgur.com/1FMMo1E.jpg


Her proclamations somehow ring hollow, but the anger is still making it difficult to focus. You know that her actions caused your chapter of the Order to be excommunicated and you know the day of this memory was important... but the tendrils of madness weave in and out of the details. You grasp for an anchor- something solid to help you figure it out.

http://i.imgur.com/z6VLuSh.jpg


There had been a colony of refugees not far from here- that much is true. They were led by a powerful priest from distant lands. He had the memories and experiences of hundreds of lives. His people had brought strange beliefs and technologies with them when they'd fled persecution. They preached pacifism. The crops they planted grew strong. They mediated regional conflicts and feuds with uncanny insight.

A surprising number of the local peasants adopted the prophet's faith. More than a few of your fellow knights had attended his services. Madre had been one of them. She'd followed him more closely than most of the chapter. His words had given her peace, at least until...

That's it. That's the anchor.

You suddenly realize why the memory felt so disconnected.

When the Inquisitor gave the order to kill the refugees, he'd given that command to YOUR chapter. The entire chapter had taken part, but Madre bore special blame. This memory was the day that the madness and guilt finally stripped away the last of her senses.

http://i.imgur.com/AjCnMgp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rrtOORa.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/G8hxSpS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YU5EN4S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/qVRAQ47.jpg


The Order had been established hundreds of years ago to defend the independence of the lands against Crusades from the Blood Church- the same church that the refugees had been fleeing from.

While the Blood Church shares some things in common with the Order's church, their faith required the abolition of local traditions and the dissolution of local kingships in favor of the church's absolute authority. They'd begun as an extremist splinter group from the Church, but had spread rapidly and now controlled many of the Church's historic holy places. The Order was a centralized opposition to their continued growth.

Over the course of the following centuries, though, the missionaries of the Blood Church ultimately succeeded were their paladins had failed. Much of the Blood Church's faith revolved around purity and the divine judgement of a coming apocalypse. With the troubles of the age growing in severity, many of the people turned to the Blood Church for answers.

The Inquisitor who oversaw your region was one of many converts who'd slowly been infiltrating and commandeering the leadership of the Order.

By the time your chapter was given its fateful command, the Order itself was on the verge of an internal war. Your chapter's compliance with the massacre had been enough to condemn all of you.

http://i.imgur.com/lkmZRrf.jpg


Neighboring chapters secretly shared shared their communion- the blessed food that staved off the Sacred Fire- with your chapter as long as they could. Despite the official excommunication, the neighboring chapters knew they needed your forces in operating condition if there was any hope of maintaining the peace.

In time, though, the Order withdrew entirely from the region. Members of the neighboring chapters moved South- maybe to fight off Crusaders, maybe to fight the smoldering embers of the Order's civil war. Many of the knights in your chapter joined the exodus, along with a sizable portion of the remaining humans. Only a handful of knights- yourself included- stayed behind to continue fulfilling your duties to the region.

The sacrifice was ultimately moot. As the Sacred Fire savaged the vestiges of the population, the sylvan races began reclaiming the region. Your purpose as protectors quickly becoming obsolete, the handful of remaining knights made a non-aggression pact with the sylvans. It was deeply one-sided, but the sylvan races were quickly becoming an overwhelming force.

http://i.imgur.com/Yj5pxmQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WPNTzSG.jpg

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Chapter Conclusion Notes- Rise of the Sylvans
This installment marks the end of the first chapter of the Fall Court! It's indescribably exciting and nerve wracking: trying to make the installment resolve the immediate conflicts, stay true to reader input, and set up a conflict for issue 2 that makes a good starting point for new readers makes for a lot of factors to juggle. I think I found a way to hit all of those beats.

As a part of that, I've taken a few more liberties than usual. The Sylvans usually poll relatively lowly, but making them a more active force fills a couple of functions.

The first is that the companion in green's role in the scene has been a conspicuous mystery. This seemed like a great way to bring him to the forefront in a way that justified his presence, but that also justified his relative silence so far. It also still leaves his exact agenda open for reader input.

The second is that by skipping through the phase where the Order is fighting with its own corruption- straight to the point where they're no longer a viable faction in this part of the setting- we reinforce the idea that the apocalypse is not just unavoidable- it's well underway. The people who were either fighting against it or trying to engineer it have collapsed on themselves. We're left sorting through the rubble.

The third is that even though we skip over the Order's internal struggles and the false hope represented by the refugees, that period of time is still accessible to the narrative. Every one of the possible narrators we've met so far lived through it. We know it's ultimately tragic, but we don't know how hard they fought against the tragedy- or if there were hidden successes. Why did Madre make the decision she did when she obviously regrets it? How do the events connect with Red's family history?

The final reason is that so far we've have a largely binary conflict: every major faction either wants to help or to destroy the refugees. Bringing the Sylvans forward helps keep things fresh by introducing a third agenda into the region.

The Companion in Green, who has just been revealed as a member of one of the Sylvan Clans, has a personal stake in what happens next...

A// The Companion has a personal connection with Madre- going back quite some time. He knows why she made the decision that she did. We learn more about Madre's background.

B// Red's father was executed for allying with a powerful Nature Spirit. Because of that, the Companion has been sent to keep an eye on Red. We learn how Red's family history is connected with regional events.

C// The Companion is familiar with the Surgeon's agenda- and is scared of her. We learn why she's here and how it's connected to both the slain refugees and the agenda of the rising Sylvans.

D// The Companion is ultimately loyal to the Inquisitor who gave the knights their command to kill the refugees. The Inquisitor is still active in the area, and is still pursuing their agenda.

Bonus: What is the Companion in Green's true appearance?