Disclaimer: I don't own Shining Force, its characters, or its plot. Everything here is just a play-through of the game with my own interpretations of how it would be told if it were in story-format. This was written for a friend who has never played the game and wanted to know about it.
From this point on, everything's written in the 3rd-person narrative, primarily following the main hero, Max, who doesn't talk AT ALL (except once).
And the original title of the game is "Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention."
So, ready for the first chapter? Alright, then, here we go!
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Chapter 1: Runefaust Invasion
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CLING! CLANG! TWING! Max parried his master's attack and countered briskly, his plain blue cape floating behind him. Steadying his breath, Max readied himself for another assault. He put his all into training everyday with his master, Lord Varios.
THWACK! Max blacked out for a moment.
"Max? Max? C'mon, kid, wake up! I didn't hit you that hard," Varios said as he shook his unconscious pupil.
Max woke up with a slight ringing in his head.
"Keep your guard up, kid. Those beasts of Runefaust will tear you to pieces!" scolded Varios. "Ok, that's enough for today. You'd better take it easy for a while."
With practice finished for the day, Max left the corner of the church meant for relaxation and headed to the back door that led to his room. Before he could even fall head-first into his bed, Lowe ran by, gasping and sweating profusely.
"Well, Max, had enough swordplay for today? I don't know how you keep at it hour after hour. I'm dead after 15 minutes!" Despite Lowe's comments, he really had the makings of a true warrior priest, healing and combating on the field. If he didn't give up so quickly, he could actually turn that baby fat into some muscle.
Max suddenly remembered he hadn't thanked Lord Varios for his training today. He went back to give his proper thanks to his centaur master who gave him private lessons as if he were Varios's own son.
"You have the makings of a great fighter, Max. You'll be tested soon enough," remarked Varios. He was indeed quite proud and was looking forward to Max joining the soldiers' ranks soon.
"Lord Varios, the King has sent for you. You must come at once!" interrupted a guard.
"Of course. Lead the way, guardsman. I fear the worst, Max! Prepare yourself for true battle immediately!" Varios had had a foreboding feeling for quite some time and now he could feel those cold chills to the tips of his hooves.
Lowe peeked his head out just as the two left the church. "Did you see Varios's face? He went pale! Something really big is happening. Let's split up and see if we can't find out what's going on. I'll see you later."
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Max left the church, feeling as if the world could end at any given moment. He looked around and saw everyone going about their business, completely unaware of the imminent danger coming their way. Children were playing in the street, men drinking in the pub, and women tending to their homes and gardens; didn't they feel it? An evil aura was rising just over the horizon, like the dawn of a new day -- a bloody day -- and yet everything looked so placid; how could peace that's lasted forever suddenly end today?
Impossible.
Nonetheless, Max headed towards the castle, anxious to calm his nerves that nothing would ruin the life he's grown accustomed to over the years.
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Known for being Varios's pupil, but more popularly for his unchallenged swordsmanship, Max was greeted into the castle. No need for snooping around like Lowe.
Max walked behind the knights lazing within the castle grounds, waving to them humbly as they noticed him. It seemed like their leader wasn't here today.
"...that is the story, Varios," Max overheard as he neared the inner castle walls.
"Mmmm... Then, your majesty, we have no choice but to send Max, a young fighter." As if on cue, Max walked into the room. "Oh, Max. Good. I was going to look for you. First, listen to the King."
"For centuries, our people have watched the Gate of the Ancients as its guardians. Beyond that gate lies we know not what, not even if it is of the Light or the Darkness. But the Ancients knew, and they sealed it beyond the gate and set us as guards. And now we find that we may have failed in our mission, our reason for existence." The King of Guardiana paused and looked out the window as though he were expecting something. "Signs have been seen that forces of Runefaust are at the Gate of the Ancients! Whatever evil they are planning, we must stop it at all costs and at once!" The king looked pale and ill, his voice shaking with fear.
"But we must not panic the people. A small group of young but skilled warriors..." Varios began.
"Yes! He could do it. He could leave town unnoticed and have a chance to succeed, perhaps," continued Nova, the king's friend and tactician.
"Yes, Nova, I agree. Max!" The king breathed heavily as he spoke. "Will you take the task?"
Max nodded slowly, unable to believe what he was hearing. They wanted him to fight like a real knight of their army! It was his dream come true to finally have a chance to show his thankfulness to everyone for their kindness, especially Varios's.
"Very well!" replied the king, color returning to his face. "Now, return to town and gather your troops. Come back when you're ready."
"WHY YOU!? Why couldn't I lead the Shining Force?" a voice bellowed from the hallways. "ARRRGH!"
Distraught, Max and Varios bid the king their goodbyes and left the castle to find the voice's owner. Outside, they noticed the earlier lazy knights had lined up in combat formation, their armor and weapons shimmering in the bright sunlight that promised hope to a peaceful day.
"Max!" one knight called out. "The head-knight suddenly stormed out here and beat all of us up, calling us lazy-good-for-nothings and began drilling everyone. I managed to hide in the bushes, hoping to get away. Do you know what happened?"
"Don't worry, Max. I'll make sure he calms down. Go ahead and gather your friends while I prepare the troops should you need back-up. Even if the people panic at the sight of the troops leaving town, I'll never leave you on your own." Varios knew Max wasn't completely ready for this battle, having knocked him out just earlier today.
Max let out a sigh of relief, nodded to his master and the knight and ran off to find his team. Speaking of which, Max also wondered if Lowe had overheard their conversation with the king.
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Max headed back to town, thinking to find Lowe first in the church before looking for everyone else. Surprisingly, they found him instead.
"Wait, Max! Nova caught us spying on you from Tao's room and told us you went this way." Luke explained. With his short stature, he always spoke in a loud voice, as if making up for his size. Along with his booming voice was a powerful will, expressed in the way he swung his axe.
"You know we'll follow you wherever you lead, Max!" chimed Ken. As the only other centaur not yet in the ranks of the other knights, Ken was eager to show his worth in the upcoming battle. Although shorter than the other centaur knights, Ken was the tallest of their group, being the only centaur.
"I'm still only an apprentice mage, but I'll do my best," pitched in Tao, the only female of the group. Despite her seemingly shy and cute personality, with her blazing pink hair and purple robes, she was an intimidating sight when she once cast "blaze" after Hans insulted her choice of robes. She was quite hot-headed, matching the spell she chose to perfect.
In the back, Hans stood above Luke and Tao and was nearly as tall as Ken. "Don't forget about me. I'm coming, but don't put me in the front lines. I'm an archer, after all, but don't put me next to this crazy blaze mage either!"
"Hey! I've been practicing, alright!?"
"You've got the aim of a BAT!"
"I'll show you a bat! A FIERY BA--"
Tao stopped casting after hearing everyone laugh. She blushed and Luke turned to Max. "Meet us at headquarters back in the castle!"
Max laughed and waved them goodbye. With such good friends, he felt glad to be alive. No sooner had they turned their backs that Max remembered their mission -- to defend their home of Guardiana. Max began walking towards the castle when he spotted a figure rushing from that direction.
"Hey, Max! Don't forget about me! I heard everything!" gasped a tired Lowe.
Nova walked shortly behind Lowe, wearing a simple white robe and turban. Max had seen him before, but never up-close. Nova had the face of an old dog, purple fur covering his face and body and his ears tucked neatly under his hat.
"Now that you have you comrades, return to the king and hear his final commands. I'll follow your progress and offer advice as you face the vile hordes of Runefaust."
"Well, that's settled," remarked Lowe. "See you at headquarters!"
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Knowing full well that once he returned to the king, he will undoubtedly be sent on his way, Max decided to take one last stroll around the town he'd come to call "home."
Stopping first at the pub for a laugh or two, Max found a short, old man still clad in his warrior uniform of old. The reminiscent old man, having caught Max's attention, immediately greeted him with a drink and a story of his old adventures around the world. Max was regaled by the tale, almost wondering if his own little mission would lead to such fascinating experiences and challenges.
Thanking the old man for his time, Max then made his way south to the gate that would soon leave the town from. Guardiana may have been entrusted with guarding the Door to the Ancients, but the borders were meek, being guarded only by a few watchmen and fenced around by trees and a simple wooden gate. While a standing army does exist, years of peace have made the country less inclined to being a military power and focused instead on the prosperity of life and the advancement of magic. War was no longer even a possible prospect at this day and age and so Runefaust's conquest came as unexpected and Guardiana unprepared.
Unbelievable.
As Max began his way back to the castle, he noticed a little girl crying outside her house.
"I… I had an awful dream. The whole town burned down." She sniffed to stifle a few tears from leaking out, but to no avail. "Our house, too."
"We're all upset about our daughter's nightmare. Do you think it means anything?" asked her father, having noticed Max's concern.
Max could only shake his head out of optimism.
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"You have your troops, but you need supplies. Take this to purchase what you need." The king handed Max a bag of 100 gold coins. "A cart will take you to the Gate of the Ancients. Go now and carry out your task!" he commanded, encouraging Max to success.
Max left the castle, a quiet ceremony of hopeful wishes by the soldiers followed him as he and his team, dubbed "the Shining Force," boarded the cart to their battle.
The cart left without so much as an audible "farewell."
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"Max! Goblins! Runefaust must be up to something!" Lowe exclaimed.
"We can take them, Max!" reassured Tao.
A large door stood inside what appeared to be a decaying, half-done building -- the walls rose above head, but there was no ceiling. Wandering just around the door were goblins and dwarves, searching for something in the empty, old ruins.
"Move it, vermin! Find the key to this blasted door!" ordered a silver rune knight. "C'mon, we're almost in! Where is that blasted key?" The rune knight looked out towards the monster-awed Shining Force. "What? Blast it! Those fools from Guardiana are here!"
As if the Force wasn't shaken enough by their first encounter with monsters, an earthquake suddenly erupted, almost crumbling the ruins in two.
"Attack, goblins and dwarves! Strike a blow for the honor of Runefaust!"
"BLAZE!" Tao yelled out. A pool of fire stirred the floor where the goblins had begun charging. "Come on, everyone! Snap out of it!"
Reawakened by Tao's calls, everyone raised their arms to fight.
Max looked back at Hans, and, without a word, Hans nodded and pelted the incoming goblins, still burning from the heated floor, with a flurry of arrows, knocking each of them precisely between the eyes. With the enemy's front line fallen, Ken, Luke, and Max fling their assault towards the second wave of goblins assisted by two large dwarves.
Luke and Max dove into opposite sides of the enemy line, clashing steel against steel. Quickly parrying an axe swipe, Max leapt out of the way for a dashing stab by Ken. Meanwhile, Luke had taken down one goblin on his own, but had been hit by another behind him and fell.
"LUKE!" Tao cried.
Luke looked up to see a goblin raising his studded club above its head. He felt his body turn cold and closed his eyes to avoid staring into the goblin's unsightly face.
"Ugh…"
"Yeah, that's what I'd say too, Luke, if I had to stare into this creepy thing's face from down there," Lowe joked.
"This isn't the time to be making jokes, Lowe," replied Luke.
"Shouldn't you be thanking me for smacking that thing behind the head?" questioned Lowe.
Luke flung his axe towards Lowe, stunning a goblin right behind him before it was scorched by Tao.
"Shouldn't you?"
"Yeah, whatever. Tao had me covered. Now be quiet while I heal you."
"No need for that, I'm good to go! Now move!"
Luke ran off to join the others in the fray as they edged closer to the Rune Knight. Ken and Max had just slain the remaining goblins and found themselves the target of two brutally large dwarves. Hans had flung an arrow at one of the dwarves' knees but it was deflected. At the dropped opportunity, Max and Ken launched themselves at the dwarf, only to be tossed back by the other one.
"I've got these two," exclaimed Tao as she shot fireballs at them.
Distracted by blocking the fireballs with their weapons, Luke swiped between them and they fell with a huge thud. All that was left was the rune knight.
Excited with only one enemy left, Ken darted forward, only to be batted back by the rune knight's lance. Hans let fly more arrows, each finding their target on the knight, effectively crippling it. Max and Luke slashed at the knight to finish the battle.
"Fools… you have won here, but Lord Kane of Runefaust is even now attacking Guardiana!" laughed the rune knight with its last breaths.
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Bruised and tired, the Force was about ready to exclaim victory when Nova spoke up.
"If that creature spoke truly, we must return to help defend Guardiana! Let us survey the area before we tend to your wounds and decide our next course of action."
"Excuse me," a deep voice called from outside the ruins. A bald, well-built man stood near a heap of more goblins the Force had not noticed crept behind them.
"I am Gong. I have fought the evil of Runefaust for many years. I will aid you."
"Where did you come from?" asked an impressed Luke, noticing that the man did not carry a weapon and yet had so effortlessly taken down the group of goblins on the grass.
"I was outside the cottage nearby, training my body and spirit, when I felt the earthquake and discovered monsters had made their way here. Allow me to heal your wounds as well -- you appear injured."
"What, this thing? It's nothing a tough warrior like me can't take."
"Only fools believe in their own invincibility."
"Oh…"
"Haha, Luke. He told you off. Let me heal that for you." Lowe waved his staff over Luke's bruise and it healed instantly.
Meanwhile, Max was deep in thought once again. They had managed to hold their own against a search party, but would they return home nearly as unscathed?
"I know what you're thinking -- they're fine."
Max looked over and found Gong returned from tending to the rest of the force.
"Your town will be fine. You can sense it, too, can't you? This evil aura emanating across the land? You and your team had only minor injuries from this battle, but you still lack experience and teamwork."
"You will improve, though, lest you want to fail your people and become a wandering monk like me. Let us work together to make sure that doesn't happen."
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Seeking to gather his thoughts and concerns, Max quietly walked away from the resting Force, traveling towards the cottage Gong had mentioned. The cottage was quite quaint, made of logs and a simple red roof. Around it, the trees hid the ruins and all that had just recently taken place within it. It was as if nothing had happened at all.
Max looked out to the east of the little home, walking up to a cliff and thinking that beyond the expanding ocean before him lay the country of Runefaust, the source of all their fear and terror. The splash of a huge wave crashing into the cliff below distracted his attention and he suddenly noticed a large, brown, furry thing with an unusual helmet on its head. Unsure what it was, Max approached it cautiously as to not attract its attention. Nearing its back, it suddenly turned around and greeted him.
"Greetings, Max. I have been waiting for you."
Surprised and staring blankly at what appeared to be a giant hamster, Max waited for it to say something else. The hamster only blinked and faced back towards to the sea, silent.
Unsure what to say, and for fear that the creature may be violently neurotic, Max returned to the Force to prepare for battle.
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The earlier earthquake had sundered the road back to Guardiana, and so the only path left was around the mountains, littered with trees along the way. In the distance, trills of war cries echoed.
"No one enters Guardiana while we live! For Darksol!"
"Death to Guardiana!"
"Death to Guardiana!"
"It looks like we've little choice but to travel around the mountains," surmised an observant Nova. "Hans and Luke, you two lead on ahead since you can travel better in forestry terrain. Everyone else, follow their lead and drive through our obstacles back to home!"
Luke and Hans were highly accustomed to fighting in the woods, and so even though they were the ones chasing enemies unlike in practice, they raced through the area, effortlessly knocking out most enemies. Once they rounded the corner of the forest, Max and the others marched through the rest of the enemies leading back to the road. With Gong in their ensemble, the overwhelming number of goblins efficiently dropped to a more than manageable count.
In no time they arrived at the bridge leading back to town. Barred by two dwarves and another rune knight, Hans and Tao only laughed as they assaulted the foes with a barrage of fireballs and arrows. Having learned their lesson from last time, Luke, Ken, and Max worked together to take down the remaining rune knight who had dared them to enter Guardiana.
"Well done, Shining Force! Now, enter Guardiana and find out what's happened there!" urged Nova.
Had Guardiana fared just as well as they? Max entered his home town with a hopeful mind, but a sinking heart.
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"You made it back! You're a little late. We were almost overrun by Runefaust! We held them off, but we've suffered greatly, as you'll see as you wander around."
The watchman had blood tracing down his cheek, leading further to blood stains smeared on his armor. It still looked wet and slowly created larger circles of dark red.
"Most of our knights were lost in the battle… many homes were damaged. But we held!"
At this, the knight smiled faintly. "We'll keep watch here. Runefaust is bound to attack again, sooner or later."
Max nodded and explored the rest of his devastated town. Buildings had collapsed, slashes marked every wall, and fire razed the roof of one house… fire?
Max ran towards the house. It was the little girl's who had dreamt of this very same nightmare.
Concerned, Max ran inside to see the father attempting to put out the fire. "I sent my family away, but I stayed and fought. We almost lost. I still don't know why they pulled back!"
After putting out the fire, Max continued on towards the castle, stopping first at the pub that had remained untouched.
"Those monsters would've wrecked my shop," the bar owner exclaimed when he saw Max, "but the old guy drove them off!"
Gort merely replied, "You know, that little fracas made me want to fight again. Max, I'm joining up! I'll be at headquarters."
Reaching the castle's entrance, the minister shouted, "Hurry, Max! Kane of Runefaust has injured the King and Lord Varios!"
At the throne room, a dark figure with a long purple cape and menacingly horned mask stood facing Varios with the King right behind him.
"Go away, Kane! I don't understand what you are talking about!"
"Anyway, the treasure of Guardiana is in my hand now," Kane boasted, hiding his treasure behind the veil of his cape.
"I won't let you take that! Just leave!"
"Sword of Darkness! Show me your power!!!"
Darkness blurred the room and shook the area violently. Suddenly the air froze, clutching the hearts of everyone within the room. The chilling feeling was broken at Varios' pained voice.
"Arrghhh!" Varios screamed in agony as he collapsed onto the floor.
"No! Father!" a female centaur shrieked. "I… I can't believe it! I'll, I'll…"
She attacked Kane, but was swiftly countered, collapsing to the floor in a weeping heap.
"Now, Guardiana is unworthy of my attention. Farewell, fools!" Kane cackled as he mystically disappeared.
"Max!" the centaur called out. "Look to the King!"
The king had turned a deathly white. He sagged on his throne, grasping his fatal wound that bled through his fingers.
"Max… Mae… I don't think I'll live much longer, though Varios protected me. Listen, the Gate of the Ancients is the only access to the Tower. And the Gate can be opened only by the key. You must find it before it falls into the hands of evil!"
The king strained as he fought to continue. "Find out why Runefaust is interested in the gate… Please… Mae… Daughter of the great Varios, help Max… Avenge your father! And be strong…"
"Your majesty…"
The king fumbled his fingers to his forehead, as if trying to remember something.
"Please tell my daughter, Anri, in Manarina… to stay strong… for her people…"
The king's hands froze in place, one over his head and the other over his heart. It looked almost as if he were trying to say one last prayer.
Enraged at the event, Mae exclaimed, "Now is not the time for tears and grief. Alterone should be our next goal." Looking up, she roared, "Max! I don't want to see any more of these tragedies. I'll await you at headquarters. Be quick!"
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Not wasting any time, Max counseled with Nova and planned their next move to Alterone. Enemies had once again swarmed the Shining Force's path, and now they had assembled more rune knights and filed in large, blood-sucking bats.
"Hey, Tao. Between you and these blind bats, I wonder who has the better aim?"
"Jerk." Tao punched Hans in the arm.
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With time limited on tracking down Kane of Runefaust and fury still fresh in their minds, the Force made haste to Alterone, slaughtering all that opposed in a mad frenzy. The monsters didn't stand a chance.
"Haha, Hans. That one bat stole your hat, didn't it? So much for an archer's perfect aim!"
"…"
"What, nothing to say? You even freaked out after you found out, Hansy-pansy."
"…"
"What?"
"That bat stole my hat because I was covering you. I freaked out because I really liked that hat… It's my favorite."
"Oh..."
"And then you peppered that bat with your blaze spell, toasting my hat!"
"What was so special about that hat…?"
"… You made it for me when we were little."
"Hey, you guys! Stop looking so solemn! Haven't you heard?" Ken popped in.
"We're in Alterone!"
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Max and the Force had arrived in Alterone. Surprisingly, the town bore no marks of an invasion whatsoever.
"Welcome to Alterone, stranger," a man greeted as Max walked by.
Was Kane really here? It seemed impossible that, with all the monsters they had just fought, the town could be so calm. Max couldn't help but feel there was something strange about the atmosphere.
Sensing that the Force had begun to lose their steam since entering the seemingly peaceful town, Max sent them to rest at an old building once used as headquarters by other traveling warriors from times past. They had been set-up at every town, much to the convenience of many weary travelers.
Max explored on his own, glancing carefully at everything for a hint as to Kane's whereabouts. A pale, blue-faced lady in dark blue robes and purple hair motioned him over.
"Greetings, Max. With my powers I can see the future. Care to know your fate?"
As if reading his mind, she continued without an answer.
"Death lies to the north. Go back to Guardiana, for your doom awaits you if you continue."
Max shrugged off the strange lady's premonition and continued his search for clues. The castle up ahead was giving him some awful vibes. He stared at it intently, wondering if the king would know something about Runefaust's invasion when he bumped into a cart and sent it rolling away.
"What a rude thing to do!" cried a young woman to the left.
Max ran over to apologize to her, but the woman wouldn't hear of it.
"Mud all over my new dress! Arrgh, I can't stand it!" She went ballistic and was quite possibly foaming at the mouth. "I'll get you!" she roared as she pushed Max into the town's river.
The current quickly engulfed Max, tossing him left and right as he passed through the ditches around town. He managed to crawl out by anchoring his sword's sheath onto the banks and hoisted himself up, water raining down his cape and garments.
"Hey! I know you!" a voice called out from afar. "You must be Max, right? I knew it!" Max had no idea who this was.
"I lived in Guardiana until a few months ago," the man explained. "I just heard a rumor. A friend of mine told me that Guardiana was totally wiped out." He paused, hoping to see Max deny the news. When Max didn't, he asked bluntly, "Is that true?"
Max looked away and nodded slowly. Neither said a word for a moment.
"I hoped it wasn't true," the man finally spoke up. "The friend who told me about it went to inform the castle."
The castle! The King of Alterone must now know of Guardiana's plight and would be able to help its neighbor-in-need. Max hurried over to the castle, not even waiting to dry.
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Lowe, not one to be left out on the news, had been following Max for a little bit until he spied a man fishing beside the river. He had brought Tao along with him since it seemed something was bothering her.
"Hi," Lowe called out to the fisherman.
"Hi there. I love to fish," the man quickly introduced. "Hey, a bite. I feel a bite! Don't just stand there, help me pull!"
Lowe and Tao ran over and helped the man with his fishing rod.
"Wow! It must be a whale. Pull again!"
They tugged again, wondering how it would be possible to pull out a whale.
"One more time!" the man shouted, each of them already beginning to sweat from the strain.
"I caught it!"
They reeled in a dirty, leather bag covered in moss.
"Drat! More gold coins? Shucks, I thought I had a fish. Just toss'em back."
Lowe motioned to throw the bag away but slyly flung it into his other sleeve and threw a rock out instead.
"Lowe!" Tao whispered.
"Hush! He said to throw it away! And I did! Into my sleeve. Same difference."
"Here, fishee, fishee, fishee!" the man called out.
-----
Meanwhile, Luke and Ken had decided to take a walk. The two had quickly gotten bored of sitting around, listening to Gong and Gort reminisce of adventures from times long gone. Hans, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy listening to the old men's stories, particularly Gort's tall tales. Luke had already heard them all before from his parents, his grandparents, and even his younger cousins who heard it from their parents and grandparents. Amongst the dwarfs, Gort was well-known for his adventures and notorious for his exaggerations. Mae only listened to keep from thinking about her father and home.
"Hey, Luke."
"Yeah, Ken?"
"Why are you so short?"
"I'm NOT short!"
"Then why is everyone taller than you?"
"Because they're not dwarfs like me. Dwarfs don't grow very tall, but we're very strong, you know."
"Oh yeah? But I always thought that being big meant being strong! You know, like how my parents used to say 'Ken, you want to grow up to be big and strong, don't you? Then you have to eat your vegetables!' I guess you never ate yours then, hmm?"
"I AM big and strong! See these muscles? They're bigger than yours, aren't they? And besides, I'm pretty tall for a dwarf!"
"But you're still shorter than my grandpa. People get shorter when they get older, don't they? And you're the same height as Gort, too! And he's supposed to be really old! Does that mean he was bigger than that and shrunk to your height?"
Luke let out a sigh. It looked like he wasn't going to convince Ken anytime soon that he wasn't short.
"Hey, look over there," Luke changed the subject. "It looks like a kid standing where the priest is supposed to be. Let's check it out."
"Hi there!" Ken said as they entered the church.
"I-I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG!" the kid immediately stuttered at the unexpected visitors.
"Relax, we just wanted to know where the priest was" replied Luke calmly.
"You're real short, aren't you?" the kid noted without thinking.
"See! Even he thinks so, too!" chimed in Ken.
"…right." Luke bit his tongue. "So about that priest?"
"The king called the friar to the castle. I always wanted to stand up here."
"Oh yeah? Let me try! I've always wanted to try that, too," Luke said.
Luke went around the priest's podium, only to find that he could barely see over the top and had to hoist himself on the ledge. Embarrassed, Luke put on a straight face anyways and, closing his eyes slightly and placing his hand over his heart, mocked the priest. "Welcome!" Luke said with the exact same straight face. "I've been expecting you. How may I help you today?"
Tao and Lowe walked in to see Luke and the others watching him. Startled that it may have been the friar returning, Luke fell over and everyone burst into laughs. Luke couldn't help laughing himself.
-----
Max had arrived at the castle. The guards seemed to be lazing about, not caring about the uninvited visitor. How Guardiana's head knight would have whipped these soldiers into shape were he here! Max shrugged off the thought that both made him smile and pained him at the same time. Kane must be found and stopped at once!
It wasn't difficult to find the king as his throne stood within a few feet of the entrance way. He sat there looking expectantly at Max as if he had anticipated his arrival. Perhaps the friend of the man from earlier had also told the king that he was coming? As he was welcomed to an audience with the king, Max noticed a figure disappear from the corner of his eye.
"What? Runefaust attacked Guardiana?" the king exclaimed. "Hard to believe. Follow me, Max. I have a… tactician we should consult on this matter."
He got up and walked down a hallway, motioning Max to come with. His robe and crown glittered as the sun hit them, displaying an awesome array of colors dancing along the walls of the castle. The gems studded in his clothes shined on and off as they passed by each window. Despite the bright colors splashing around him, Max felt some dark ill-feeling growing inside him with each step.
Finally, they stopped in a small room littered with food supplies and barrels. Max was sick to his stomach at this point. In the back, two rune knights and one shadowy figure stood glaring at them. He knew instantly who it was.
"Surprised, Max? Alterone has already surrendered!" Kane stared at Max's furious expression and only grinned from beneath his mask.
"Put him in a prison cell!" he ordered the two knights. "I'll decide how to best dispose of him in a day or two."
"Kane, you promised that Alterone would not be involved in any of this!" the king stammered.
Fury swept behind Kane's mask, but his anger could be felt emanating through the walls. "Quiet, fool! Or I'll throw you in the cell with him! A treacherous king like you -- worthless." Without shifting his gaze from the king, Kane motioned the guards to leave. "Take him away."
"I'm sorry about this, but I must protect Alterone," the king said to a seething Max as he was forced out.
The rune knights dragged Max down another hallway towards the jail. This time the walls looked dark with the shadows of his captors seemingly taunting him. They tossed him inside a tiny jail cell, slamming the heartless bars in his face and laughed while they trotted away. They couldn't wait to see what Kane had in store for him later.
Max laid on the freezing ground for a moment. It was the middle of the day when he had entered, but the floor's coldness bit into even his bones. Maybe it was hopelessness and frustration that made him feel this way.
"Please don't lose hope," a voice whispered.
Max looked up to find the missing priest of Alterone. He had a bruised face, but his voice and kind eyes quickly overshadowed any pain he might have been feeling.
"I came to tell the king to fight," he began to explain, "but Kane had already convinced him to surrender."
"Have faith, young one, for I know that evil will never triumph over good. Just be patient."
At that very moment, the jail door clicked and creaked open. Max readied his sword for an opportunity to escape.
"Wait! It's me!" a small feminine voice shrieked at the sound of a blade unsheathing. "My name is Khris. I wanted to warn you about the king but the guards were watching me."
Despite her small appearance, she held a determined look.
"The time has come to strike back at Runefaust! Please help me save Alterone! I heard who you were from the messenger. I'll fight alongside you. I can heal, too!"
Although unsure if one of her size should really fight against the kinds of monsters the Force had already encountered, Max felt reassured by her assertive approach and nodded his head, accepting her offer.
Khris walked in and closed the door behind her.
"We can't go this way," she explained. "They'll spot us for sure. There's a secret passage." She pointed to the floor not too far from where Max had lain moments before. She stomped her foot and the floor panel slid over, revealing an underground passage that led straight to where the Force was staying.
"Get your teammates. I'll stand guard at the exit and make sure nobody finds us until you're ready." Turning to the priest, she waved and said, "Father, please be patient a little longer. I'll get you out of here soon, too."
-----
"LUKE!" Tao cried. She had spotted bands of monsters marching out of the castle. Dwarfs, giant bats, rune knights, and two other unfamiliar envoys were wrecking havoc around the town. From their clothes, they appeared to be two snipers and a mage.
"They must be looking for us," Luke concluded. "We better head back to headquarters and see if Max is already there."
Everyone nodded and quickly made way for HQ, treading as inconspicuously as possible.
-----
"Max! Where have you been?" Nova had begun to worry after seeing Kane of Runefaust call out to the Shining force, claiming to have their leader in custody.
"Nevermind. Kane of Runefaust is here! Where's everyone else?"
"We're here!" answered Ken. "Boy, I can't believe I just saw Kane of Runefaust! He's the one who defeated Lord Varios, isn't he?"
Max seethed at the memory of his slain master before his eyes.
"I know we came here to stop him, but if he beat Lord Varios, how are we supposed to?" questioned Ken.
"By working as a team, of course! Varios was the only one defending the King against Kane at the time, but if the other knights weren't fighting off the other monsters and we… we…" Luke trailed off.
"What matters is that you're here now and you've got to help me save my town," finished Khris.
"And who are you?" asked Tao.
"One doesn't question too deeply into the person who offers to help when a fire is burning," answered Gong from behind. Mae, Hans and Gort were behind him with everyone's weapons in their arms.
"Less talk, more action," Gort said as he waved his axe in the air, possibly the fewest words he's said ever.
-----
"Lowly worms, I shall crush you beneath my heel. Hiding is futile when I can summon death to hunt you down." Kane waved his Sword of Darkness into the air, but decided he'd savor what tiny resistance he had come up against and lowered his blade. He sent out the monsters to test them instead.
"Attack, soldiers of Runefaust!"
The Shining Force had gathered at the bottom of town, and, while it wasn't a far distance to the castle where Kane stood, every corner had monsters waiting for them. And if they could overcome the obstacles, there was still the matter of Kane to deal with. Max clutched his heart as if he could feel death scratching at his soul.
"Don't let their numbers fear you," Nova said. Nova and Max had already discussed their tactics before leaving. "Remember that as a group, you stand a chance at taking down Kane, so stay together!"
Kane watched as the Force split into two teams, one taking the direct path to him and the other curving to the side. Kane grinned at the chance to fight against some moderately worthwhile foes. His Sword of Darkness seemed to have a hunger for blood that shared his appetite, if not feeding it more each time he held it. There was one in particular, Max, whose blood he truly thirsted to sample. Something about him made Kane ache inside and the only solution to stop it was to cut him down.
Making their way across the bridge to the center of town, Gort, Luke, Gong, Khris and Max prepared to face the first wave of enemies to come their way -- giant bats and rune knights. They moved in a wall-like fashion, fencing Khris safely behind for healing support. Between the four fighters, Gong and Gort had effortlessly knocked out two bats each, swatting them as if they flew towards them. Max and Luke seemed to be swiping air as the bats dodged each attack and nipped their arms every once in a while. Khris dashed in to heal them and, upon sensing that a bat was swooping in behind her, swung her body around and flailed her staff, smacking the bat in the face and sent it careening into a wall.
The others -- Mae, Ken, Tao, Hans, and Lowe -- went with a lightning and thunder approach, pelting enemies with a rain of arrows and fireballs and then rushing in with spears for the final blow. Lowe had recently found in the last battle that he could heal from a farther distance now and was using that to stay out of the line of fire. Hans and Tao hadn't spoken to each other since the last fight but seemed to read each other's minds as they combined their attacks at their enemies.
"Tao--" Hans started.
"Hans! Cover me!" called out a demanding Mae.
"Got it." he answered as he rushed forward to get a better position to guard Mae.
Tao sighed and looked over at Hans. "There's no time to be depressed, Tao! Kane of Runefaust is here!" she snipped at herself.
-----
Kane was impressed with the way the Force was handling his mediocre troops. He decided it was time to reward them for their efforts by stepping into the fray himself. They did come for him, after all, and he was quite flattered that someone would seek him out for a battle.
Admirable. Foolish, but admirable.
Kane stepped forward to Max's direction when another knight called out to him from behind.
"Lord Kane." The knight bowed to show his respects to the owner of the Sword of Darkness -- the blade that could summon death itself. "Lord Darksol commands you to return to Runefaust immediately."
Kane sighed. He was looking forward to clashing swords with Max, not that it would have lasted long anyways. Maybe it was better this way. Something in him was anxious to see how much of a fight he could put up given enough time to hone his natural skills.
"Tell him I'm on my way," he replied, keeping his gaze on Max.
"Yes, sir."
"Max!" Kane called out. "A shame I can't stay to hand you your doom! Consider yourself fortunate that the inevitable has been delayed."
Infuriated that he had come so close only to have revenge taken away from just beyond his grasp, Max swung his sword desperately to reach Kane before he left. The rune knights would not let him through, however, without a fight and so Max had to focus on the two guarding his way, hopelessly watching Kane disappear in a flash.
"MOVE IT!" Luke yelled as he slammed his axe into the last rune knight's shield. He had pierced through its shield and pivoted to twirl his axe around, continuing the momentum of his strike.
The last rune knight fell, but the battle was lost. Kane had escaped and the Shining Force was clueless as to what to do next.
-----
"Max, I wasn't myself," the King of Alterone tried to explain to an angry force and an even angrier mob of villagers. "Kane had some power over me!" he sobbed, trying to gain sympathy despite his gems glittering from the sunshine.
"Can you forgive me?"
Max shook his head and opened to speak but was interrupted.
"Shouldn't you be asking that to your people?" fumed Khris. "You just about sold out your country without even putting up a fight! So what if we didn't stand a chance! Do you think Kane of Runefaust, caller of the reaper, would have let us be if we surrendered?"
"I'd have rather fought for what was right than submit passively and wait for death to come!" she exclaimed.
The villagers roared in agreement with Khris.
"Come now," the priest quieted the crowd. "I believe the king understands what you mean, but we must decide on what needs to be done now."
"Yes!" the king leapt up. "I want to help you. I know where Kane's headed! Search the dragon head near the waterfall-fountain to reveal a secret passage to the next town. They have ships you can use to follow Kane to Runefaust!"
"Max, you know I'm coming with you, right?" asked Khris.
Max nodded, glad to have a helpful, righteous-minded new member join the force. He couldn't have told the king off better himself.
The Shining Force followed the King of Alterone's instructions to the next town of Rindo where they continue their adventure to stop Kane, figure out the Legacy of the Ancients, and stop Runefaust's plots to unlock the secrets behind the Door sealed long ago.
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The Legacy of the Ancients, the Door, the Key… What can it all mean? No matter the cost, the mystery must be solved, and Runefaust's plan foiled.
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Author's note: Couple things to mention.
Firstly, in the game, with each town you travel to, there is automatically a place where your team stays -- "Headquarters." It's never explained if the Force puts it up themselves, if it belongs to the town, or if it is reserved JUST for you. Also, the team is always there no matter what's going on; they never go out to do anything unless it's to fight. Thought I'd change that.
Secondly, the weird hamster is indeed the infamously useless, but adorably cute "Jogurt" (renamed "Yogurt" in the remade SF game for the Gameboy Advance). Further talks with him only result in the same dialogue, and while you can see his name when he talks to you, he doesn't really introduce himself other than the other weird phrase(s) he'll say when you see him again throughout the next few chapters. I always thought that if I pestered him long enough, he'd either join the team early or bite my head off.
Thirdly, the priest is who you talk to when you want to save your game. Predictable as it follows most other games, but it still needs to be pointed out nonetheless.
Lastly, there isn't much interaction between the Shining Force members, and so most of the dialogue between them here is of my own creation. I know I had meant it to be as close to the game as possible, but a little character development couldn't hurt if it isn't too extremely off their mark.
And that concludes chapter 1. Thanks for reading!