CHANTERS OF VALERE Prelude Primordial Era: Shou Xian In the Beginning was pure Yin (chaos). Within Yin, entities of many varied forms appeared. These included ‘The Blanks’ and the more familiar first Celestial, Shou Xian( 首先 ), all composed purely of Yin. Out of the chaos Shou Xian formed the philosophy of Yang(order), a seemingly conflicting concept, in order to replace Yin. He spoke his philosophy into being. Over eons, the peace between Shou Xian and ‘the Blanks’ eroded into a feud. They hated the philosophy and realization of Yang. From this feud stemmed a long war. Before Shou Xian could be defeated he began wielding both Yin and Yang together, something never before seen. However the combination of these opposing but complementary philosophies, though something before now unseen, act naturally with each other. These opposing forces in a twist of fate blended and intermingled creating the completely new philosophy of Yin Yang. In an act of desperation, Shou Xian placed ‘the Blanks’ in their own portion of Yin. He separated himself from Yin. From this act, stemmed a new era of peace. Primordial Era: Creation In this new era of harmony, Shou Xian forged 7 realms out of Yin Yang. These realms came to be known as:Tian(Heaven), Omnipolis, The Spirit Realm and Fanren(the Physical realm) With this, Shou Xian decided that other beings should enjoy sentience. Therefore, he split himself into the two governing facets of Yang(order), Cosmos, which is space and Chronos, which is time, the Two Great Celestials. Primordial Era: The Gods Heaven, because of its vast size and age became an energetically self-sustaining expanse. As such, from this expanse, entities varying in power began to appear. Chronos and Cosmos decided it fitting to refer to this new class of being as Gods while they themselves being at the apex of spatial consciousness would be referred to as Celestials. The Gods and the Celestials formed an institution to ensure the continued maintenance of orderliness within this newly formed system of peace. This endeavour resulted in the formation of roles and with these roles came status. Some Gods disagreed with this new institution because it created social stratification. Primordial Era: The First Celestial War An initially small faction of Gods revolted against this institution; over time this small faction grew in power and influence and became a threat to the institution. These events sparked what would soon unfold into a celestial war. During the war, each faction was trying to promote their own ideologies throughout each realm. Eventually they came to Fanren. Meanwhile on Earth, mankind appeared. The Pro-institutional faction, to spread their ideology throughout Fanren came to Earth. They went to earth and imparted their ideology upon mankind. When they departed they left with man the ability to summon chants.(Latin based chants, Yang) They also left with them large towers they called pagodas to facilitate communication and report to them whether the rebel faction had appeared on Earth. After some time the Rebel faction appeared on Earth and convinced an exiled race of people of their ideology. They avoided direct conflict in Fanren because of their immense power. The rebel faction constructed 3 Ziggurats for the same purpose as the Pagoda, also granting them the ability to chant. (Greek based Chants,Yin). “After a brutal and seemingly endless war, the Pro-institutionalists implanted what came to be called Seeds of Sorrow into hundreds of men. That help offset the stalemate that stood for so long, bringing the victory on Earth into the hands of the Celestials. Their victory cries, however, were short lived, as the human warriors, seeing how divided they had become and how much blood was spilled because of the intervention of the Gods, began plotting against them and eventually revolted. The Gods, incensed, attempted to remove the ability to chant from the humans but could not because of the pact they had made with mankind-that they will bless with protection and the ability to chant if they defended their respective ideologies. Seeing few other options, they instead split the face of the Earth along several lines, dividing man along the same ideological borders they already had. Thus, the world had been separated into two major and opposite factions. The original(Latin based chants, Yang) chanters and the later(Greek based chants, Yin) chanters.” FIRST SERIES Chanters of Valere: Extended Synopsis: Suggested key events: During Hane's character development he can come to a point where he has a prime opportunity to defeat Lucifer or save some group of people from some form of danger or annihilation. He makes the choice to after Havoc. Sanctus also makes the same decision but Togo goes to save the people. They all fail and it causes a split that sends them on their own paths. After some time they reunite after some further character growth, all with changed perspectives. After failing several times(with Hanes having been nearly fatally injured), the team comes across a semi isolated group of nomads(could be Togo’s people. Could be related to Togo’s people or could be totally separate). These nomads recognize the team as by now they have become fairly well known for rescuing several people. During the two weeks it takes to resuscitate Hanes just enough for him to do basic offensive and defensive moves and chants the team hunts, works and play as the nomads. Togo grows by adopting several of the nomadic traditions and philosophy and Sanctus understands humans a little better. Hanes also becomes absorbed(though less so than the others and after a longer period of time as he initially stayed separate due to his sense of superiority) in the culture. A group of nomadic monks teaches Hanes to deal with his anger and trauma. After some weeks, Hanes has a nightmare of his people and the world burning(showing he is not completely over his PTSD, which is held in place by his guilt and sense of inferiority(as a result of not living up to his dynasty’s name by having not been able to protect his people)). This motivates him to take up back the fight. Sanctus is immediately on board and after initially being hesitant(preferring to live with the nomads; something he is grown up used to) Togo decides to go along with them(having been taught to be a more courageous warrior by the nomads. They form a new plan to defeat Havoc and head out in the cool before sunrise. In total they stay about a monk. The nomads are based on modern Mongolian or Kazakh nomads. After several events, including a daring rescue in a region known as Valere, word spread about three powerful Chanters who rescue people and are on a mission to stop Havoc. The trio only learn of this once they rescue some people/become involved in some task and a little boy asks Hanes or Togo if they're The Three Chanters of Valere. After this they intermittently come across the name. After the second time they embrace it. However they quickly learn that not everyone believes in them and that some people use it for nefarious reasons, including Lucifer to track them. This happens near the end of the story. One of the peoples they happen upon can be matriarchal similar to ancient Vietnam with a woman as chief In the second stage of the series, after Lucifer wins and expands his empire, he tracks down the peoples who formed good relations with the trio when they came across them and gave them and their families everything they wanted for a year. After a year he takes it away and tells them that they can have it back if they give him informative above the trio. The ones who don't tell him are executed. He begins sequentially executing the family of one of won't tell him. When he goes to execute him, he fights them off and escapes. They trio find him in a poor state and resuscitate him. He relates what happened and begins travelling with them as part of their group(is he 1. Lying, and is just working for Lucifer to help him track the trio or 2. Telling the truth and Lucifer allowed him to escape so that he can track the trio?) When does Hanes/Togo marry? Series takes place in two stages: First stage: Introduction to main characters, first, second(nearly fatal) defeats at Havoc’s hands and the team gets introduced to Lucifer who quickly and easily defeats them(stealing a charm that is said to be able to kill or control Havoc.) The universe is also developed, the team expands the number of chants they know and they develop as characters. Lucifer’s origin remains a mystery. Havoc’s background is partially revealed. Havoc’s deicide of the guardians and Lucifer’s fusion with Havoc. Sanctus reveals basic information on the origin of the Havoc. The team becomes well known and respected(especially after the other wordly tournament(done to get the charm)). Ends with Lucifer defeating and merging with Havoc. He then once again confronts a stronger team but defeats them after a bit of a struggle. The crown and sword get destroyed so Hanes loses access to his ancestors and their power. (The series ends with Hanes at 21 and Togo at 15). The whole series takes place over one or two years and cycles through all seasons(summer, winter, autumn and spring). Second stage:(begins 3 years after first stage) It is revealed that after defeating the team, using propaganda, military and political warfare and siege tactics and having become intoxicated with the immense power of a deified Havoc, Lucifer has expanded control over most of the known world and has begun reforming it slowly into his ideal. The team has become outlaws according to Lucifer’s decree that emperors and lay people should kill them on site or report the sighting to one of his officials(with an ensured reward)(he places several wanted posters throughout his kingdom, including large ones at the entry walls of major cities and provinces, which the team encounters and Hanes sometimes destroys). Most do so out of fear. Most people live in fear of Lucifer, others in admiration as his propaganda and historical revisionism runs deep. Many people who also lived as peasants or at the lowest of society or just generally poor before his order and his rule now have resources and opportunities they never had before. There are rebellions here and there which are quickly quashed. This is developed throughout the series. The team is at odds with each other and cannot agree on anything, being so distraught at what has happened. Togo becomes depressed because Lucifer has dispersed what remains of his village(being generalled by his father) and kills most of those in charge to quell rebellions. Hanes falls into a state of despair when he sees that many of the people he saved and that supported the team want to kill them now(out of fear). Sanctus manages to remotivate Togo who manages to remotivate Hanes. Hanes makes a plan to dispatch the assassins continuously sent out by Lucifer to kill them: They risk their lives and make their way to what remains of Hanes’ empire(which is now split up into 3 provinces of Lucifer’s kingdom(to weaken them), their leaders jailed/killed and replaced and most of the remaining population enslaved). They assassinate the provincial governors of each(at great risk). Doing this, they get found out and have to rush the second part of the plan: To declare that prince Hanes has returned as their liberator. They gain the support of a few but not the majority as he lacks the crown and sword(THEY SOMEHOW FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THEIR SUPPORT). The empire is more willing to accept a liberator than other empires and villages as Lucifer is harsher with how he treats them and taxes them heavily, leaving many poor(cuz he knows Hanes is from there and because of the difficulty the team gave him). This attracts many of the assassins who are then cut down by soldiers of the empire and the team. The team, along with the former generals and chiefs(including young Hanes’ former tutor and other people and relationships established throughout the series and through flashbacks) develop a plan to defeat Lucifer and topple his empire. They travel to the most southern part of the known world(a place of great mystery and great difficulty for Lucifer to conquer)where Lucifer is subduing the people. Lucifer sends an army which the generals and their armies dispatch. Lucifer sends his most powerful guard who engages the generals(while the team continues on ahead since they have the most experience fighting Lucifer). The generals are defeated and a weakened guard tracks down and engages the team. He loses but not without dealing damage to each member which makes them reconsider engaging Lucifer who should be many times more powerful. Throughout their journey to the south they experience several unusual occurrences and creatures. After some (during the final battle, Hanes does an attack which causes Sanctus to regain his divinity) Aftermath (illustrated in several webcomics): 1) The funeral of Lucifer (overseen by the team. This is to ensure the world knows he is dead. (He is buried deep in an unmarked grave). 2) The attempts of the team to destroy the rest of the empire and remove those involved in the struggle for its control. They also find and destroy cults dedicated to Lucifer. 3) The attempts of Hanes and Togo to rebuild their respective homes (kingdom, village) with the help of Sanctus at full power (having regained his power after the defeat of Lucifer). 4) The attempts of the team to settle rebellions and destroy organizations that have risen up with the intent of restoring the Empire 5) The attempts of the team to track and destroy other seeds of sorrow 6) The final days of Sanctus’ adventures with the team and his return to the realms of the Guardians (with the goal of mending Lucifer’s (Havoc’s) damage to the Guardians) 7) The subsequent attempts of Hanes to regain control of the other two factions of his father’s empire (two factions join but the third faction refuses leading to decades long conflict that Hanes dies before seeing the end of, though started by him) 8) Hanes has kids. Togo does too. 9) The expansion of the empire by Hanes and the opposition by Togo(as a result, they fall out with each other however, Hanes’ empire and Togo’s village remain at peace). 10) The development of advanced technologies (i.e. 1800s technology) 11) The discovery that death is temporarily neutralized and the rise of the Old Ones to prominence. They are usually war heroes and politicians who become revered(but disdained in the sequel). Hanes and Togo are also Old Ones. 12) The death of Togo’s wife. 13) The discovery of the New World and the exploration of its Greek based chants. 14) Conquest of the New World by Hanes 15) The death of Hanes’ at the hands of followers of the Blanks(who are mostly from the New World) at the age of 500-600. His daughter becomes empress. 16) The funeral of Hanes(attended by Togo and Sanctus) 17) Togo survives into the sequel(dies in the sequel) 18) Sanctus is still Guardian of Earth into the sequel 19) Comics covering these would be best run concurrently to reduce time. HARD DEADLINE: To be started December 2020. Fist comic/book to end December 2022, latest(covering first stage of events) NOTES: a Can be interpreted in two ways. A violent conflict or a discussion/debate. Internal Struggles, Positives and Character archs Hanes: STRUGGLES: Being the prince and heir to the most prosperous and powerful kingdom at the time he grew up learning of the superiority of his kingdom(name?) and the inferiority of all peoples not descended from their common ancestors, the wild and warlike(similar to Scythians) nomads who hunted and killed Pixiu(Chinese winged lions) and wore their heads and coats to show their strength, honor and masculinity. 1. His empire used this to justify their expansionism and enslavement of rival peoples and his father was famous throughout the world and revered in the empire for ruling over 100 million people and for owning 10 000 slaves. Initially Hanes had no problem with this and believed himself to be superior to the people he meets. This is a frequent source of conflict between him and Togo. Throughout the series he learns more and more to change his worldview and he begins to question his image of his father and the ideas he held about greatness. It also affects his ability to draw power from the crown in a time of crisis, playing a role in a devastating defeat. This also manifests both emotionally and physically, affecting his ability to use his chants. His mind is only fully changed after Lucifer wins and Hanes learns that he skillfully reformed his empire in his own image before enslaving the entire empire as revenge against Hanes and his forefathers. 2. His empire idealizes strength and believes that a person’s worth depends on their physical and mental strength. Those deemed weak were usually bullied or had it incredibly difficult. Because of this, he refused to seek help from teachers and laypeople, which severely affects his ability to advance. His ideas are challenged by Togo who points out that as the prince he didn’t face the challenges laypeople faced and as a result he is a hypocrite. This leads to a fight(?). His ideas are also challenged when he sees the great improvements Togo makes the few times they had to settle and lay low with groups of people, as Togo made good relations with those survivors and learns from their experienced men and women. 3.He believes in the myths of his empire, such as the fact that leadership is chosen by heaven and that because he is his father’s only son, he is destined for leadership. Togo points out that his people keep tabs on his people and that his father was king because his grandfather and supporters killed and beat rivals from their family/clan into submission in a power struggle. 4. He struggles with an inferiority complex(feeps inferior when compared to his father who he deifies) which prevents him from wearing the crown and makes him hold back when fighting Havoc POSITIVES: Training and on his own for many years, he understands how some people he has encountered work and is crucial in them not being hampered or killed by the self-serving or desperate nature of people. Something he had to learn brutally due to his sense of superiority. Togo: STRUGGLES: 1. He is relatively naive and weak, insecure. He has little skills in chanting but is highly intelligent. Because of his sense of weakness, he is usually afraid to fight. At the same time, he is equally as stubborn as Hanes, especially as his intelligence and talent as a tactician saves them from trouble a few times. Once their relationship begins to improve a bit, Hanes tries to teach him(but only so the team has a better chance) but his lack of talent makes this difficult and unproductive. He is best taught by the older, more spiritual and more experienced people they encounter. A major motivation of Togo is to locate his people after his village is destroyed by Havoc. 2. Because his people, historically spiritual, sought out the help of the White Snake Spirit(or White Serpent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_White_Snake), at great moral cost, to defend against their enemies, including Hane’s people, he believes that humans need the help of spirits, with little consideration of the costs, to defeat any great foe or do anything great. This brings him into conflict with Hanes, whose people believe only in self reliance and who are wary of spirits, whose help usually comes with a cost. Sanctus’ view is a bit more balanced. This conflict deepens when Togo convinces Sancuts’ and so also Hanes, to seek out the help of the White Serpent, who asks for Togo’s life in return. Togo is willing to give up his life, which he deems with little worth, but Hanes’, showing he cares about him for the first time, along with Sanctus, refuses. This displeases the White Serpent, who, having already granted them whatever they wish(?), attacks them. They are unable to harm her and she only stops when Sanctus........(what happens?). The benevolence of some spirits is only seen when, Togo along with his father, approach the mother goddess of the sea, Mazu(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazu). She sends them on a journey to find Qianliyan( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qianliyan) who assists them with little issue. Perhaps more humanoid spirits can be more benevolent while those less humanoid are complex, not understandable and sometimes completely malevolent but always highly intelligent SEQUEL ANTAGONIST IDEAS - International organization, similar to Gotham’s ‘Court of Owls’, that formed after the events of Chanters of Valere, to help prevent a similar disaster as the Havoc. In time they became corrupt and began to exert a negative and self-serving influence at the detriment to the exercising of law and order. Alternatively, they could also operate within one or two states that are very important to the plot. They seek to destroy the protagonist and her allies through the manipulation of the organizations/bodies that she works for because of her activities against them and because she seeks to expose their existence. In the end, the protagonist is forced to work with them to take down a common enemy but they make it difficult by blocking and limiting her at the whim of specific members in the organization whom she crossed. - Corrupt 'spiritual adviser'(leader of the monastery) to some world leader in the style of Kenneth Copeland. Lacks all connections to the spirit world. Corruption of the monastery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtFWgDbAojo This video has good ideas about the corruption The Old Ones SEQUEL VILLAINS(4 of them) 1. Terrorist Order that are dedicated to restoring the Blanks and introducing Yin in its purest form back into the world and divorced from Yang . As the Old Ones maintain their stranglehold on the world and its sources of power movements arise to oppose them and call for the transfer of power into the younger generations. The lack of progress leads to the origin of more extreme organizations who commit acts of terrorism against the old ones. In response organizations that ideologically support the rule of the Old Ones also arise and these are funded by the Old Ones. This leads to a pseudo war of sorts between the Old Ones and their opposing movements. This eventually causes the rise of a most extreme Order. They believe that the Old Ones are a symptom of a stale order and believe the solution is a Rebirth. They locate and acquire a Seed of Sorrow to aid them. Their initial moves are like a game of chess, gaining control of the Pagoda which can act as a portal to the entry of the Blanks and pure Yin into the world. Their game of chess is over once they and their plans are discovered, after which they unleash their Seed of Sorrow onto the world as a distraction while they try to gain access to the few remaining Pagoda. They temporarily succeed until the protagonist and her allies manage to take them down. They succeed with the actions of some members of pro-Old Ones organizations. Their immoral and criminal actions to gain an advantage over the Order cause the protagonist to question the narrative of moral purity and superiority perpetuated by the party. 2. A killer is on the loose. Someone is killing members of the Party and no one knows who to blame. How are they gaining access? It started with two low level members but a high level and long time member was the most recent. The killer leaves behind clues. Markings on paper and on walls that consist of symbols to be deciphered . The government responds with a heavy hand indicative of their paranoia and detains known members of both violent and peaceful anti-Old Ones syndicates and movements. The rift between the Old Ones and the peoples deepens. After the second clue has been deciphered, indicating the killers next target. The government scrambles to protect him. He is later found dead. This causes a very bloody response by the government against a group of people known to be the origin of a key anti-Old Ones movement, sparking the leader of that movement to declare war on the government. To avoid backlash the government spins the narrative to make it appear as if she’s the one ordering the deaths of the members of the Party and the protagonist and her team have to intercept and go up against her and her goons all the while party members are still being killed. She’s a difficult warrior and skilled chanter, particularly since she is descended from both Arbor(or Unda) and Bestia clans. Upon capture she begs and tries to convince the protagonist that she’s innocent, explaining why the government chose to target her.However, she doesn’t believe her because she doesn’t believe the government would lie about something like that. More party members are killed proving that she is innocent. The government lies and sends the protagonist to protect the party member suspected to be the next target based on a pattern that has been deduced. The killer doesn’t show as expected but the protagonist spots suspicious activity and brings a small group with her. They chase after the suspicious figure and. After a difficult chase, eventually catches up to and captures him. He is revealed to be a ‘beggar' the protagonist assisted at the beginning of the series. He isn’t a part of any movement and acted alone. He is also not a chanter. Despite interrogation and torture he doesn’t reveal who he works with. When the protagonist goes to see him he then reveals his motives. He doesn’t tell her who he is working with but he tells her his motives: in a nearby land that is allied with her government, the leader has called for the extermination of non chanters believing they are lesser and weaken his country. Instead of condemning this, the government funds this smaller government and inconspicuously supports them as their geography is important to maintaining hegemony and acts as a buffer against the government’s enemies(the primary enemy is Hane’s empire which ruled over them until they fought and gained freedom). Some of those non chanters include members of his family. He also tearfully tells her that the leader of the group he is working with will bring about great and positive changes in the world. These events prompt a governmental coverup to avoid disgrace. The government blames and publicly executes the leader of the movement that declared war on them. Upon her execution she declared to those watching that the Old Ones all over the world and especially the party will meet justice for their crimes. They also execute the serial killer. This action causes the protagonist to seriously consider her role in the government’s actions and plans. The protagonist and her group is eventually celebrated as a hero by the party, awarded a medal and blessed by the(corrupt) leader of the monastery 3. A key ally of the government has