When I first got into the FE scene, there was 1 hack that I heard that really tickled my teenaged self’s brain, and that was Elibian Nights, which for those that don’t know, was an anthology of characters in Elibe. Since then, I kinda wanted to do something like it for Magvel, and I am happy to say that after about a decade believe it or not, I am happy to show off Apocrypha of Stones!
Oh hell to the absolute YES. I was so sad to see when Elibean Nights was discontinued/canceled; but what was able to be played was always sick as hell. So seeing someone pick up that Holy Grail of an idea for Sacred Stones? Killer. Thank you for this and I hope the best for the final product, whenever it may release!
So I played through Ephraim’s Tale, and trawled through the others.
Thoughts
Forgive the bluntness, but the main thing that struck me was a seeming lack of vision for these tales, on a plot level, and in terms of usage of the characters/setting.
Ephraim’s tale is about a rebellion in occupied Grado. Sure, that’s ripe for a lot of different things and juicy conflict. Except instead it turns out this rebellion is lead by a “village idiot” who just wanted to make a big mess because he thinks the occupiers aren’t real warriors (I guess?), and no other ambitions or particularly coherent objections. Everything just gets wrapped up with taking them all down, no real muss or fuss or greater concerns. Not much seems to be elucidated on a character level either; it’s a pretty banal event as far as Ephraim and Innes are concerned.
But then none of the tales seem to have much of interest going on with their plots or characters. Joshua’s tale is about putting down another rebellion, except these guys are a cult who want to resurrect the Demon King (probably) and then they all get killed and everything’s fine. Ross’s is about fighting bandits. Saleh’s is also fighting bandits but they stole a sword (the sword is retrieved at the end). L’Arachel’s has an interesting opening concept with her being visited by the Demon King while asleep, and so resolving to dispose of the Stone with his soul on a faraway island… and then all that really happens is that she does succeed in throwing the stone in the hole. There’s not really any compelling character interactions or interesting developments in the individual chapter’s plots.
I understand that comparisons to Elibean Nights are unfair on some level- it was a massive community juggernaut with tons of support, and it has two games’ worth of material to use. But the main thing I saw there that I wanted to see here was a keen interest in telling a compelling standalone plot, or in building off and elaborating on established characters and setting, and feeling free to add its own characters and flourishes.
I have other things I could say about the gameplay and prose, but this is the main thing that I don’t really understand: what exactly is the vision or the ambition with this hack? I just can’t see it, from what I’ve experienced.
I think the vision thing was what stuck with me the most. When I was planning out the tales, I just wanted something to exist in the first place, which is why they felt so bland.
In regard to Ephraim, I want to change it so the guy that got blackmailed (initially) is now the entire reason it was funded, because he is a disgraced Grado noble that wanted revenge, and Ephraim’s throne now means he can’t stay in Grado for a prolonged period of time to deal with anymore that are there.
I have ideas for fixing the other tales, but rn it’s mostly been about getting something out. That said, vision will be more in scope, especially as I start with working on the past tales.
Played through Ephraim’s Tale and halted at Ross’ Tale.
It is quite a bit rough gameplay wise, I’d say. Ephraims Tale felt a bit long, with lots of trees, and weak enemies obscuring the path. Multible fliers is nice though.
The idea of being in the far future and experiencing these stories through the lense of a librarian is a really neat idea, but the stories themselves as layed out by knabepicer are a bit thin in concept. I wish I saw a bit more discussion between Ephraim and the council people.
I’ve been working on making the tale better, and I think you really hit it on the head with what needs to change. Particularly with council interactions.
