Ko’lel Theorycrafting

I’ve been following the development of Super Fantasy Brawl. If you’ve stopped by over the last couple of weeks you may have noticed.

One of the things I love about fantasy worlds and stories is the theorycrafting. The conversations that come up about the characters, storylines, and the possibilities. My brother and I will spend hours discussing the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes.

Where I run into a stumbling block with Super Fantasy Brawl in regards to this is that none of my immediate friends are into the game and the world; I’m working on it. This gives me no one to talk to. The other hurdle is that there isn’t a lot of it available yet.

However, I’m a lunatic and wanted to take a crack at one of these bits of lore I sort of stumbled into. I’m going to start with a little history for people who aren’t up on this stuff and to set a baseline of what I know.

Image from Super Fantasy Brawl from Mythic Games

This is a very basic overview. Fabulosa is a world of magic and peace. People gathered and discussed the heroes of old. Then as people do they began to argue over who was the best. In order to put long arguments to rest champions are summoned from throughout time and sent to an arena to fight in teams of three. This is the Super Brawl.

The winners of the Super Brawl will get a wish granted. Each of the revealed champions fighting in the arena have been recruited and pulled from the different points in their lives to fight one another. They’ve all agreed to this.

As players we don’t know how they will decide who wins the tournament for story purposes. I suspect that if they hold a grand championship at some point the team used to win the event will be the team that wins season one. These heroes will get their wishes granted and get to remember what happened.

For the purposes of this theory I’m going to suggest what if Ko’lel is one of the winners.

This theory started when Stu and Az were having a match on a livestream during the Kickstarter Campaign. I made the comment in chat that Ko’lel’s back story made her essentially the gnomish John Wick. The two of them stopped playing to discuss whether or not this was true and what it meant for the character. One of the things that came up was the question, “if she was John Wick then who would kill To’paque, her chameleaptor.”

The general train of thought came down to it would either be the Fabulosa equivalent of the Russian Mob, some type of bear, or the Moontouched, werewolves her people were at war with. After they got to this point they got back on track and resumed playing the game. This sparked a question in me. It also gave me the final piece of my theory.  

During the war with the Moontouched the Yunkayan Forest was destroyed and Ko’lel’s people scattered. Her wish is to see her forest saved and her people restored. So, if she wins and gets her lands and people restored then that’s where the problem comes in at.

If they go with the John Wick comparison and kill To’paque it has to be one of her own people that does it. Most likely the son of a chieftain or other tribal leader. Then when she goes to demand reparations, trial by combat, justice, or whatever method of vindication her people use the killer’s father will try and stop her. Most likely by hiding their child and ordering Ko’lel killed.

This will start the downward spiral of death, murder, and revenge that will eventually lead to Ko’lel doing what she’s really good at. I honestly think the last thing that will happen in this is that she’ll be standing on a hill watching a major city burn. A city that had once been a cultural center. It will be on fire, people will be panicked, terrified, and broken. Worst of all it will have been her actions that caused the destruction.

In the span of a few days she’ll have done the thing the moontouched army couldn’t succeed at. She’ll have completely destroyed her people. I think in that moment with full knowledge of what she had to do to save the forest and her people; all of the fighting and work she did to succeed. In that moment she’ll close her eyes and ask to go back to the arena. She’ll ask to go back to the fight.

And they’ll take her because now she’s a different legend. Before she rode into battle on To’paque and they were a team. Now she fights alone and the question becomes is she still champion material without her friend. I think they’ll take her back and offer her a second wish. I’m just not sure if she’ll ask to save her people again, save To’paque, or be allowed to face the chieftain’s son in combat.

I accept that this story is horribly tragic and the definition of be careful what you wish for. I really hope I’m wrong and she doesn’t have this chain of events happen. However, I also hope I’m right, because a good bit of tragedy makes for the best heroes.

Luke had to lose his hand to find his father. The fellowship had to fail in getting Frodo to Mount Doom in order to all be in the right place to defeat Sauron. Thomas and Martha Wayne had to die for there to be a Batman. Does that mean that Yunkayan has to burn for Ko’lel to learn what’s really important in life? I don’t know.

I can’t wait to find out, though.

Prey for the Hunters

I'm very inspired by this universe and can't wait to learn more about its lore. I honestly have a question I'll probably fire off over the next couple of days just to see what folks think. Anyway, I'm not sure if these characters have ever met but I thought this would be a fun way to have them run into one another.

Hopefully it's at least possible. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Image from Super Fantasy Brawl by Mythic Games. 

Night was falling. Deryn swore. Her prey would be harder to follow in the dark. There would be no moon this evening. It would make finding her quarry nearly impossible.

After four days she was nearly on him. He must be close the tale tell foot prints were getting deeper. The mud was fresher. Not having dried from lengthy exposure to the air. She’d guessed she was near his location.

*Snap*

Deryn crouched down and side stepped into the heavy foliage next to the path. She kept her movements small and precise so as not to draw attention. She moved her bow down from her back and made sure the load was secure. Her eyes never stopped scanning the forest. Looking for any sign of him.

It was a small bit of color; a blue scarf. She could see the end of it past some leaves. She watched it to make sure it was her target. Even with her attention drawn to the scarf it wasn’t her sole focus. She let her gaze move back and forth across the trees. She strained her hearing for the sounds of ambush.  The scarf could be a trap.

She caught a blur of movement off to one side. Not a trap. A diversion. She pivoted in place, raised her bow, and took aim at the retreating shape through the trees.

A cloud of ravens exploded from the underbrush; blocking her view.

“Stay your hand hunter!” the voice was hollow and echoed slightly in the night. A thick mist rolled in around her. It blocked her view in all directions. The cries of the crows made it impossible to hear the retreating footfalls of her prey.

She shifted her balance to the balls of her feet so she could move in any direction at a moment’s notice. The better to avoid an incoming attack from any direction.

The mist in front of her parted and a form poured from the dusky woods. He was tall and gaunt. He wore dark robes covered in black feathers. A dark fog flowed from beneath his robe clinging to the ground and making the terrain hard to discern.

“I have no desire to fight you, Deryn.” The shades voice was deep and booming; with the finality of tombstones.

“You stand between me and my quarry,” said Deryn. “If your words are true, you’ll move and let me pass.”

“Normally I would stop the preying of one person on a weaker target,” said the shade. He made no move to let her leave. “You’re reputation as a good and noble person has reached even my ears here in the deep woods. So tell me. Why do you hunt this man?”

“He’s a monster,” said Deryn. “He murdered a family. He killed them in cold blood. He fled into the night. And right now, you’re letting him escape justice.”

“He is in my woods,” said the shade. “Lost in my mist and fog. He’ll not wander far. But tell me, are you sure?” asked the shade. “I sense neither evil nor malice in his heart. Had he committed the acts as you say, it would have stained him in some way. I would know.”

“There were witness.”

“Still,” said the shade. “I sense no darkness in him.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Am I?”

* * *

Androth stumbled over a tree root. He was moving in a straight line. He was certain of it. He was also certain he’d passed that same tree three times. He stopped and leaned against a tall oak. There must be a way out of this damned fog.

The mist parted and the shade, Nevamor, rose up before him. “Murderer!” shouted Nevamor, his voice booming through the trees.

“No,” cried Androth backing away from the shade. “I didn’t do it.”

“Lies.”

Androth turned and fled into the woods. Branches tearing at his clothes and hair.

The fog before him parted and Nevamor appeared in his path.

Androth screamed, turned, and ran at an angle to escape the shade. He tripped on a root. Slamming down on the ground he crawled. His fingers digging into the soft dirt as he tried to pull himself forward.

The mist parted again and Nevamor stood before him.

“Cease your flight and face justice.”

Deep tears welled in his eyes digging tracks through dirt caked to his face. “Why is this happening to me?”

“The family,” said Nevamore. “The lives you took. Repent now and perhaps I shall find mercy.”

“I didn’t do anything,” said Androth. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

“Do not lie to me.” Nevamor rose higher in the air looming over the broken man before him. “Confess your crime. Tell me of the family.”

“It wasn’t me,” said Androth. “I saw it though. Four men. Large men. Dressed in fancy clothes. They stood over those people with bloody weapons and bottles of wine. I ran. I shouldn’t of run. I should have found the magistrate. But I’m a coward. I just left. I was afraid of what they would do to me. Then that woman came for me in the night. She’s out there now.” Androth’s words fell away replaced by deep sobs. “I suppose I am guilty. I guess I do deserve her justice. I should have tried to help.”

The mist parted revealing Deryn standing a few meters from Androth.

“Are you satisfied?” asked Nevamor.

“Yes.”

“Do you know the men he described?”

“They were the witnesses.” Deryn turned back the way she had come. It would be a couple days walk to get back to the village. It shouldn’t be too hard to find those men. She turned and took a step towards her new goal. She stopped. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve this.” Then she stepped into the deep woods and was gone.

It took several minutes but Nevamor waited for Androth to compose himself. He kept looking in the direction that Deryn had walked as if expecting her to change her mind and return.

“What do I do now?”

“There’s a druid enclave to the west of here,” said Nevamor. “I shall guide you to them. They will care for you until you’re able to do so yourself.”

Nevamor reached out a hand and helped Androth to his feet. He turned and began floating into the woods. Androth followed a few feet behind. After a couple of minutes a skeletal crow dropped a blue scarf on Androth’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

If you're interested in the games lore and characters check out the Super Fantasy Brawl Facebook page.

A Clever Girl

Listening to the lore discussions this week on YouTube I was inspired to write another story. I wanted to focus on one of the other characters I really like, Ko'lel. I'm loving the lore that keeps coming out about the game and can't wait to see all they have planned.

Image from Super Fantasy Brawl by Mythic Games. 

To’paque raised his head and growled. Ko’lel paused and began gathering her weapons. She knew not to doubt To’paque’s senses. Even if she hadn’t detected anything the raptor’s senses were much more finely honed than her own.

She slid the saddle on To’paque’s back making sure to tighten the straps just enough. She grabbed her blowgun and slid it into the holster across her back; giving it a slight tug to make sure it would come free when needed. She tied the quiver of poison needles to her belt within easy reach of a quick grab and load.

 There was a noise from somewhere else in the ruins. She paused and listened to try and detect which side of the old temple her quarry was now. It took a long moment by she heard another noise. Someone had stepped on one of the piles of dried leaves she’d left scattered about the area. It sounded like they were in the western part of the temple.

Ko’lel scratched To’paque’s chin as she moved to climb on his back. “How many do you think there are old friend?” Firmly mounted in saddle she clicked her tongue. To’paque shifted his stance becoming more aggressive. After a half a breath he lunged forward, jumped up onto some vines, hopped past a patch of large jungle blooms, and vanished through a hole in the ceiling.

To’paque moved across the ruins using crumbling walls and branches to follow a nearly impossible route. The few times they were forced to the ground to move from one area to another would only leave tracks the invaders could hardly follow. It didn’t take long before the pair had found their quarry.

A group of Moontouched had entered the ruins. The group was large, thirty warriors. They had fanned out into one of the larger rooms; an old prayer center.

To’paque and Ko’lel dropped gently on top of an old statue that had once stood thirty feet high with outstretched arms that reached across the room. Now it was a crumbling reminder of a better time. The pair hunched down and used the statues head to hide their presence. Ko’lel wanted to learn who she was up against.

The Moontouched moved with precision and purpose. These weren’t ordinary soldiers; this group was highly trained and required few instructions. They had worked together for a long time and knew their jobs well.

Sentries covered the doors in groups of three. A few were scanning the upper walls of the room looking for entry points. Another group watched the canopy of trees that had replaced the toppled ceiling. A few moved to the center of the room and set out maps and journals. It was hard to tell but Ko’lel thought some of them might be maps of the area.

One of the Moontouched walked the room making quiet comments to different groups. A word here, a gesture there. Anywhere he pointed someone quickly went and made a change or rechecked a location. Ko’lel smiled, she had found their commander.

He was tall and proud with broad shoulder. A long red cloak hung from his back. His armor was dark with bone ornamentation. A heavy blade hung at his side.

She would have to keep track of him. If she could remove this one from the fight it would demoralize the others. If she timed it right they might route. With a group like this, trained experienced fighters, you never removed the commander first. His second would just step in to fill the role. If you brought them down in the heat of battle it could sow confusion while the rest figured out what had happened.

She watched the group looking for more targets. Over time she picked out a few more likely subjects. Another warrior in red that the commander paid deference too. Possibly a favored officer of family member. A few other officers or squad leaders; the ones who took command of individual groups when the commander wasn’t close enough to give orders. A few older veterans who seemed to have been there a while and might be easy to remove. Finally a young recruit who hadn’t yet found his place as he was constantly being sent from one group to another; he might be easy to pick off while moving alone through the ruins.

Ko’lel decided to try something. She waited until the young recruit was moving between groups and fired a small stone from her blowgun at him. The pebble bounced off his armor with no effect other than to get his attention. When he glanced up she took that moment to have To’paque bound up into the canopy of leaves and branches; exiting the room.

She heard the recruit raise the alarm behind her. There was commotion and excitement for a few moments as she moved To’paque to the cover of the tall flowering branches of a nearby tree. They nestled into a nook in the tree and waited to hear what came next.

The Moontouched leapt into action. She recognized quick tactical movements from the men below as they quickly executed prepared actions. Small squads fanned out and covered different areas. Soldiers drew battle lines and started scanning the tree line looking for her. But they were looking too far away. They quickly passed her hiding spot and tried to find signs of her from deeper in the ruins and forest. After several minutes they slowly moved back to the main area.

Then she heard the commander yelling. The young recruit was being dressed down for raising a false alarm. The other soldiers laughed and the young man was sent away. Ko’lel considered picking him off but he was sent in the wrong direction for her to reach him quickly without giving away her presence.

With the recruit banished to the jungle the rest of the Moontouched returned to their duties. However, now the tension had been broken. Where they had worked in silence before small talk and laughter were heard through the camp.

Ko’lel smiled. Now that they were distracted she moved to signal reinforcements. She signaled To’paque to stay in place and climbed to the highest branches of the tree. She removed colored fronds from her pack and formed them into a bundle; three red and a violet. The reds indicated ten soldiers each and the violet marked a commander.

It was a good method of communication. The fronds were bright and easily seen from a distance. Finding them in a tree would only stand out to someone familiar with the jungle. These fronds grew in the ground around the base of trees. The rest of her people would easily be able to spot the fronds and know their significance. Outsiders were unlikely to follow the same thoughts.

Ko’lel crept back to To’paque and waited. It didn’t take long before a shrill whistle cut through the air. It passed for a bird screech, but the type it mimicked nested much farther north this time of year. She scanned the tree line looking for a sign of where her people might be. She spotted two yellow fronds hanging from the canopy of trees. Twenty gnomes. They’d be outnumbered but they had the element of surprise. It would have to do.

She climbed onto To’paques back and brushed his neck, as much a way to prepare him for what was to come as a sign of affection. She slid her blowgun from its holster and prepared her attack. The gnomes would wait for her signal. They knew she was here and would expect her to lead the charge. She looked for the commander trying to keep stock of where he was in the mass below. He’d moved out of view and she couldn’t see him anymore.

Oh well. He’d be along in a moment.

Ko’lel fired a dart from her blowgun at one of the soldiers she had marked as a squad leader. The dart struck him in the neck. It was a moment before the poison took hold. Another moment after that and he was gone. As Moontouched moved to see what was wrong she let out a battle cry and urged To’paque out of their hiding spot.

He leapt from the trees into the mass of troops. The pair landed in the middle of the group of Moontouched forcing them back in a burst of fangs and claws. Before the enemy could respond To’paque had flexed his legs and they were gone. Leaping effortlessly into the trees once more.

Gnomes dropped from the canopy of trees over the Moontouched and the battel was on in earnest. The initial assault went to her people, felling a few of the Moontouched. The enemy recovered quickly and many of them joined the battle shifting into their bestial wolf form. Ko’lel’s people used their quick movements and small size to get out from under the thrust of the Moontouched counter attack. Some gnomes still fell under the fury of the assault.

Ko’lel and To’paque bound into and out of the combat. Poison darts and claws cutting into the enemy. Ko’lel spotted the enemy commander. He stood on the outskirts of the battle.  The commander’s sword was raised above his head, its blade glowing with a destructive red light. He was about to strike down on an injured gnome.

Ko’lel whistled a command to To’paque and the pair leapt in the direction of the commander. They hurtled over the intervening forces and landed behind the commander. To’paque’s tongue shot out and wrapped around the commanders neck. With a vicious tug the commander was pulled backwards.

The commander swung his sword wildly trying to slash at To’paque. Ko’lel moved in the way. She used her blowgun to block the attack. The glowing red blade dug deep into the reed blowgun ripping a chunk from it. It would be useless now but it didn’t matter. Ko’lel had to protect her friend.

The commander dropped to one knee. His swings coming slower and with less force behind them. He tried to move forward. Force his way free.

To’paque hunkered down and dug in his claws. He pulled back. Forcing the commander backwards off his feet. He drug the semi-conscious commander. Forcing the Moontouched to fight to get his footing. Fight for his breath.

Across the camp a scream of rage tore through the air. Ko’lel looked up to see the young recruit from earlier. Unlike the other moontouched he had not yet adopted his wolf form.

He began moving forward when he convulsed. Inches added to his height. His shoulder broadened. His armor strained, cracked, and tore. He dropped to all fours as the spasms subsided.

He stood. His body torn and cut from where his armor tore from him. With sword and claw he charged at Ko’lel across the clearing.

The commander still fought. Ko’lel didn’t want to leave him until the job was done. Until he was gone. She jumped onto the commanders back, pulled a dart from her pouch, and stabbed it into the commander’s neck.

The recruit reached a small skirmish. Three gnomes had engaged a Moontouched soldier. The recruit slashed into the gnomes. His long claws drew blood. A small body flew from the melee and landed in a crumpled heap. The Moontouched soldier reached for the recruit. The recruit tore into the soldier with his fangs.

The soldier fell to the earth.

Ko’lel began to feel a sense of panic. What was wrong with this recruit? She drew another dart and stabbed the commander. Then another. And Another.

The recruit reached another melee in the middle of the room. Three Moontouched were about to finish off a gnome. The recruit stabbed the gnome through his spine. Then with no recognition of friend or foe he slaughtered the Moontouched in his way as well.

The commander fell still. Finally succumbing to the assault of tongue and poison. To’paque released the body and Ko’lel mounted the lizard. She quickly signaled a retreat. The other gnomes broke for the forest. They took those they could reach with them.

Ko’lel urged To’paque and the pair launched into the trees. She hazarded a glance back to see if there was any pursuit. The Moontouched gathered around body of their commander. The young recruit having released his wolf form knelt next to the body. He cradled his commander’s head against his chest and screamed to the heavens.

If you're interested in the games lore and characters check out the Super Fantasy Brawl Facebook page.