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1
Kajar Laboratories / Magus costume for Sakuracon
« on: June 09, 2011, 03:43:38 pm »
For next year's Sakuracon, I am attempting to make a Magus costume. I'm starting a year ahead of time (and I already bought some of the materials days after the last convention ended), so that I can give it the love and attention to detail it deserves. I've purchased leather to make the breastplate, codpiece, and possibly gloves, and some wool and velvet to make the cape.
I'm already working on the cape. I'm about halfway done with it, but I need the expert advice that can only be found here! For this project, I have to sew the wool to the velvet with the right sides together, then turn it inside out so nobody sees those ugly seams. Problem is, a part of it will have to be left open so I can actually turn it, then be sewn by hand. The wool and velvet are rather thick, so I will need a large-ish gap to pull everything through.
The options are a spot in front that will be covered up, but I'm afraid it will be too small for turning and the seam might break. I could also do a larger gap in the bottom hem, but this will leave a large, visible seam. It's possible to hide that seam with gold coloured satin blanket binding or trim, but the question is, is that Magus-y/Zealian enough?
After this part of the cape is turned and hemmed, I will make a mini capelet with tassels and a hood to wear on top for the Prophet part.
Once that is done, I should have enough of the blue wool left to make the cummerbund.
The next items on the list are the breastplate and codpiece. I've never worked with leather before, but I've done plenty of research. It will all have to be hand sewn.
The pants will be simple enough, just a poly-rayon blend linen-look fabric. I have yet to decide whether to go with a light lavender or a darker maroon.
For the amulet, I have a friend who works with metal. She has already agreed to help me make it.
The boots will take a while longer to find, as I'm no cordwainer. New Age or renaissance themed stores are bound to have something suitable. The metal bits on the shoes and pants leg can also be provided by my blacksmith friend - or, if that proves too impractical/painful, some sort of laminated aluminum. Gloves, if I can't make them out of the leather I have, will be obtained the same way.
The scythe will also be outsourced (I don't have a large enough lathe, nor sufficient woodworking skills). I already have a commission and payment plan set up with a propmaker to craft and mail it.
The red contact lenses and elf ears are a little on the expensive side, but easily obtainable.
The hair will be one of the harder parts, when it comes to the widow's peak. I can easily dye my hair, but I don't know if hairspray can work its magic this time. Research on wigs or hair styling will come later.
There will be other additions like a leather belt pouch or glass bottle (kind of like CuteLucca's fanart) for extra detail, if I have time.
Edit: And I just realized I forgot the earrings. There is a vendor at the local farmer's market who can make earrings out of crocodile fangs. I think those would be a good addition, rather than the generic triangles.
The whole ensemble is estimated to be upwards of $600 or $700.
This post will be updated with progress photos and other little tidbits that I may have forgotten. Any advice or critique is welcomed, as I wish to make this perfect. For the glory of the Fiendlord!
Current progress on the cape: http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ZephyrAnalea/CT/capeInsideOut.jpg?t=1307643814
I'm already working on the cape. I'm about halfway done with it, but I need the expert advice that can only be found here! For this project, I have to sew the wool to the velvet with the right sides together, then turn it inside out so nobody sees those ugly seams. Problem is, a part of it will have to be left open so I can actually turn it, then be sewn by hand. The wool and velvet are rather thick, so I will need a large-ish gap to pull everything through.
The options are a spot in front that will be covered up, but I'm afraid it will be too small for turning and the seam might break. I could also do a larger gap in the bottom hem, but this will leave a large, visible seam. It's possible to hide that seam with gold coloured satin blanket binding or trim, but the question is, is that Magus-y/Zealian enough?
After this part of the cape is turned and hemmed, I will make a mini capelet with tassels and a hood to wear on top for the Prophet part.
Once that is done, I should have enough of the blue wool left to make the cummerbund.
The next items on the list are the breastplate and codpiece. I've never worked with leather before, but I've done plenty of research. It will all have to be hand sewn.
The pants will be simple enough, just a poly-rayon blend linen-look fabric. I have yet to decide whether to go with a light lavender or a darker maroon.
For the amulet, I have a friend who works with metal. She has already agreed to help me make it.
The boots will take a while longer to find, as I'm no cordwainer. New Age or renaissance themed stores are bound to have something suitable. The metal bits on the shoes and pants leg can also be provided by my blacksmith friend - or, if that proves too impractical/painful, some sort of laminated aluminum. Gloves, if I can't make them out of the leather I have, will be obtained the same way.
The scythe will also be outsourced (I don't have a large enough lathe, nor sufficient woodworking skills). I already have a commission and payment plan set up with a propmaker to craft and mail it.
The red contact lenses and elf ears are a little on the expensive side, but easily obtainable.
The hair will be one of the harder parts, when it comes to the widow's peak. I can easily dye my hair, but I don't know if hairspray can work its magic this time. Research on wigs or hair styling will come later.
There will be other additions like a leather belt pouch or glass bottle (kind of like CuteLucca's fanart) for extra detail, if I have time.
Edit: And I just realized I forgot the earrings. There is a vendor at the local farmer's market who can make earrings out of crocodile fangs. I think those would be a good addition, rather than the generic triangles.
The whole ensemble is estimated to be upwards of $600 or $700.
This post will be updated with progress photos and other little tidbits that I may have forgotten. Any advice or critique is welcomed, as I wish to make this perfect. For the glory of the Fiendlord!
Current progress on the cape: http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ZephyrAnalea/CT/capeInsideOut.jpg?t=1307643814
2
General Discussion / Mythology
« on: April 13, 2010, 02:14:33 am »
As there are many intellectuals, historians, and artists here, I figured a discussion of mythology would be the best marriage of the three.
After reading the Sandman series, and noticing the similarities between this and certain video games, I realized just how rich the various bodies of mythology are. My interest had been piqued, so I took to studying Greek mythology, which most saturates our modern world. As expected, what I knew of Greek myths (especially what Disney has taught me) was completely wrong. I've studied quite a bit so far, but I know that I am missing quite a bit.
The point of this thread is to share resources for studying myths, legends, and poems (even modern ones), and hopefully to discuss our varied views one these subjects.
To get us started on the collection part of things, a few items of interest:
Theoi Greek Mythology, a very in-depth encyclopedia of the Greek gods. I have yet to explore it completely, but it's a great resource.
The River Styx. Nowhere near as professional as Theoi, but it contains nice summaries if Theoi proves tl;dr.
Homer's works, in various translations. I haven't read them yet, but they're on my list.
These are great beginning places, including a scan of google and wikipedia, and a trip to your local library.
Now that that's out of the way, the discussion part! I have a question for all of you, before you spoil your mind with the knowledge above:
What do you know of Hades, and what are your thoughts on the lord and his realms?
After reading the Sandman series, and noticing the similarities between this and certain video games, I realized just how rich the various bodies of mythology are. My interest had been piqued, so I took to studying Greek mythology, which most saturates our modern world. As expected, what I knew of Greek myths (especially what Disney has taught me) was completely wrong. I've studied quite a bit so far, but I know that I am missing quite a bit.
The point of this thread is to share resources for studying myths, legends, and poems (even modern ones), and hopefully to discuss our varied views one these subjects.
To get us started on the collection part of things, a few items of interest:
Theoi Greek Mythology, a very in-depth encyclopedia of the Greek gods. I have yet to explore it completely, but it's a great resource.
The River Styx. Nowhere near as professional as Theoi, but it contains nice summaries if Theoi proves tl;dr.
Homer's works, in various translations. I haven't read them yet, but they're on my list.
These are great beginning places, including a scan of google and wikipedia, and a trip to your local library.
Now that that's out of the way, the discussion part! I have a question for all of you, before you spoil your mind with the knowledge above:
What do you know of Hades, and what are your thoughts on the lord and his realms?
3
Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Magus' interior decorating skillz
« on: March 05, 2010, 02:34:27 am »
We just started our Intro to Level Design finals. I'm doing a castle, and decided to use one of Magus' windows as reference. While staring at a super zoomed-in image, I realized something. There are statues of women in the pillars that hold the curtain rod around the window, in the first room and in the room where you fight Ozzie. I had never noticed this before now.
The odd thing is, these are human women. Why would they be in the Mystic seat of power, when it's the Mystics' goal to eradicate humans? Did they build these to please Magus, or were they so frightened of him that they let him get away with whatever he wanted?
The odd thing is, these are human women. Why would they be in the Mystic seat of power, when it's the Mystics' goal to eradicate humans? Did they build these to please Magus, or were they so frightened of him that they let him get away with whatever he wanted?
4
Chrono Compendium Discussion / Odd Error
« on: December 20, 2009, 07:20:05 pm »
This only started a couple minutes ago, but whenever I go to any page of the forum, this error text shows up on the background of the page. Normally when I get an error like that, the rest of the page doesn't show up at all, but the whole forum is still accessible. It doesn't show up in the main site either, only the forum.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ZephyrAnalea/weirdError.png?t=1261351288
Also, after posting a new topic, came up with these errors:
Notice: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Server localhost (tcp 51058) failed with: Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Warning: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Can't connect to localhost:247666, Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Notice: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Server localhost (tcp 51058) failed with: Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Warning: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Can't connect to localhost:247666, Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Clicking the attachment name has a page of errors, too. Photobucketed the screenshot of the first error instead.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/ZephyrAnalea/weirdError.png?t=1261351288
Also, after posting a new topic, came up with these errors:
Notice: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Server localhost (tcp 51058) failed with: Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Warning: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Can't connect to localhost:247666, Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Notice: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Server localhost (tcp 51058) failed with: Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Warning: memcache_connect() [function.memcache-connect]: Can't connect to localhost:247666, Connection refused (111) in /home/ccuser/webapps/htdocs/Forums/Sources/Load.php on line 2194
Clicking the attachment name has a page of errors, too. Photobucketed the screenshot of the first error instead.
5
Welcome / Birthday / Seeya! Forum / HAPPY Z DAY
« on: August 02, 2009, 02:25:28 am »
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Z-MAN!
HERE'S TO ANOTHER YEAR OF HOT BLOODED PASSIONATE YOUTH!
Let' all drop down and dance and celebrate the birthday of our fearless leader! Thanks for being AWESOME and tirelessly beating this site into shape
HERE'S TO ANOTHER YEAR OF HOT BLOODED PASSIONATE YOUTH!
Let' all drop down and dance and celebrate the birthday of our fearless leader! Thanks for being AWESOME and tirelessly beating this site into shape
6
General Discussion / Fuck Sexism
« on: July 05, 2009, 03:52:44 am »I am pro life in most cases. I can understand abortions for the exteme cases such as if the mother had the baby, she would die.My frustration is people who think like this.
But if its just an irresponsible teenager who had an "accident", I don't give a shit and its your own damn fault.
If you don't have the money to support a baby, put it up for adoption.
What if the women was impregnated by rape?
What if she and the man were being perfectly safe, pills and condoms and whatever else, but it still failed?
What if the family didn't have enough money for a child, and the kid would grow up and suffer in squalor?
What if it happened to you before you were prepared to start your life, or before you were finished with school?
Is it fair to throw another unfortunate soul into an already overpopulated world? If you can't afford the child, the whole family, child included, will suffer. If you put it up for adoption, that's just more burden on an already strained economy.
And about that 'irresponsible girl in high school' scenario. She gets pregnant through an accident. Neither she nor her mate want the child, but thanks to reasoning in that quote, she isn't allowed to get an abortion. So, she suffers nine months of pain and sickness, then gives birth. From that point on her whole life is devoted to this unwanted child. She drops out of school to care for the kid and can't afford any further schooling. So, her career never kicks off. She mooches off her parents, her boyfriend, or asks the state for money. Her and her child just become another unnecessary drain on tax dollars that could be put to better use.
Now, if she DOES get the abortion, she is only out of commission for a couple of weeks. After she recovers from the swab she goes back to school, graduates, and possibly attends a college. She and the boy who got her pregnant the first time might end up getting married later on in life and, after both get a firm start in their careers, might decide to start a real family. By this time they are financially secure and comfortable in their relationship, so they will actually be able to care for their child.
I don't know about you, but if I wound up pregnant before I was able to actually give my child the good life it deserves, there is no way I would go through all nine months of a useless pregnancy.
7
Submissions / Magus banner - up for grabs
« on: July 01, 2009, 01:57:53 am »
Behold, Magus' eyes! And it only took one whole day 
It was made to be a signature banner. I don't want to switch out my Schala one yet, so it's up for grabs for use on this forum.
It was made to be a signature banner. I don't want to switch out my Schala one yet, so it's up for grabs for use on this forum.
8
Fan Art / Bean Comics
« on: June 03, 2009, 10:24:15 pm »
Bean Comics! The comic gets its own thread now because it actually has a plot and I don't want to take up all the room in CHRONO COMIX.
Here's page 8, with the appearance of an EPIC NEW CHARACTER! He has to introduce himself, then we get to revisit the Sword Mage.
Links to the rest of the series:
CHRONO COMIX--deviantArt
Page 1 Page 1
Pages 2 and 3 Page 2
Page 4 Page 3
Pages 5 and 6 Page 4
Page 7 Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Here's page 8, with the appearance of an EPIC NEW CHARACTER! He has to introduce himself, then we get to revisit the Sword Mage.
Links to the rest of the series:
CHRONO COMIX--deviantArt
Page 1 Page 1
Pages 2 and 3 Page 2
Page 4 Page 3
Pages 5 and 6 Page 4
Page 7 Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
9
Fan Art / Prophet Expansion WIP
« on: April 30, 2009, 03:07:07 am »
A while ago, V_Translanka, BROJ, Thought, Justin, and a few other people started work on an expansion of the Prophet's sprite sheet. Work on that project has since died, but I'm starting it again. Attached here are all the sprites collected from the last project, with my own additions and edits.
The palette being used is the same 15 colours used for Magus (12 colours for the sprite, 1 transparency, and 2 for the weapon).
Just a general reminder to all spriters out there; remember your palette! 12 is the number you are aiming for! When this sheet was compiled, it had 52 different colours. There were different palettes between each person that worked on this (and even multiple palettes for one person). So if anyone is working together on a sprite sheet, on any project, PLEASE remember to check your palettes!
The palette being used is the same 15 colours used for Magus (12 colours for the sprite, 1 transparency, and 2 for the weapon).
Just a general reminder to all spriters out there; remember your palette! 12 is the number you are aiming for! When this sheet was compiled, it had 52 different colours. There were different palettes between each person that worked on this (and even multiple palettes for one person). So if anyone is working together on a sprite sheet, on any project, PLEASE remember to check your palettes!
10
Polling / Who is better, Magil or Guile?
« on: April 06, 2009, 11:19:08 pm »
While they are both equally awesome, apparently there can only be one. Let the match begin!
(Take that, V!)
(Take that, V!)
11
Crimson Echoes Beta Testing / Zephira's playthrough
« on: April 03, 2009, 08:52:19 pm »
Here's my thoughts on the game, and any bugs or graphical/textual errors I find. I will update at the end of each day of play, or when I run into some major bug or error.
Prolouge:
Just Started the game, and I've been running around the world map, exploring the new areas. All of this was done before going to Guardia Castle, so Crono is the only member in my party.
Menu: Some of the window colour schemes look strange, especially number five. There is red in odd places. Number 3 is my favourite.
Leene Square: The judge sprite used for the pickle salesman needs to be recoloured. He blends in with the grass too much and doesn't fit the lighting in the area.
Telepod area: There is one strange tile just to the left of the entrance, and to the right of a tree. Screenshot attached.
Gallery of Heroes: The sprites used for the statues look odd. The faces need to be touched up.
The exit to this room is slightly hard to find. There is a wide opening in the trees at the bottom of the screen, but only half of it is the exit. Either
make the exit itself wider, or make the opening in the trees smaller.
Gato's Exhibit: There's a Tyranno head there. I assume this is to test a boss fight, since it kills you in one hit. Game continues after losing this battle, but Crono
does not get up after the battle. You can still walk/run, but there is no animation; just the 'dead body' sprite sliding around on the floor. Crono
stands again after leaving the room.
Medina: Positioning of Medina Ticket Office and the area where to Medina ferry dock meets the land look strange on overworld map. Touchup? Also, the Ferry that
runs between Medina and Choras cuts across the beach near Melchior's Hut. Route needs to be fixed.
Man that sends you to Truce stands pretty far away from the desk. When you stand in a certain spot you can still talk to him, but he doesn't stop to talk, he
just keeps walking. Text works though.
Choras:
Auction House: The "A(n) {item name}" thing bothers me. Is there a way to fix the code so that either "A" or "An" precedes the correct item, instead of
writing both out?
Cafe: Showstopper! Bug here. Spend the night at the inn. After Crono wakes up and walks to the foot of his bed, you can't move, access the menu, or
pause. No buttons work. The music is still playing, the NPCs still do their walk-in-place animation, but Crono is stuck at the foot of the bed, unresponsive.
JP NOTE: Attachment debugged
Prolouge:
Just Started the game, and I've been running around the world map, exploring the new areas. All of this was done before going to Guardia Castle, so Crono is the only member in my party.
Menu: Some of the window colour schemes look strange, especially number five. There is red in odd places. Number 3 is my favourite.
Leene Square: The judge sprite used for the pickle salesman needs to be recoloured. He blends in with the grass too much and doesn't fit the lighting in the area.
Telepod area: There is one strange tile just to the left of the entrance, and to the right of a tree. Screenshot attached.
Gallery of Heroes: The sprites used for the statues look odd. The faces need to be touched up.
The exit to this room is slightly hard to find. There is a wide opening in the trees at the bottom of the screen, but only half of it is the exit. Either
make the exit itself wider, or make the opening in the trees smaller.
Gato's Exhibit: There's a Tyranno head there. I assume this is to test a boss fight, since it kills you in one hit. Game continues after losing this battle, but Crono
does not get up after the battle. You can still walk/run, but there is no animation; just the 'dead body' sprite sliding around on the floor. Crono
stands again after leaving the room.
Medina: Positioning of Medina Ticket Office and the area where to Medina ferry dock meets the land look strange on overworld map. Touchup? Also, the Ferry that
runs between Medina and Choras cuts across the beach near Melchior's Hut. Route needs to be fixed.
Man that sends you to Truce stands pretty far away from the desk. When you stand in a certain spot you can still talk to him, but he doesn't stop to talk, he
just keeps walking. Text works though.
Choras:
Auction House: The "A(n) {item name}" thing bothers me. Is there a way to fix the code so that either "A" or "An" precedes the correct item, instead of
writing both out?
Cafe: Showstopper! Bug here. Spend the night at the inn. After Crono wakes up and walks to the foot of his bed, you can't move, access the menu, or
pause. No buttons work. The music is still playing, the NPCs still do their walk-in-place animation, but Crono is stuck at the foot of the bed, unresponsive.
JP NOTE: Attachment debugged
12
Characters, Plot, and Themes / Does Guile have a drinking problem?
« on: March 30, 2009, 07:27:10 pm »
I haven't played much of Chrono Cross, but I have played enough to see that whenever Guile is not with Serge, he's at the bar. All we really know about Guile is that he is in the Magic Guild, he's in his twenties, he comes from Zenan, and he likes mysteries. He seems to polite to be a drunkard, but unless the Magic Guild has a secret commune in the bar, there has to be some other reason for him to spend all his time there. Any thoughts?
13
Submissions / He's a magic maaaan
« on: January 10, 2009, 04:28:32 am »
Thirteen hours of painting in photoshop.
He's watching you...
He's watching you...
14
Welcome / Birthday / Seeya! Forum / Late to being new
« on: January 08, 2009, 01:01:00 am »
Well I joined a few weeks ago, but just now found the welcome forum. Oh well!
So I guess an introduction is in order... I'm eighteen and going to college for animation and game design, and I live in the wonderfully wet Washington.
Chrono Trigger is the first rpg that I can actually remember playing, back when WebTV was a big thing.
I draw and I paint, but I've never done any good CT art. I like to write as well, especially anything dealing with imagery. I'm also pretty fast at picking up new programs, so I'm teaching myself Temporal Flux (bit hard without any good tutorials, but oh well.) Give it a few months and I'll be able to contribute some fun nonsense mods!
Seeing as how the school quarter just started, I probably won't post too terribly much, but I'll try to stick around. Anyway, nice to meet you all, great to see such an active community for such a great game!
So I guess an introduction is in order... I'm eighteen and going to college for animation and game design, and I live in the wonderfully wet Washington.
Chrono Trigger is the first rpg that I can actually remember playing, back when WebTV was a big thing.
I draw and I paint, but I've never done any good CT art. I like to write as well, especially anything dealing with imagery. I'm also pretty fast at picking up new programs, so I'm teaching myself Temporal Flux (bit hard without any good tutorials, but oh well.) Give it a few months and I'll be able to contribute some fun nonsense mods!
Seeing as how the school quarter just started, I probably won't post too terribly much, but I'll try to stick around. Anyway, nice to meet you all, great to see such an active community for such a great game!
15
Submissions / The Cats Came Back - a prologue
« on: December 27, 2008, 06:09:05 am »
Well this started out as the script for a rom hack/spinoff sequel I wanted to do, but I don't even know how to download Temporal Flux, so it turned into this. The sequel was supposed to be humurous and slightly out of character, ignoring Chrono Cross, and taking off right after the credits of the 'best ending' Moonlight Parade.
Contains mild swearing.
---
The forests, mountains, and all the patchwork farms of the land were a distorted blur, green and brown chasms stretching for eternity, dark spires reaching up to tear at the sky. The chill night wind roared beneath the great Wings of Time as they scoured the earth and the heavens.
"Crono, let's just go home... We've been searching for a month already!" Whether or not it had actually been a month is debatable. Their search had spanned millions of years, though you could say the three travelers only experienced one biological month, disconnected from the flow of time completely. "We'll get lost too if we don't go home soon!" The young woman's voice was barely audible over the shrill whine of the machine's overtaxed engines.
"No, we have to keep searching! This is my mom we're talking about!" the flaming haired boy, Crono, responded, his voice desperate and hoarse from worry.
"Crono, Marle's right. The Epoch can't take much more of this," the third wayward time-traveller, a smart looking girl called Lucca, said. "We'll never find Jina if the Epoch breaks down in the Dark Ages." Lucca and Crono had been friends since childhood, and her learned opinion meant more to him than any other. What seemed to be an eon of silence (and indeed it had been many years, as the Epoch had just performed another time jump) passed as he considered his companions' words.
"...Alright. We'll go home and rest." Crono finally responded, despondent.
"Yes!" Marle - the first to have spoken, a blonde princess and Crono's girlfriend - exclaimed. "1000 AG, here we come!"
"Don't worry too much about it Crono. We can rest at my place, and maybe come up with a new search plan," Lucca crowed, trying to soothe her friend. She cared for Crono as if he were a brother, she couldn't bear to see him hurting so. Only a month ago, or 2200 years in the future, Crono, Lucca and Marle had returned victorious from a battle for the fate of the world, and time itself. Just as they were saying saying farewell to the warriors who had accompanied them on this journey, Crono's mother fell into a Time Gate and disappeared.
As if this weren't bad enough, all twelve of Crono's pet cats were lost as well. The three time travellers had searched through every era they could think of, from the dawn of time to the brink of apocalypse, without any luck at all.
The frozen peaks of the Ice Age melted together, streaking past and stretching forward in a multicolored swirl as the Epoch jumped through time. Lucca's insides writhed, attempting to imitate the mountains outside. Time travel always made her queasy. After what seemed like an eternity, or maybe only a few seconds, the world around them settled back into a familiar setting. Lush forests and verdant fields, framed by warm mountains and fluffy white clouds. The era of origin for Lucca and her two friends.
"4:15 Post Meridiem, Day 7, First Moonth of the Winter Season, 1000th Guardian Year," chimed the computer inside the Epoch's cockpit with the frail voice of an old man.
'It's strange...' Lucca thought, 'My eighteenth birthday is in a week, and I'm already twenty. But of course, two years’ existence outside the normal flow of time will do that to a person. Should've taken a cue from Magus and just stopped counting...' There was a slight bump, and her reverie was interrupted. Crono landed the Epoch on Ashtear Island, right outside Lucca's house. The roof of the Epoch hissed open and a stairway unfurled toward the ground. Lucca and Marle clambered eagerly out, followed by a more somber Crono.
“C’mon guys, I smell something cooking!” Marle called, rushing ahead of the others. Lucca stalled, looking to Crono.
“Hey, are you feeling alright?” She asked, concern painting her face. “You don’t look so hot.”
“Yeah, I guess… I’m just worr-“
“KYAH!!”
THUNK!
Crono and Lucca both whipped around, searching for the source of the interruption. To no one’s amazement, and perhaps everyone’s relief, they found it was only Marle, sprawled over a large hunk of metal.
What appeared to be a beautifully tended and innocent yard from a mile above turned out to be quite the opposite. Weeds sprouted from every inch of dirt, and the grass had not been trimmed in ages. Many twisted, unidentifiable pieces of metal and machinery littered the yard, hidden in the overgrowth or framed by burnt patches of lawn. Poor Marle had stumbled upon the remnants of another abandoned Ashtear creation.
“Aah, it’s good to be home!” The young inventor laughed.
It took nearly fifteen minutes to calm the hysterical princess and help her to her feet, but the three finally managed to make it into Lucca’s house. The inside was in the same state of disarray as the yard. The majority of the floor was covered by pipes, wires and discarded books, and the far wall was dominated by a giant machine of some unknown purpose. The smell of smoke and motor oil permeated the house, tinged only slightly with the aroma of bacon.
“Really, I can’t thank you enough Madame Lara. You have been so kind.”
“It’s no problem, Schala dear! I’m just happy to have guests at all! Lucca never brings her friends around.” The voices of two women drifted out of the kitchen, muffled by the hall door.
“Sounds like your mom’s finally got some friends of her own. Now she can stop pestering us!” Marle said cheerily. She dropped her bag on a pile of books, displacing a stack of papers that fluttered to the floor.
“At least you have a mom…”
“Oh, lay off it Crono,” Lucca chided. “We’ll find her soon enough. We just need to get some good rest to get our heads straight, then set up a grid system to more thoroughly search the…” She stopped mid-speech, a hint of horror creeping into her face. “Waitwaitwait, did she just say ‘Schala’?”
Crono nodded. “Yeah. Who’s that?” Lucca just rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Don’t you remember a thing about our time in Zeal? You know, Princess Schala, daughter of the crazy queen that tried to kill us, should have died in the Ocean Palace… Any of this ring a bell to you?”
Apprehension finally dawned on Crono. “Ohhhh, THAT Schala!”
“Schala’s here? Then doesn’t that mean…” Marle trailed off, not wanting to voice her fears. She looked from Crono to Lucca, hoping either would tell her otherwise.
As if on cue, all three bolted into the hall and fought to reach the kitchen. The door fell open and the bodies tumbled onto the kitchen floor.
“Lucca, there you are!” Lara called from the table. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?”
“Wh-what?!”
“Why, he told me all about it. He even came here looking for you!”
“Hello, honey,” a gravelly voice drawled above her. Lucca, who was pinned between a wall, someone’s chest and four legs, could only stare incredulously, her worst fears confirmed.
‘He’ was a tall man of about twenty-three years. He had pale, sallow skin stretched across a thin and well muscled frame. His greasy blue hair fell to his waist, his face framing a plunging widow’s peak. His eyes were a fiery red with a piercing glare; his ears long and pointed, his grin revealed a row of sharp fangs. A flowing blue cloak concealed a battered set of leather body armor, over purple silk pants. He smelled faintly of ash and blood and incense. Everything about this man screamed evil. He was the most hated man in history, the last person Lucca ever wanted to see again.
And he was standing in her kitchen.
“Lucca, what’s wrong with you?” Lara chided. “Honestly, I don’t see how you can be so shy about such a handsome young man!”
Lucca balked. This was ridiculous! “But he’s not…” she stopped, catching sight of the death glare coming from the warlock in front of her.
“Not what?” Lara asked.
“Not, er… not missing!” Lucca quickly amended. “Yeah, we got separated after the Moonlight Parade. But now that he's found his way back, I'd like to speak with him - in private." She shot her own glare back at her ‘boyfriend’.
“Oh, of course!” She bought it. Close call. “You two behave now! Schala, be a dear and help me peel some potatoes.”
Crono and Marle hastily untangled themselves and peeled Lucca off the floor. The three hurried out of the kitchen. The blue man followed with a wave of his cape, leaving his sister to tend to dinner with Lara.
“Magus, what the HELL is wrong with you?!” Lucca shrieked once out of earshot of her mother.
“Apparently a lot, considering the lengths I’ve gone to here,” the warlock huffed, looking none too pleased with the situation.
Not what Lucca wanted to hear. She pulled out her gun and pointed wildly. “Just what is that supposed to mean? And why did you lie to my parents!”
“Put that thing away, woman!” Magus made a swipe for the weapon and missed, only managing to find a handful of breast. “Oh, shi-“
Lucca floundered, completely taken aback. “You perverted freak!” She tackled Magus to the ground in rage, pinning his arms with her knees. “You. Explain. NOW.”
“I had no choice!” Magus sputtered, trying to appease the angry woman on top of him. “Schala is sick and needs a place to stay, and this is the only family I could find that wouldn’t attack me on sight. I would have preferred the company of Miss Jina, but she was not home,” he snarled in what he thought was his most sincere tone.
Lucca, however, was not convinced. “Why I oughtta…” Unable to find an appropriate threat, she settled instead for a simple fire spell.
“Lucca, don’t!” Crono cried and yanked Lucca away before she could roast the unlucky mage, putting as much distance between the two as possible. Magus climbed to his feet and dusted his cape off, shooting a venomous glare at the two of them.
“So, uh, you found Schala?” Marle asked timidly in an attempt to break the tension.
“Well duh, she’s peeling potatoes in my kitchen…” Lucca snorted.
Marle ignored her. “How? I thought she got lost in time…”
“Hmph, of course she did.” Magus growled, “And what do you do when someone gets lost?”
“Umm… Ask for help?”
The mage smacked his forehead and sighed. Just as he opened his mouth to scold her, Lucca came to the rescue. “You look for them?”
“Exactly,” Magus turned to sweep out of the room, but was interrupted by Crono yanking on his cape.
“Wait! I like Marle’s idea. Magus, if you tracked Schala down, you could help us find my mom!” The younger boy exclaimed, hopping with excitement.
Magus watched him bounce, getting slightly dizzy. “Aaand why would I want to do that?”
“Baby brother? Baby brother, where are you?” A lilted voice wafted from the kitchen, followed closely by the ethereal beauty that is Magus’ sister. “Janus, there you are!” Despite the beauty and poise constantly about her, Schala looked frail and sickly. She examined the room, looking from Crono to Marle, to Lucca. “So, these are your friends?”
“Well,” Magus began, but was again interrupted.
Lucca, hearing opportunity knocking, jumped straight in. “Why yes, we're his friends,” she said in the most sickeningly sweet voice she could muster. “Your baby brother is such the nicest man. In fact, he was just offering to help us find Crono's missing mother!”
“I was no-“
“Oh Janus, that’s so kind of you!” Schala beamed. “But of course, you would know what it’s like to lose family, after what happened to us…”
“But Schala, I’m not-“
“Oh yes, he’s so thoughtful!” Marle giggled, catching on.
“We really should be going, if we want to find Jina before something bad happens to her,” Lucca crooned, the perfect image of concern.
Schala nodded. “Yes, a wise idea. Good luck, baby brother!” She threw her arms around Magus and kissed the older man on the cheek, before sweeping back into the kitchen.
“…I hate you. Just thought you ought to know.” Magus grumbled, accepting defeat. Lucca could only laugh, with much more malice than should be allowed.
----
This is the script/story so far. From here, our four heroes will go on a grand adventure to search for Crono's Mom and all twelve cats (which is conveniently not written yet).
Contains mild swearing.
---
The forests, mountains, and all the patchwork farms of the land were a distorted blur, green and brown chasms stretching for eternity, dark spires reaching up to tear at the sky. The chill night wind roared beneath the great Wings of Time as they scoured the earth and the heavens.
"Crono, let's just go home... We've been searching for a month already!" Whether or not it had actually been a month is debatable. Their search had spanned millions of years, though you could say the three travelers only experienced one biological month, disconnected from the flow of time completely. "We'll get lost too if we don't go home soon!" The young woman's voice was barely audible over the shrill whine of the machine's overtaxed engines.
"No, we have to keep searching! This is my mom we're talking about!" the flaming haired boy, Crono, responded, his voice desperate and hoarse from worry.
"Crono, Marle's right. The Epoch can't take much more of this," the third wayward time-traveller, a smart looking girl called Lucca, said. "We'll never find Jina if the Epoch breaks down in the Dark Ages." Lucca and Crono had been friends since childhood, and her learned opinion meant more to him than any other. What seemed to be an eon of silence (and indeed it had been many years, as the Epoch had just performed another time jump) passed as he considered his companions' words.
"...Alright. We'll go home and rest." Crono finally responded, despondent.
"Yes!" Marle - the first to have spoken, a blonde princess and Crono's girlfriend - exclaimed. "1000 AG, here we come!"
"Don't worry too much about it Crono. We can rest at my place, and maybe come up with a new search plan," Lucca crowed, trying to soothe her friend. She cared for Crono as if he were a brother, she couldn't bear to see him hurting so. Only a month ago, or 2200 years in the future, Crono, Lucca and Marle had returned victorious from a battle for the fate of the world, and time itself. Just as they were saying saying farewell to the warriors who had accompanied them on this journey, Crono's mother fell into a Time Gate and disappeared.
As if this weren't bad enough, all twelve of Crono's pet cats were lost as well. The three time travellers had searched through every era they could think of, from the dawn of time to the brink of apocalypse, without any luck at all.
The frozen peaks of the Ice Age melted together, streaking past and stretching forward in a multicolored swirl as the Epoch jumped through time. Lucca's insides writhed, attempting to imitate the mountains outside. Time travel always made her queasy. After what seemed like an eternity, or maybe only a few seconds, the world around them settled back into a familiar setting. Lush forests and verdant fields, framed by warm mountains and fluffy white clouds. The era of origin for Lucca and her two friends.
"4:15 Post Meridiem, Day 7, First Moonth of the Winter Season, 1000th Guardian Year," chimed the computer inside the Epoch's cockpit with the frail voice of an old man.
'It's strange...' Lucca thought, 'My eighteenth birthday is in a week, and I'm already twenty. But of course, two years’ existence outside the normal flow of time will do that to a person. Should've taken a cue from Magus and just stopped counting...' There was a slight bump, and her reverie was interrupted. Crono landed the Epoch on Ashtear Island, right outside Lucca's house. The roof of the Epoch hissed open and a stairway unfurled toward the ground. Lucca and Marle clambered eagerly out, followed by a more somber Crono.
“C’mon guys, I smell something cooking!” Marle called, rushing ahead of the others. Lucca stalled, looking to Crono.
“Hey, are you feeling alright?” She asked, concern painting her face. “You don’t look so hot.”
“Yeah, I guess… I’m just worr-“
“KYAH!!”
THUNK!
Crono and Lucca both whipped around, searching for the source of the interruption. To no one’s amazement, and perhaps everyone’s relief, they found it was only Marle, sprawled over a large hunk of metal.
What appeared to be a beautifully tended and innocent yard from a mile above turned out to be quite the opposite. Weeds sprouted from every inch of dirt, and the grass had not been trimmed in ages. Many twisted, unidentifiable pieces of metal and machinery littered the yard, hidden in the overgrowth or framed by burnt patches of lawn. Poor Marle had stumbled upon the remnants of another abandoned Ashtear creation.
“Aah, it’s good to be home!” The young inventor laughed.
It took nearly fifteen minutes to calm the hysterical princess and help her to her feet, but the three finally managed to make it into Lucca’s house. The inside was in the same state of disarray as the yard. The majority of the floor was covered by pipes, wires and discarded books, and the far wall was dominated by a giant machine of some unknown purpose. The smell of smoke and motor oil permeated the house, tinged only slightly with the aroma of bacon.
“Really, I can’t thank you enough Madame Lara. You have been so kind.”
“It’s no problem, Schala dear! I’m just happy to have guests at all! Lucca never brings her friends around.” The voices of two women drifted out of the kitchen, muffled by the hall door.
“Sounds like your mom’s finally got some friends of her own. Now she can stop pestering us!” Marle said cheerily. She dropped her bag on a pile of books, displacing a stack of papers that fluttered to the floor.
“At least you have a mom…”
“Oh, lay off it Crono,” Lucca chided. “We’ll find her soon enough. We just need to get some good rest to get our heads straight, then set up a grid system to more thoroughly search the…” She stopped mid-speech, a hint of horror creeping into her face. “Waitwaitwait, did she just say ‘Schala’?”
Crono nodded. “Yeah. Who’s that?” Lucca just rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Don’t you remember a thing about our time in Zeal? You know, Princess Schala, daughter of the crazy queen that tried to kill us, should have died in the Ocean Palace… Any of this ring a bell to you?”
Apprehension finally dawned on Crono. “Ohhhh, THAT Schala!”
“Schala’s here? Then doesn’t that mean…” Marle trailed off, not wanting to voice her fears. She looked from Crono to Lucca, hoping either would tell her otherwise.
As if on cue, all three bolted into the hall and fought to reach the kitchen. The door fell open and the bodies tumbled onto the kitchen floor.
“Lucca, there you are!” Lara called from the table. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?”
“Wh-what?!”
“Why, he told me all about it. He even came here looking for you!”
“Hello, honey,” a gravelly voice drawled above her. Lucca, who was pinned between a wall, someone’s chest and four legs, could only stare incredulously, her worst fears confirmed.
‘He’ was a tall man of about twenty-three years. He had pale, sallow skin stretched across a thin and well muscled frame. His greasy blue hair fell to his waist, his face framing a plunging widow’s peak. His eyes were a fiery red with a piercing glare; his ears long and pointed, his grin revealed a row of sharp fangs. A flowing blue cloak concealed a battered set of leather body armor, over purple silk pants. He smelled faintly of ash and blood and incense. Everything about this man screamed evil. He was the most hated man in history, the last person Lucca ever wanted to see again.
And he was standing in her kitchen.
“Lucca, what’s wrong with you?” Lara chided. “Honestly, I don’t see how you can be so shy about such a handsome young man!”
Lucca balked. This was ridiculous! “But he’s not…” she stopped, catching sight of the death glare coming from the warlock in front of her.
“Not what?” Lara asked.
“Not, er… not missing!” Lucca quickly amended. “Yeah, we got separated after the Moonlight Parade. But now that he's found his way back, I'd like to speak with him - in private." She shot her own glare back at her ‘boyfriend’.
“Oh, of course!” She bought it. Close call. “You two behave now! Schala, be a dear and help me peel some potatoes.”
Crono and Marle hastily untangled themselves and peeled Lucca off the floor. The three hurried out of the kitchen. The blue man followed with a wave of his cape, leaving his sister to tend to dinner with Lara.
“Magus, what the HELL is wrong with you?!” Lucca shrieked once out of earshot of her mother.
“Apparently a lot, considering the lengths I’ve gone to here,” the warlock huffed, looking none too pleased with the situation.
Not what Lucca wanted to hear. She pulled out her gun and pointed wildly. “Just what is that supposed to mean? And why did you lie to my parents!”
“Put that thing away, woman!” Magus made a swipe for the weapon and missed, only managing to find a handful of breast. “Oh, shi-“
Lucca floundered, completely taken aback. “You perverted freak!” She tackled Magus to the ground in rage, pinning his arms with her knees. “You. Explain. NOW.”
“I had no choice!” Magus sputtered, trying to appease the angry woman on top of him. “Schala is sick and needs a place to stay, and this is the only family I could find that wouldn’t attack me on sight. I would have preferred the company of Miss Jina, but she was not home,” he snarled in what he thought was his most sincere tone.
Lucca, however, was not convinced. “Why I oughtta…” Unable to find an appropriate threat, she settled instead for a simple fire spell.
“Lucca, don’t!” Crono cried and yanked Lucca away before she could roast the unlucky mage, putting as much distance between the two as possible. Magus climbed to his feet and dusted his cape off, shooting a venomous glare at the two of them.
“So, uh, you found Schala?” Marle asked timidly in an attempt to break the tension.
“Well duh, she’s peeling potatoes in my kitchen…” Lucca snorted.
Marle ignored her. “How? I thought she got lost in time…”
“Hmph, of course she did.” Magus growled, “And what do you do when someone gets lost?”
“Umm… Ask for help?”
The mage smacked his forehead and sighed. Just as he opened his mouth to scold her, Lucca came to the rescue. “You look for them?”
“Exactly,” Magus turned to sweep out of the room, but was interrupted by Crono yanking on his cape.
“Wait! I like Marle’s idea. Magus, if you tracked Schala down, you could help us find my mom!” The younger boy exclaimed, hopping with excitement.
Magus watched him bounce, getting slightly dizzy. “Aaand why would I want to do that?”
“Baby brother? Baby brother, where are you?” A lilted voice wafted from the kitchen, followed closely by the ethereal beauty that is Magus’ sister. “Janus, there you are!” Despite the beauty and poise constantly about her, Schala looked frail and sickly. She examined the room, looking from Crono to Marle, to Lucca. “So, these are your friends?”
“Well,” Magus began, but was again interrupted.
Lucca, hearing opportunity knocking, jumped straight in. “Why yes, we're his friends,” she said in the most sickeningly sweet voice she could muster. “Your baby brother is such the nicest man. In fact, he was just offering to help us find Crono's missing mother!”
“I was no-“
“Oh Janus, that’s so kind of you!” Schala beamed. “But of course, you would know what it’s like to lose family, after what happened to us…”
“But Schala, I’m not-“
“Oh yes, he’s so thoughtful!” Marle giggled, catching on.
“We really should be going, if we want to find Jina before something bad happens to her,” Lucca crooned, the perfect image of concern.
Schala nodded. “Yes, a wise idea. Good luck, baby brother!” She threw her arms around Magus and kissed the older man on the cheek, before sweeping back into the kitchen.
“…I hate you. Just thought you ought to know.” Magus grumbled, accepting defeat. Lucca could only laugh, with much more malice than should be allowed.
----
This is the script/story so far. From here, our four heroes will go on a grand adventure to search for Crono's Mom and all twelve cats (which is conveniently not written yet).
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