Story Poll: Commerce Emperor, Sirius, or Blood & Fur? (Patreon)

Hello everyone, 

I have reviewed your comments on how the Patreon should progress and your viewpoints. From I read, I'm leaning toward having a balance between deadlines and flexibility: one story with a set amount of chapter(s) per week (like one large chapter guaranteed), and then either publish more entries or chapters from the other stories if they're polished enough. 

As such, I'm running a poll for the story which will be the main 'focus;' the one which will have guaranteed updates each week. The others will probably be written on the side more irregularly, but the story choice would be the main focus at least in the short term. 

For that purpose, you'll find below a more detailed pitch of each story, including an official cover made by either Dinovoila or Vitaly, then pictures from other works I grabbed from the net to better illustrate the 'feel' of the story. 

I'm eager to see which one you'd prefer ;)

-----------

Commerce Emperor: the Merchant's ballad

An assassin is being paid a Devil's Coin to hunt down the Merchant Hero.

Art cover by Dinovoila.

When she departed the world of Pangeal and entrusted it to the Four Artifacts, the goddess Arcane left behind a gift to the newborn humanity: twenty-two classes embodying the greatest virtues of mortal civilization, each carrying a unique power. The Seven Great Classes, the Knight, the Mage, the Rogue, the Merchant, the Ranger, the Bard and the Priest; their fourteen Vassals, weaker but no less brave; and the Fatebinder, who summons them all in times of great need. Such time is now upon Pangeal; the nations of the world marshal for war, pestilence spreads, and the Demon Ancestors sow the seeds of discord. The world needs Heroes.

Enter Robin Waybright.

A good-natured and ambitious knave, Robin is the new Merchant: he can buy and sell anything. Anything. Skills, memories, years of life, joys and illnesses… anything can be traded away for the right price. Having witnessed his homeland of Archfrost ravaged by civil war and the terrible conditions in which his fellow commoners suffer, he decides to improve the world with the powerful magic of all: money.

But Robin is only one of twenty-two Heroes chosen by their classes to guide the continent in these troubled times; from a pirate queen eager to free her colonized homeland to an artisan with the power to fuse items together, from a mysterious alchemist with the dream of save everyone from the evils of disease to a naughty nun with the ability to teleport, Pangeal is full of champions with their own quests, powers, and adventures.

It is up to this generation to make the world a better place… and perhaps save themselves while at it.

A typical hero gathering.

Art Source: Octopath Traveler II.

Commerce Emperor is a story about a large cast of Heroes each seeking their own path in a ‘low fantasy’ world. In Pangeal, magic is limited and mostly revolves around the twenty-two classes, each with a unique power. The Merchant can buy and sell anything, the Knight masters any weapon they wield, the Artisan can fuse items, the Wanderer can teleport anywhere they want… each class found a Hero in which to incarnate, with their own dreams and tales to tell.

The story’s central character is Robin Waybright, the current Merchant, who decides helping people isn’t just about fighting demons, but also giving them better lives. Rather than go around killing monsters–though there will be plenty of that–he decides to use his gifts to help countries develop economically, to foster technological progress, and improve the lives of commoners who are so often forgotten.

Money can move the world, as they say.

Art Source: The Witcher Gwent Card Game.

At the same time, however, Robin’s story intersects with those of his fellow heroes, who each follow their own individual quests. Sometimes these journeys align, sometimes they diverge, with stakes ranging from finding redemption for past crimes to freeing their homeland from an oppressive empire. Each Hero will have their own interludes, their own tales to say.

Pangeal is also unlike many other worlds of mine in that it is relatively low-fantasy. Besides the classes, magic in Pangeal revolves around a form of 'witchcrafting' manipulating the essence of objects, reinforcing them, storing elemental power, or even altering life itself. Magic and science are one, with the local church promoting technological progress as sacred to their smith goddess. Though there are beastmen and demons around, the former are trying to assimilate into society, while the latter are born of transformed men rather than monsters crawling out of Hell.

When tech meets magic, neither the sea nor the sky are beyond reach.

Art Source: Manora from Goodfon

Though Robin will learn skills and magic through his journey, this series would have less action compared to my earlier work and instead focus on character interactions, exploration, economic development, intrigue, and more small-scale conflicts. The world is in no risk of being destroyed, but many risk their souls and lives around Pangeal. Robin himself would also be a friendly character in the vein of Ryan Romano from The Perfect Run, whose ultimate goal is to help others, though he can prove roguish at times. No tortured main character soul here.

In short, pick Commerce Emperor if you’re more tempted by a character-focused story with a large cast of heroes, each with their own story to tell, and with a good-natured Merchant entrepreneur as the lead.

-----------------------------

The Stars of Sirius: A Transhumanist Space Opera

Station Sirius, the metal face of humanity.

Art done by Vitaly S. Alexius

The old Voltaire said: if we didn’t have God, we would have to invent him. The new Voltaire replied: now that we have invented God, we must build It.

It has been centuries since mankind conquered space, and things have changed greatly. Automation is now so advanced that most people simply cannot find work, and a handful of algo-barons dominate a market that demands change. Immortality is now a possibility, but many wonder if it should be a right. Androids and Uploaded Intelligences, the downloaded consciousnesses of dead human individuals, militate to be recognized as equal to humans. And though faster-than-light travel remains yet out of reach, wormholes link an ever-expanding interstellar network together preyed upon by space pirates. The core of this empire are the twin stars of Sirius, whose gravitational interactions make the creation of portals possible. It is a place of opportunity and adventures, where cyborgs, spaceships and visionary megacorps abound.

One of the many small people toiling in the shadow of space stations, Ashley Yu was given a raw deal by life; a life that risks being cut short by a cosmic ray-induced cancer. When she considers turning to space piracy out of desperation, a group of scientists associated with Law Enforcement approach her with a strange offer: bond with an experimental model of nanomachine suit, the Watcher Units, and its operating AI Raphael, in exchange for her cancer being cured. With little choice, Ashley accepts.

Raphael turns out to be quite the bleeding heart, and what starts as a desperate last-minute decision blossoms into a strong friendship between a cynical woman and an idealistic machine. The duo joins Sirius’ Watcher Initiative, a semi-automated organization aiming to bring law and order to the cosmic frontier.

And challenges are many: bio-mod addicted genefreaks, cyborg space pirates, immortality-rights terrorists, would-be ultimate lifeforms, a criminal mastermind who can see the future through the power of math… and last but not least, the rise of ever better artificial intelligence and transhumanist movements.

For if the creation of a technological God is inevitable… What should be Its purpose?

Stars of Sirius would be my first work with a female main character.

Art Source: Metroid.

The Stars of Sirius is a pure sci fi anthology series following the adventures of Ashley Yu, a law enforcement agent and freelance bounty hunter, and her AI nanosuit and companion, Raphael. In a mix of Metroid, Guyver, Bioshock and Procedural shows a la Disco Elysium, the two would explore a cosmos where space travel is cheap, criminals can turn themselves into biological tanks on legs with the right mods, escalating automation is threatening to make free-market capitalism obsolete, and godhood might just be around the corner.

A nanosuit at work.

Art source; Spyro Alexander, Deviantart (based on Guyver)

While including space adventures and a long-running plot in the background, the story would mostly focus on self-contained arcs dealing with philosophical and societal questions relative to technology: immortality is now possible, but should it be a right for all or a privatized matter? Are the Uploaded Minds of the dead truly humans, with human rights? Should mankind redefine what humanity means to keep up with Artificial Intelligences that risk making workers obsolete? Should machines be granted ethical guidelines, or should they be free to develop naturally? Should we keep looking for alien life in the absence of answers?

Space welcomes explorers and wonders alike.

Art Source: Dedisun, Deviantart.

At the same time, Stars of Sirius would explore the relationship between the two leads, and beyond that, transhumanism. Nanosuits can incorporate technology into themselves, including ‘biomods,’ and even save their hosts from what should be certain death. In the vein of progression fantasy, Ashley would accumulate quite the arsenal… and perhaps redefine what it means to be human.

In short, Stars of Sirius would be a series mixing both good old space action with much deeper philosophical themes than any of my other stories beforehand. Choose it if you want a sci-fi with exciting cyberpunk battles, starfighters duel, human/AI friendship, and some heavy questions to answer.

------------------------------------

Blood & Fur: A Mesoamerican Fantasy

The Night of the Scarlet Moon, when dead gods feast on the living.

Cover Art by Dinovoila.

Each year, a new emperor rules in Yohuachanca. Chosen among the common people, he is a venerated ceremonial idol, the gods’ representative on the mortal realm. Only the most delicious of food graces his palate; the realm’s most beautiful women fill his harem; his palace dazzles the mind in its beauty; and four priestesses counsel him in all matters. The life of an emperor is good, luxurious, and short.

For at the year’s end, he is sacrificed to the Nightlords under the light of the Scarlet Moon.

This vampire nobility has ruled Yohuachanca since times immemorial as living gods, demanding blood sacrifices in return for protection. The emperor is a mere symbol, a sacred cow fattened for the banquet. His power is borrowed, his palace a golden cage, his blood the finest vintage. His heart will be fed upon, as were those of his countless predecessors, to remind the herd of its place.

Iztac knew it very well. A shunned, pisspoor young man, he dreamed of becoming an explorer before the Gods-in-the-Flesh chose him as the year’s sacrifice. When escape proves impossible, he decides to spit the Nightlords the only way he can: by stabbing his own heart so as to deny them their prize. But death proves neither an escape nor an end; it is only the beginning.

For though the Nightlords won’t let their meal die before the Night of the Scarlet Moon, Iztac’s first death awakens him to his true nature: he is Nagual and Tlacatecolotl, sorcerer and shapeshifter, whose soul journeys into the secret underworld in his sleep to steal the secrets of the spirits and the dead. If mastered, his magic could let him escape his fate. To cast the false gods of the night from their bloody thrones.

Guided by the Parliament of Skulls–the vengeful spirits of the previous emperors–he must now venture into two dangerous worlds: the treacherous imperial politics in his waking hours; and the realm of spirits in the time of sleep. Both threaten his soul and body.

Moreover, he is not alone in his struggle. The four priestesses chosen to be his companions are due to be sacrificed alongside him, unless they can convince the Nightlords to spare them. If handled carefully, they could make powerful allies and companions… or deadly foes.

Iztac, the one year emperor (and latent sorcerer)

Source: Zerochan.

Blood & Fur is a fantasy story set in a world inspired by Mesoamerican legends. In fact, it happens on Earth's mirror; an land where magic is real, dinosaurs haunt the jungles of the world, spirits walk among mortals, and a vampire oligarchy rules a mighty empire spanning all of Mesoamerica. Led by the Nightlords, the self-proclaimed Gods-in-the-Flesh, Yoahuachanca has spent all of its existence at war, ceaselessly searching for fresh blood to anoint their altars. A human emperor is chosen each year alongside four priestesses to serve as the Nightlords’ puppets, only to be sacrificed in a gruesome feast at their tenure’s end.

The story follows Iztac, a young man shunned due to being born with white hair, which is considered an ill-omen in the empire. Chosen to be the new emperor after watching his predecessor’s murder, he rebels and commits suicide on his tenure's first day in an act of defiance. However, his first death awakens Iztac’s true nature: he is a sorcerer and shapeshifter, whose soul travels to the spirit world in his sleep. There, great magical secrets lay buried alongside dangerous spirits, dinosaur gods who once ruled the earth, and dead archmages. Brought back from the dead by the Nightlords, who won’t let him perish until their feast, Iztac realizes that he has a year to learn magic or die for good.

The story would follow two plotlines: in the waking hours, Iztac would play the fool emperor cowed by his captors, as he navigates imperial politics in an attempt to figure out the Nightlords’ weaknesses and gather allies; in his sleep, his spirit ventures into the underworld to learn magic that might help him defeat the Nightlords. The Underworld is made of many levels inhabited by ghosts, mighty spirits, and terrible entities. It is also a source of hidden lore, treasures, and magical secrets that could allow Iztac to match the Nightlords’ vile powers.

The Underworld is made of spheres below the Earth, each full of danger and treasures.

Art Source: Magic the Gathering.

Blood & Fur is heavily inspired by Aztec mythology, so expect a mix of historical accuracy and fantasy elements. This means the story will include some adult content, such as, well, human sacrifices, flower wars, slavery, eroticism etc...  On the brighter side, the story would also include cool magic, vampires, dinosaur gods, and some epic fights.

Yes, there will be dinosaurs.

Art source: Magic the Gathering.

In short, Blood & Fur would be my ‘adult’ story to date, in the sense it would deal with a rather violent world, eroticism, and some morally gray characters. It would also be a story focusing on both games of the mind and magical progression. I would suggest voting for Blood & Fur if you’re looking for more mythology-inspired worlds and magic.

-----------------

Alright, as they say in Death Battle, the combatants are set... up to you to choose the one you love the most!