Fall Court: current story

[Poll Comics]

A people struggle to define themselves in a land faced with an apocalyptic decline. Who are the Fall Court? What choices will the people make when faced against an unavoidable doom? These are the stories from a world faced with its own mortality. Your votes shape the final days of humanity.

The pilot episode for the project (which ran from 10/30/2015 to 2/10/2016) is here (http://pollcomics.com/FallCourt/a-tale-of-knights-pt-1.html), but knowledge of it isn't a prerequisite. All poll answers are written to be potentially interesting. Answers to the bonus questions are amalgamated, so even if something is suggested that doesn't fit in the larger world, there's a good chance the underlying themes or details might still work their way in.

This story is set ten years prior to the pilot episode. The gender of the red-haired character is intentionally ambiguous. While most of the setting hasn't been defined yet, medieval gendered norms are canonically thrown out the window. Stories may contain violence and some mature themes.

Update Schedule
We're going to aim for a new installment every other week, with the occasional world development poll between installments. This might change as the story progresses.
Legal side and Public domain characters

Characters and Setting
Most of the characters and setting details will be released into the public domain after the story is finished. They're amalgamations of reader input; it might be a bit idealistic, but it'd feel selfish to try to keep 'em to myself. From the public imagination they came, and to the public imagination they return. Characters from the first Fall Court story that've been released are listed here (http://pollcomics.com/about/legal.html). Characters and settings from this story that are released will be posted at the same place. If the list isn't there, contact me for a copy.

Visuals
I retain rights for the visual designs and page layouts, but release them under a non-commercial, attribution creative commons license.

Participation
This project is posted across several venues- forums, e-mail, etc. Answers to the bonus question will be reposted so readers on other venues can see the ideas that helped shaped the characters and setting. You'll be credited with the screen name used to submit the answer.

About Me
I've been experimenting with reader-driven stories since around 2012. My longest poll-based project was a 150 page long sci fi/comedy called Dark River. Right now I survive by doing freelance illustration.


http://i.imgur.com/y5lORRG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JQSyqtO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bdEsnJx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dReSCqu.jpg

VOTE: What regional conflict does this scene introduce?

A// A mysterious and deadly illness
B// Raiders from the Deep North
C// Restlessness of Nature Spirits
D// Emergence of an Apocalyptic Cult

Bonus: Danger looms and the captain of the knights looks concerned. What person or ideal does he think is worth dying for? Describe them/it.


And we're off! Here's to makin' something cool that none of us could've made separately. Thanks for joining!

[Poll Comics]

Poll Results
What regional conflict does this scene introduce?
A// A mysterious and deadly illness. 6 votes.
B// Raiders from the Deep North. 6 votes.
C// Restlessness of Nature Spirits. 11 votes.
D// Emergence of an Apocalyptic Cult. 12 votes.
Bonus Question
Bonus: Danger looms and the captain of the knights looks concerned. What person or ideal does he think is worth dying for? Describe them/it.
Having witnessed violence inflicted by raiders from the Deep North and the dangers of angry Nature Spirits, the Captain has grown into a devoted advocate of his faith. While not the boldest or strongest, he is a competent defender of the territory.

His conservative approach to his faith has a strong influence on his relationship with his children. He loves them deeply, but knows that his duties often interfere with being a father. Following the death of the Captain's wife, his children stay with the Captain's step-brother.

The Captain's conservative tendencies often put him in conflict with Governess Melanie, who is known for providing protection for local heresies- possibly including worship of the Nature Spirits. As he grows older, the Captain increasingly finds this conflict of duties more difficult to bear. Loyalty to the territory's leadership is a tenet of his faith- but the more he learns about the heresies, the closer he comes to a point of personal crisis.
Reader Comments

E-mail
vaslittl-
"Corpses everywhere. Those who aren't dead are clearly blighted. His fellow knights."

aaro-
"His family."

golia-
"Queen Melanie, a fiery redhead who refuses to travel in her finery or in a carriage. She would rather travel with her men on horseback as that is far more interesting."

Forums
Jam--
"I vote D."

SaberToothTiger-
"B/D, basically saying that the raiders from the north are an apocalyptic cult. The captain, whilst not exceptionally bright or skilled, is a staunch supporter of his faith. He is a pious follower of *insert religious head here*, and believes in everything included in the church doctrine. He is more than willing to spread his beliefs to other people, against their will or not."

GiglameshDespair-
"A. He considers only his children truly worth dying for. He has two - a daughter, aged four, and a son, aged three. His wife passed of a repository illness not long after the birth of his son. His daughter takes after him, with the same dark hair, but his son has the blond hair of his wife. They're currently under the care of his brother-in-law and his wife."

BreadProduct-
"C Bonus: His reputation. He holds a lot of clout. And appearance is everything."

Wessolf27-
"I agree with C. Bonus: He values the precepts of his Order first and foremost, which details proper conduct and virtue when dealing with any being. (Also, may I ask where experience points are to be spent?)"

Andorxor-
"D. Bonus: He would die to bring the apocalypse"

Nickzil -
"PpPfpPPPFPFFT C is such a terrible plot-direction. D all the way!"

LeCacty-
"D"

Brain Ghost-
"C because D (there are nature spirits getting corrupted by the cult's spreading darkness, and the uncorrupted ones become distrustful of and maybe hostile to humans - like in princess mononoke, legend of korra, and other stuff i don't remember offhand) If that's not a possible option, just flip a coin to see if I vote C or D. They both could be cool on their own

Bonus: Humanity. He fights for humankind, and passionately hates non humans. Had some friends or comrades who died to monster attack"

Tojara-
"B) Raiders from the Deep North. The northerners are venturing farther than their common territory of action. The order is investigating this strange case.

Bonus: Civilization. The captain thinks that without law and organized hierarchies there is no way that civilization can survive and he fears that the raiders are going to destroy the world as he knows it."

Black Jim-
"C// The nature spirit's awareness of the approaching tribulation precedes that of the humans and most of the Order.

BONUS: Very little is worthy of his complete and selfless sacrifice but he holds a few things to such ultimate personal value: 1) His children. There is little that a father, as devoted to family as he, would not do to protect and safeguard their lives. He would sacrifice his oaths, his honor and even his life for them. 2) His King. There was never a more loyal knight. He is incorruptible in service to the sovereign excepting only his children. Should he ever be made to choose between the two, he would be in crisis. 3) Finally, Bacon. It's the food of the gods and the Captain is known to love the porcine delicacy. It is a joke (never told to his face) that he would trade his soul for a perfect rasher of crispy, dripping, sap-cured, sweet-wood smoked, thick cut, sizzling hot deliciousness."


http://i.imgur.com/YqPiHJ9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ecJjhD5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/iaRkqZk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Z58SXVw.jpg