GrimQuest

Grim, a chronically ill necromancer, sets off with an adventuring party to investigate the source of the mysterious "Red Plague". Just when they're getting close to their next goal, Grim stumbles and falls, stone dead. Just another day in the life of a mage with one foot in the grave.

The necromancer's old party may have abandoned both them and their quest, but they're still determined to find where the Red Plague is coming from. With another ragtag party assembled, they're venturing out once more. No one's getting left behind this time. And death won't stop them.

GrimQuest is a hypothetical Earthbound-like RPG that I will probably never make, wherein death is not necessarily a game over. It deals with themes of disability, grief, friendship, and determination in the face of despair.

Characters

Premise

GrimQuest takes place on the island of Rhimval, a small country that is nonetheless brimming with culture and history. Religion and myth is especially important to the people there. Migration and movement over the centuries has resulted in a diverse population of humans, elves (particularly dawn elves), and beastfolk. It is from the mountainous north of the island to the arable south that players will make their journey.

Each time the player dies in GrimQuest, rather than a game over, they'll wake up in a limbo of sorts, a foggy stage between the lands of the living and those of the dead: the near shore of the River. From there, they'll have two options: either return to a previous checkpoint, or regroup with their party at their home base.

Story Overview

History

A strange substance, known only as the Red Plague, has been spreading across the frigid island of Rhimval for years. Its ability to form entities, even infect living creatures, has brought a scourge of monsters onto the land. Many adventuring parties have sought to end it at the source, but none have succeeded. Only a few have made any real breakthroughs.

Story Event 1

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Story Event 2

Notes

Though temples of many different faiths can be found across Rhimval, two in particular have historically been most widespread, with notable differences in their philosophies and practices.

The Church of Gladien: Worshippers of the god of light. Most common among dawn elves. Gladien's followers believe that the ultimate meaning of life is an unceasing effort to fight off darkness and evil, in whatever way a person can. What "darkness" or "evil" entails depends upon which sect you ask; most point to commonplace suffering and strife in the world, though some believe that death itself is an evil to be defeated one day.

The Church of the Circle: Polytheists and animists. Most common among humans and beastfolk. Devotees of the Circle have slightly more variance in their beliefs, but all agree that suffering is a natural part of existing in the world, that death is a part of life, and that change is a positive force. Many believe in reincarnation, making their circle imagery all too appropriate.