Mercenaries
Following the purging of Galeem's influence from Smash City Alcamoth in the Eryth Sea, a great many new fighters pledged themselves to the campaign to end the reign of the World of Light. Under the organizational expertise of the seasoned mercenary Vandham, the Alcamoth Mercenaries came into being. While the heroes who fought and gathered strength from the beginning would continue hunting Galeem's chosen, this group would attend to other matters in the World of Light.
Vandham deploys four-man mercenary teams to take on missions around the World of Light. Missions can take on a variety of forms, all benefiting the campaign in some way. They'll passively perform scouting trips to find new missions to undertake, and to network together settlements that the heroes have visited. Mission types, with their base rewards, include:
- Scout: explore an area. Awards new missions on the Board
- Hunt: eliminate enemies from an area. Awards a number of enemy spirits
- Search: seek out a particular individual or group of individuals, either fitting a description or having a certain ability. Awards a new recruit or the spirit of the target
- Fetch: gather resources from the target area. Awards resources
- Claim: seek out a valuable item or artifact from the area. Awards that treasure
- Build: set up a new structure in the target area. Awards a strategic foothold in the area that can be used to manufacture, resupply, defend, or whatever as needed
- Develop: look into a new technology or other ingenuity to support the efforts of the mercenaries. Can include weapons, vehicles, power-ups, networks, and more Awards vary
- Strike: take on an enemy stronghold. Awards spirits, strong spirits, and treasure
- Raid: take on one of Galeem's champions. Awards the champion spirit and campaign progress
The results of all missions depend on the team chosen for the job. Mercenary 101 is that teams should have members with a variety of specialties that allow them to confront varied situations. The bog standard composition is one tank, one healer, and two damage-dealers. Characters with talents that are well-suited to the task at hand will have an easier and more productive time; in some cases, they're necessary to make any progress. A team that's too weak or whose members cannot overcome certain challenges may suffer injuries or even losses, and the mission can go wrong or even fail entirely. Mercenaries who complete missions can progress to higher rankings, indicating their strength and ability. Levels are indicative of World of Light power, not original power. They can also be commanded to fuse with spirits to augment their abilities. Mercenary levels, with their current members, are as follows:
Ice Climbers, Pikachu, Mym, Falco, Jigglypuff, Ness, Mona, Ashley, Yennefer, Arcade Bunny, Terry Bogard, Diddy Kong, Gogoat, Olimar, Mr. Game and Watch, ROB, Mii Brawler, Mii Swordfighter, Mii Gunner, Joe Higashi, Josie Rizal, Guile, Bomberman, Starfy, Nikki, Toadsworth, Luigi, Max Howard, Louis Amamiya, Ghalt, Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Jones, Val, Athena, Tressa, Caesar, Mr. Bones, Skelly, Pandemonica, Eddie Riggs
Mewtwo, Euden, Vandham, Zelda, Dr. Mario, Nintendog, Wii Fit Trainer, Chrom, Corrin (Female), Shovel Knight, Din, Nero, V, Jak & Daxter, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, Junkrat, Roadhog, King Dedede, Steve, Knuckles
Dante, Mario
Players interested in getting something done out in the World of Light can request missions using Alcamoth's Moogle Messangers. Just calling out for a Moogle is enough for a player character to summon one, who can take a request to deliver to Vandham. Requests require mission type, location, objective, and team composition. Once a mission has been started, a Snapshot can be made at a later date that gives a look into what the team got up to at a point during the mission. The Snapshot can be written by me, the requestor, or whoever's interested. Only after the Snapshot is written and posted can the mission be completed and its rewards attained. The requesting PC also needs to know the mission parameters, of course.
Available Missions:
- SCOUT – Land of Adventure Northwest, Land of Adventure Northeast, Land of Adventure Southwest, Land of Adventure Southeast, 1-1 South, Dark Forest East
- ”A New Age of Pizza” - SEARCH – Seek out someone who knows a thing or two about pizza in the Land of Adventure for Mona. Hat Kid mentioned a certain trio who fit the bill. Movement skills recommended.
- ”Territorial Rotbart” - HUNT – Eliminate the gigantic, overleveled ape wandering around in the open in southwestern Land of Adventure. Serious combat skills recommended.
- "Deathmatch at Lakeside - STRIKE - The location of an oasis between a pyramid and a slew of ruins has been pinpointed, and the ruins are occupied by two teams of fighters engaged in an endless shifting battle with one another under the supervision of a nebulous Administrator. Storm the place and bring the conflict to an end, freeing the soldiers for incorporation into our ranks if possible, and retrieving any usable supplies
- "Banned for Toxicity" - HUNT - Some kind of large monster is emerging from the depths of Seethewater Cave among the mountains near Spiral Mountain, blighting the nearby fields and devouring anything in its path. The cave itself is a poisonous swamp, with early reports confirming hideous vermin and cultists overtaken by fungal growths. Eliminate the boss, Ghom, and as many other pests as possible after making antidotes from the herbs around Spiral Mountain
- "Last Resort" - STRIKE - On the far western side of the Eryth Sea is a fortified generator station, with a distinctive wind wheel in the center. Reports indicate the presence of both a sizeable cache of both weapons and vehicles, but it is well-protected by a detachment of savage Locust soldiers
- "Submerged City" - CLAIM - A section of the Eryth Sea features mostly underwater ruins. There is treasure to be found among its sunken structures and ships, but beware the sharks that infest the area
- "Mad Forest" - SEARCH - Among the mountains near Spiral Mountain is a stretch of woodland. Immediately upon entering, anyone appears to be assailed by an endless wave of monsters that don't drop spirits when they die. They start off as weak bats but progress to zombies, skeletons, werewolves, minotaurs, and more, with elites and special waves appearing at intervals. All of them simply move toward the intruders to deal contact damage, overwhelming them with numbers. The only reprieve seem to be the braziers, which sometimes drop roasted chicken when destroyed. Spiral Mountain's strongest fighters have been using the area as a source of food, getting in and out quickly, but none have managed to even get close to the strange buildings in the forest's center
- None
- ”Recruitment Drive: Lumbridge” - SEARCH - Visit Lumbridge town in the Land of Adventure and seek out additional recruits. The refugees from the Dead Zone may be willing to lend their strength. Completed by Dr. Mario, Zelda, Wii Fit Trainer, and Nintendog
- ”Recruitment Drive: Peach's Castle” - SEARCH – Visit Peach's Castle in 1-1 and seek out additional recruits. Characters met briefly by the original party may still be in the area. Completed by Din, Corrin, Shovel Knight, and Chrom
- ”The Main Man” - SEARCH – Seek out Mario in 1-1 and the Paved Wilderness. A famous celebrity and renowned fighter, Mario would be an inspiration to the troops. Completed by Junkrat, Roadhog, Din, and Mym
- "Scout: 1-1 Scrapyyard" - SEARCH - Find out what keeps the robot hordes coming out of the scrapyard to sow chaos across 1-1. Completed by Hollythorn, Daisy, Wario, and Waluigi
- ”Connecting the Hamlet” - BUILD – Visit the Hamlet, town of pigs, in northeastern Land of Adventure and set up a trade route to Lumbridge to prevent the town de-spawning next time the region regenerates. Completed by Steve, Shovel Knight, Knuckles, King Dedede
- "Scout: Dead Zone Desolation" - SEARCH - Venture to the Dead Zone following its apparent annihilation by the enigmatic bomb delivered therein. Confirm the status of the region boss as well as any survivors, if possible. Friendlies to look for: Nico, Ratchet & Clank, Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, Ignis, Doom Slayer. Assigned to Nero, Pit, Banjo/Kazooie, and Yuri Kozukata
- "Paved Wilderness Recruitment Drive" - SEARCH - There are a number of tough fighters in this area who may be of use to the cause, with the pitstop known as Hammerhead a clear standout. Just make sure to avoid association with the mercenaries who wrecked the Rust Arena! Persuasion skills recommended. Completed by Yuri Kozukata, Nero, Pit, and Banjo/Kazooie
- "Scramble Eggman" - DEFEND & STRIKE - After long-term preparations the nefarious Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik has launched his invasion against Peach's Castle, using a mobile base as a staging ground. Actual headquarters unidentified. Forces unknown, presumed robotic but fairly primitive. Unique robot swordsman identified as potential threat. Once the foe is routed, pursue with secondary team to track down Eggman's actual base. Attempted by Junkrat, Roadhog, Mario, Wario, Ness, King Dedede, Caesar, and Pikachu. Only King Dedede, Wario, Ness, and Caesar returned. Later, the others (minus Junkrat) were rescued and the Forlorn Factory returned to the ownership of one Karl Heisenberg, who expressed an interest in the cause
- ”Techno Revolution” - BUILD – Construct a vehicle bay in Smash City Alcamoth. Having vehicles would drastically increase traversal time and options, and also increase combat ability. With the aid of the Wonderful Ones and their Bridges associates the vehicle bay was added to one of Alcamoth's domes, capable of housing aircraft as well as watercraft, which can be deployed by lowering the floating dome to the Eryth Sea's surface
- "Far Above Eryth" - DEVELOP - After several trips, scouts discovered what amounts to a hiking trail up through the mountains on the southern side of the Eryth Sea, enabling Alcamoth to more easily reach Spiral Mountain and the community there. Traders now exchange Eryth Sea's fish for Spiral Mountain's crops
These structures can be found littered throughout the world, irrespective of an area's technology level or theme. They are arcane prisons, with capstones that glow purple at all times when active, and which lead into pocket dimensions shrouded in quiet darkness and enclosed in an impenetrable ghostly barrier a little wider than the brick-lined depression itself. their captives victims of a cosmic filing accident on Galeem's part when recycling the ashes of infinite realms into the World of Light, and unceremoniously deposited into such dour receptacles.
In essence, these errors are the result of an index overlap caused by shared names, and the prisoners of each Evergaol themselves are amalgamations, though what form this takes is different every time. Therefore, said prisoners are also aberrations that Galeem couldn't instantiate into its world properly and have, by no fault of their own, lost their chance at a new existence. Instead they are kept in stasis, confined forever, since no being under Galeem's influence can activate an Evergaol. If somehow activated, however, the Evergaol follows the principle of 'loser stays'; the prisoner and the challenger are both locked inside until one is proved the victor in a trial by combat, at which point the victor is ejected back into the World of Light. However, activating an Evergaol also weakens the seal, and if reactivated again afterward it can be opened to let out whoever's inside, or even trap an outsider within.
Players can design their own Evergaols for one another to encounter in the World of Light. They simply have to follow the principle of a shared name, and an amalgam that is the result. Prisoners can incorporate 2-3 characters/entities/weapons/etc of the same name, and how they overlap is up to you to work out. They don't have to be horrific or anything. Once the idea is written up and suggested, preferably in a spoiler hider, it is a candidate for acceptance
Known Evergaols
In essence, these errors are the result of an index overlap caused by shared names, and the prisoners of each Evergaol themselves are amalgamations, though what form this takes is different every time. Therefore, said prisoners are also aberrations that Galeem couldn't instantiate into its world properly and have, by no fault of their own, lost their chance at a new existence. Instead they are kept in stasis, confined forever, since no being under Galeem's influence can activate an Evergaol. If somehow activated, however, the Evergaol follows the principle of 'loser stays'; the prisoner and the challenger are both locked inside until one is proved the victor in a trial by combat, at which point the victor is ejected back into the World of Light. However, activating an Evergaol also weakens the seal, and if reactivated again afterward it can be opened to let out whoever's inside, or even trap an outsider within.
Players can design their own Evergaols for one another to encounter in the World of Light. They simply have to follow the principle of a shared name, and an amalgam that is the result. Prisoners can incorporate 2-3 characters/entities/weapons/etc of the same name, and how they overlap is up to you to work out. They don't have to be horrific or anything. Once the idea is written up and suggested, preferably in a spoiler hider, it is a candidate for acceptance
Known Evergaols
- Three-headed's Evergaol - Cerberus