Hi all! 
Just dropping this here for my Discord friends and anyone else who’s interested in the details of my first hack idea, Sons of Loki!
Taking place a little before Fire Emblem’s usual timeframe, Sons of Loki is a historical fiction set during the Cimbrian War in the late 2nd century BCE, from the perspective of the Germanic tribes. Driven from their homes by famine, they seek to settle new lands among less-than-friendly Celts and Romans, all while a cult of Loki attempts to free him, bringing about the events of Ragnarok.
Story
Almoric the Thief, known to trusted ones as Alruna, lives with a group of Cimbrian seeresses in Denmark. Having street-honed knife skills, she studies swordsmanship under the great commander Calgary. Ravaged by famine, an assembly is held where it is decided that many shall leave their home to embark southward to more opportunistic lands.
Setting course from the Jutland peninsula, they quickly encounter other Germanic tribes with the same idea, namely the Teutons and Ambrones. They swiftly but loosely combine their forces as they sail to the coast of Poland, following the river Oder southward to destiny.
They pillage towns for supplies and recruits as they go, eventually running into the Romans at Noreia. The vastly outnumbered Germanic tribes pull a surprising victory, thanks in part to the strong leadership of the newly-recruited military prodigy King Boris. After being denied settlement in Roman lands, the Germans then march west, venturing elsewhere for fertile lands to settle in.
Along the way, they encounter a cult of Loki, who see His imprisonment as unfairly cruel. They plan to break His bonds by having His grandsons eat the Sun and Moon, setting off the events of Ragnarok and dooming humanity.
To stop them, Alruna and co. must get divine help from the supernatural creatures in Jotunheim, travelling to the corners of the known world to collect various magical artifacts, including the Fire Emblem: a rose-gold ring garnished with a brilliantly fiery ruby. They must also free King Bennet and his son Connor of the Arverni, prisoners of war on the island of Alba.
Will the Germans find prosperity in new lands? Will the Romans put an end to their perceived “campaign of terror?” Or will Loki and his sons be set free, leaving nought but two lone humans in the wake of their destruction? The answer, dear reader and potential player, is up to you.
Poems
INTRO
Ages ago, | in days of yore…
Children of men | yet to be born…
Etuns on earth, | and in high heaven the gods…
There was Lucan (Loki), | Laubauya’s (Laufey) son.
Though friendly at first | was of Ferabautan (Farbauti) he…
From an etun were children | of evil three…
Said to eradicate the earth and high heaven…
Known as the Council’s Fate (Ragnarok).
One after another | were his offspring caught…
Ermungand (Jormungandr) into the Great Sea (Uthaf) | by the All-Father (Odinn) thrown…
Faniwari (Fenrir) for Tiu’s (Tyr) | right hand bound…
And Halia (Hel) named | Nebilheim’s (Nivlheimr) queen.
Then were turned the eyes | of the gods to Lucan…
Who fulfilled becoming | Balder’s (Baldr [DIFFERENT]) killer.
So from Wrendy (Rindr) did Wodan (Odinn) | Walan (Vali) beget…
To bind [Loki] by the guts | of Narvan (Narfi).
Oftest is foretold | to come a day…
The Sun and Moon | swallowed whole…
By the wolven children (Sköll, Hati) | of the Half-Blind’s (Odinn) Bane (Fenrir)…
When all the bonds | will break.
WEAPONS TRIANGLE
Sword against spear, | axe against sword;
Most often is the long one | the little one’s killer.
But should one neglect the power | of axe against spear,
The blade swiftly conquers | the cumbersome point.
With sword’s edge, | to the arm you can reach,
But far can axes | and spears be thrown.
A fighter must this doctrine, | as their shield, remember.
Should the weapon be wrong, | they shall fall in battle.
Planned Mechanics
Considering that this takes place at a time when metalworking was in its adolescence, armour as we know it was much too bulky and expensive to be worth using. As such, Armour Knights will not be a part of this hack.
Cavalry units can dismount at will, sparking balance changes:
- Mounted units travel farther (of course) and are harder to hit, but have more difficulty hitting enemies themselves.
- Dismounted units are more open to attack and limited in movement, but hit much harder and more accurately.
Single promotion.
Pillaging and capturing are universal mechanics. You can choose either to visit any village, or pillage it. You can also choose to attempt to capture any enemy unit.
It’s still in the planning stages, but at this moment I’m mainly trying to work out pacing, character dynamics, and the more magical aspects of the story.
Stay tuned for updates, and do let me know if you’re interested in assisting with the project. It’s always a good idea to have one more head. 