Prologue summary:
Castle nation at war with enemy, then 10 years later a hellgate opens. Demons/monsters spill out and start to destroy everything. Nations unite to fight demon army. Villagers are conscripted into service. By grand royal decree, quotas of slain demons/monsters are required for promotions or retirement, but length of service is typically 4 years. Some villagers believe conspiracy that the grand royal family and high clergy are demons since they never fight or refuse to mount large attacks on demon camps.
The MC's village is under the protection of a castle that has united with the grand royals main nation. Medium sized, content and satisfied population with no grievance against the castle royals. Conscripts are usually sent to border posts to guard their lands.
MC is a man who is 2 days away from leaving for training. His family runs several businesses: a tavern, bathhouse, farm, and secret safehouse for nation spies. MC is a bouncer in the tavern. He trains to fight and keep order to better prepare him for conscripted service.
MC family includes mother (M,runs tavern, dancer), sister (S, bartender), brother (B, in army), father (F, in army with brother), grandmother (GM, runs bathhouse, helps bartend), aunt (A, spy network) and cousin (C, spy network, uncle died in demon attack). MC friends include girlfriend (GF, maid), tavern coworkers, farm workers.
Ch 1 summary:
Sounds of grunts before seeing MC doing squats with a log on his shoulders. He is working out in a barn, various logs and rocks used for training. Farm workers are corralling sheep and horses, hay bales being tossed. Female farmhand walks into barn, compliments MC. MC finishes workout, heads to bathhouse. Meets GF at entrance. Both greet MC GM at front counter. Handed towels and walk to large bath. GM cleared out bath so MC and GF can be alone. GM spies on them. MC and GF finish and leave. GM watches them leave. MC and GF go to tavern. S bartending. MC and GF go to bar. S tells them M is about to get on stage to dance. M dance. GF drinks, MC works. MC keeps people from getting on stage. M finishes and thanks MC with a kiss on the head before leaving. Crowd cheers M. M changes and goes behind bar to talk and serve drinks. MC walks around tavern until close. MC helps clean before closing up with M and S. GF goes home. MC, M, and S go home.
Next day. MC wakes up, goes to common room. Sees M awake, greets MC. M tells MC to rest today since he leaves for training tomorrow. Asks MC to sit and talk, discuss B and F in army. GM knocks on door, enters. MC leaves for a moment. GM talks with M about business. MC returns. GM leaves. Soldier knocks on door, asks MC to go to chapel for pre-training blessing. MC leaves, M sits thinking about what GM said. MC arrives at chapel with a dozen other people. Priest and nun give blessing. MC leaves, goes to tavern to open. S arrives to help. MC and S talk about training and service. S will miss working with MC. Tavern opens, MC walks around. M begins dancing, MC pulls people off stage. M stares at MC, falls off stage. MC catches her then helps her to the back. M leaves, M changes. GF arrives at bar. GM arrives at bar. M arrives and goes behind bar. GM gets on stage and toasts MC and others for leaving in the morning for training. Everyone cheers. Everyone leaves. MC, S, GF clean bar. GM leaves with M. MC, GF and S close bar and leave. GF goes home. GM talks with M on the walk home. MC greets GM and M on arrival. MC kisses M and GM good night and goes to sleep. GM hugs M, leaves. M lays in bed, unable to sleep wondering if MC will be okay.
Next day. M wakes MC up, brings food on tray. M reminds MC he leaves for training today. MC says it is only a couple months then he will be back to visit before going to his post. M says she will still miss him, kisses M on forehead. M stands and leaves room. MC finishes breakfast, gets dressed, leaves room. M grabs his bag in the common room. S is waiting for him. S hugs MC tightly, says she will miss him too. M tells MC to be careful. MC leaves home for training.
Thoughts:
I'm torn between completing the remaining summaries before working on the visual designs. I have basic Daz models made of some of the cast, but the environments and props are the big time-spender right now. Atmospherics play a big part in how I envision this story unfolding.
GrayTShirt
Next update: Basic character models.