Ther Melian RPG Progress (Chapter 6 and 7)
  Last update at 17 Sep 2018 10:37

Chapter 6 and 7 was supposed to be delivered on August 7, but my declining health make it not possible to make the date. Fortunately, everything is still on track. I have concern that the next chapter would possibly not on time anymore due to my "glorious" 7-class-teaching-schedule (not counting theses counsellings).

Timetable

This is the estimate time table, based on the worst possible scenario that each cycle lasts 2 weeks.
Date Story Milestone Script Progress Version Maps PC
29 May '16 Chapter 1 09/84 0.1a Tellsier Forest (Prologue), Sanctum, Sanctum Dungeon Valadin, Ellanese, Haldara
12 June '16 Chapter 2 13/84 0.2a Atoll of Sorrows (Beach), Grotto of Storms (Sea Cave) Voltress
26 June '16 Chapter 3 20/84 0.3a Falthemnar Vylar, Lianna
10 July '16 Chapter 4 28/84 0.4a Tellsier Forest, Tellsier Citadel, Mildryd Forest Laruen, Meara
24 July '16 Chapter 5 39/84 0.5a Northern Forest, Dark Forest Karth, Izahra, Eizen
07 August '16 Chapter 6 45/84 0.6a Sanctum Dungeon (Catacombs), Sanctum Meeting Hall
21 August '16 Chapter 7 54/84 0.7a
04 September '16 Chapter 8 68/84 0.8a Abandoned Watch Tower, Old Mining Pit
18 September '16 Chapter 9 79/84 0.9a Dark Forest (Expansion), Izhrote
02 October '16 Last Chapter 84/84 1.0b Dark Forest (Last Expansion),

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 begins after player left Valadin's house, only to be confronted by Ellanese. She will help Valadin but gave him time to prepare for the upcoming dungeon, the Catacombs. Player are expected to stock in bulk before going to the catacombs.

Ellanese confronts Valadin.
Ellanese confronts Valadin.
A choice to prepare or to continue the story.
A choice to prepare or to continue the story.

Catacombs of the Gardian

Reason have long left, only their shadow and husk remained.

Catacombs is the toughest dungeon so far, focusing on the endurance of the player, especially since Valadin in alone. As the map suggest, it is linear but very long.

Catacombs B1
Catacombs B1
Catacombs B2
Catacombs B2
Catacombs B3
Catacombs B3

It has three puzzles, one on each floor. The first puzzle involve collecting seven book of the aethers, and the second puzzle involves a brain-twisting riddle.

First puzzle.
First puzzle.
Second puzzle.
Second puzzle.

The third puzzle, present you with a door that is locked two hours ago. The clues for this last riddle is put on the last part, so player does not go too far to read it. Encounters are disabled on all riddle area, so player will not be frustrated by it. Moreover, there are no boss at the Catacombs.

Third puzzle.
Third puzzle.

If player think putting catacombs by the assembly hall is weird, Valadin made a remark of it. When player finished the third puzzle, they can enter the council room for the next event. Be wary that by doing this, the catacomb will no longer be accessible. A secret lies in the catacombs that leads to Ellanese's special item.

Valadin's remark of the architecture.
Valadin's remark of the architecture.
The assembly hall.
The assembly hall.

After the catacomb event, Chapter 6 ended with Ellanese arguing Valadin about releasing Eizen. In here, a minor change was made to the script. Ellanese refers Eizen with his last name, indicating that she is very distant to Eizen, as well as disliking his entire house.

Ellanese questioned Valadin's method.
Ellanese questioned Valadin's method.
Valadin questioned Ellanese's knowledge.
Valadin questioned Ellanese's knowledge.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 begins immediately after the end of chapter 6. Player can only talk to Liana before leaving the house. This event also marks the last appearance of Vylar. If player visited the Illusion Paradise before, Vylar will be much more displeased, and an extra event between Liana and Valadin will occur.

Vylar's last appearance.
Vylar's last appearance.
Liana's secret remark.
Liana's secret remark.

Different from the script, Ellanese will be waiting at fenlands (north forest) entrance instead of at the end of the fenlands. Valadin will say that he needs some time to reconsider his actions. The story will continue once player talked to the Legion Adjutant, traverse to Tellsier and talked to Laruen. Laruen's line was changed so that she does not say "you" to Valadin. Instead, she will use "my lourd". There are quite a problem on this part, as the script implied an time skip between few weeks to six months. In order to address this, the timeskip is removed, leaving Peregrine still in its eaglet form.

Taking to Adjutant.
Taking to Adjutant.
Talking to Laruen.
Talking to Laruen.

Patrolling Mildryd, Laruen will encounter a pair of goofy poachers alone (they have their own theme song). The combat with poachers should be ended quickly, or they will overwhelm Laruen rather easily.

Poacher's displeasant voice.
Poacher's displeasant voice.
Poacher battle.
Poacher battle.

After the poacher battle, the real boss battle against a Feral Ferres will take place. Feral Ferres is similar to Gullon Alpha, albeit more powerful and only uses one element. He also can drain HP from the party. A change in the script was made as Peregrine is still an eaglet: Valadin will tell Laruen that he ran from the Feral Ferres because he need Laruen's help (as well as boosting confidence in her).

Versus Feral Ferres.
Versus Feral Ferres.
Valadin praised Laruen.
Valadin praised Laruen.

Player will be taken immediately to Laruen's house for the closing event of Chapter 7, where Laruen and Valadin both made their resolve. After this part, the script indicates that player can take Laruen to explore the Mildryd Tor only. I am preparing a subquest to make Laruen a permanent party member (non-canon, of course). The subquest will take place in Mildryd, effective only after Chapter 8. Since its creation, Mildryd Tor have been created to serve this subquest, so only script is needed for the subquest.

Laruen's resolve.
Laruen's resolve.
Valadin's resolve.
Valadin's resolve.

Other System Changes

  • Many routines have been streamlined, removing excessive nested IFs and replacing them with GOTO.
  • Most "blocking" routine have been moved to a single event.

Further system-based tasks:

  • Finish Ellanese's subquest.
  • Finish Laruen's subquest.
  • Tweak Karth and Izahra's moveset.
  • Complete Tellsier.
Ellanese confronts Valadin.
Ellanese confronts Valadin.
A choice to prepare or to continue the story.
A choice to prepare or to continue the story.

Catacombs of the Gardian

Reason have long left, only their shadow and husk remained.

Catacombs is the toughest dungeon so far, focusing on the endurance of the player, especially since Valadin in alone. As the map suggest, it is linear but very long.

Catacombs B1
Catacombs B1
Catacombs B2
Catacombs B2
Catacombs B3
Catacombs B3

It has three puzzles, one on each floor. The first puzzle involve collecting seven book of the aethers, and the second puzzle involves a brain-twisting riddle.

First puzzle.
First puzzle.
Second puzzle.
Second puzzle.

The third puzzle, present you with a door that is locked two hours ago. The clues for this last riddle is put on the last part, so player does not go too far to read it. Encounters are disabled on all riddle area, so player will not be frustrated by it. Moreover, there are no boss at the Catacombs.

Third puzzle.
Third puzzle.

If player think putting catacombs by the assembly hall is weird, Valadin made a remark of it. When player finished the third puzzle, they can enter the council room for the next event. Be wary that by doing this, the catacomb will no longer be accessible. A secret lies in the catacombs that leads to Ellanese's special item.

Valadin's remark of the architecture.
Valadin's remark of the architecture.
The assembly hall.
The assembly hall.

After the catacomb event, Chapter 6 ended with Ellanese arguing Valadin about releasing Eizen. In here, a minor change was made to the script. Ellanese refers Eizen with his last name, indicating that she is very distant to Eizen, as well as disliking his entire house.

Ellanese questioned Valadin's method.
Ellanese questioned Valadin's method.
Valadin questioned Ellanese's knowledge.
Valadin questioned Ellanese's knowledge.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 begins immediately after the end of chapter 6. Player can only talk to Liana before leaving the house. This event also marks the last appearance of Vylar. If player visited the Illusion Paradise before, Vylar will be much more displeased, and an extra event between Liana and Valadin will occur.

Vylar's last appearance.
Vylar's last appearance.
Liana's secret remark.
Liana's secret remark.

Different from the script, Ellanese will be waiting at fenlands (north forest) entrance instead of at the end of the fenlands. Valadin will say that he needs some time to reconsider his actions. The story will continue once player talked to the Legion Adjutant, traverse to Tellsier and talked to Laruen. Laruen's line was changed so that she does not say "you" to Valadin. Instead, she will use "my lourd". There are quite a problem on this part, as the script implied an time skip between few weeks to six months. In order to address this, the timeskip is removed, leaving Peregrine still in its eaglet form.

Taking to Adjutant.
Taking to Adjutant.
Talking to Laruen.
Talking to Laruen.

Patrolling Mildryd, Laruen will encounter a pair of goofy poachers alone (they have their own theme song). The combat with poachers should be ended quickly, or they will overwhelm Laruen rather easily.

Poacher's displeasant voice.
Poacher's displeasant voice.
Poacher battle.
Poacher battle.

After the poacher battle, the real boss battle against a Feral Ferres will take place. Feral Ferres is similar to Gullon Alpha, albeit more powerful and only uses one element. He also can drain HP from the party. A change in the script was made as Peregrine is still an eaglet: Valadin will tell Laruen that he ran from the Feral Ferres because he need Laruen's help (as well as boosting confidence in her).

Versus Feral Ferres.
Versus Feral Ferres.
Valadin praised Laruen.
Valadin praised Laruen.

Player will be taken immediately to Laruen's house for the closing event of Chapter 7, where Laruen and Valadin both made their resolve. After this part, the script indicates that player can take Laruen to explore the Mildryd Tor only. I am preparing a subquest to make Laruen a permanent party member (non-canon, of course). The subquest will take place in Mildryd, effective only after Chapter 8. Since its creation, Mildryd Tor have been created to serve this subquest, so only script is needed for the subquest.

Laruen's resolve.
Laruen's resolve.
Valadin's resolve.
Valadin's resolve.

Other System Changes

  • Many routines have been streamlined, removing excessive nested IFs and replacing them with GOTO.
  • Most "blocking" routine have been moved to a single event.

Further system-based tasks:

  • Finish Ellanese's subquest.
  • Finish Laruen's subquest.
  • Tweak Karth and Izahra's moveset.
  • Complete Tellsier.

]]

[[/div]]