Chrono Trigger - Schala Project (Community Project)

[skylark]

Nice. I kinda agree on the Retinite thing, though. On the other hand, I kinda think it makes sense that Schala would have read about mystical or strange creatures from books or something. (Not much else to do in Zeal besides dream, right?) Like everybody says, it's your call.

I definitely like the re-work on the Chrono's Mom/Schala conversation. Better than what I had.

[Chocobo_Fan]

The reason I had her know what Retinite was was because Janus knew it as well... I'm not sure if that's because he read about it in Zeal, or if he just knows about monsters since he's the demon king. :/

And *headdesk* *headdesk* *headdesk* at the "it's" thing. Will be fixed. Sorry.

And yeah, "fool" sounds more appropriate for that speech... And actually, she does seem like she'd be self-bashing for that sort of thing... It was kind of her fault that Zeal fell... Kind of. But she just seems like a...self-bashing person. (She reminds me of myself a lot, and I self-bash myself over things like that...) Also, she's supposed to be talking to herself. She's sort of whispering, I imagine... (She should be away from the main group, like Janus is during that scene if I recall correctly)

And hm... Well, Crono at least she'd be kind of attached to, as I imagine her constantly blaming herself for his death. (Same thing with the fall of Zeal; if she hadn't powered the Mammon Machine...) And also, in the normal game, her last line (after she teleports everyone out) is "Crono..."

Robo's may need to be slightly edited, though.

I find it kind of difficult to write for Schala, though. Even though her personality is similar to mine and that makes it somewhat easier to write for her, she's a pretty introverted character in a game where everything we know is through spoken text... o_O I'm sure I'll do okay, though. "Reunion" is going to be kind of tricky in the first part where everyone's being heartless, but I actually have something up my sleeve that I think will work. (I imagine that everyone's being heartless to try to distract themselves, because if they think about it too much, they'll likely break down in tears... o_O Well, except for Janus of course. Schala, however, is too compassionate that even if she tries to hold it back, she'll still probably have a nervous breakdown, ESPECIALLY since she blames herself for Crono's death... Trust me, though, what I have planned for her should work... I hope...)

Anyway, check my previous posts for the edits and stuff.

Edit: Reunion script time. Oh boy.

While everyone else is leaving, Schala is crying off to the side. After everyone leaves (including Lucca), Marle notices.

{Marle}: {8th}...? {null}

*Schala: sad sprite*

{8th}: I know what you're gong through, {Marle}... {full break}
My father, King Zeal, died when I was very young... {null}

{Marle}: ...... {null}

{8th}: Mother noticed I was crying... {delay 01} She was sad too, I know. But she told me... {delay 02} She told be it would be alright. That I shouldn't grieve so much about him. {null}

*Schala faces Marle*

{8th}: "What comes from this earth, returns to this earth." {full break}
That's what she said to me. She said that even though it's sad that he couldn't be with us anymore, I shouldn't grieve. It's our fate. We can't change it. She said... {delay 01} That he was in a better place now, looking down on us... {delay 02} And he would be sad to see me grieving over him. {null}

{Marle}: But... {null}

{8th}: Don't do the same thing to {Crono}, {Marle}. I don't think he'd want to see you like this... {null}

{Marle}: But... {delay 01} But I can't just give up like this! Doesn't it still hurt, that your father's gone? I can't just... {delay 01} forget about him! {null}

*Schala walks towards the gate to the terrace with the light pillars, but stops at the entrance to the gate*

{8th}: Yes... {delay 02} It still hurts... {delay 01} When I think about him... {full break}
But you can't bring him back. Nothing can reverse death. {full break}
Of course, you can still... {delay 02} prevent it... {null}

*Schala: crying sprite, though her sprite is turned away from the camera*

{8th}: *sob* {full break}
I'm sorry... {delay 02} It's all my fault... {null}

{Marle}: {8th}, don't say that... {null}

*Schala: normal sprite*

{8th}: We... {delay 01} We should go, before the Gates close. Otherwise we'll be stuck here forever. {null}

*she runs off*

{8th}: *sob* {null}

{Marle}: {8th}...! {null}

*Marle: sad sprite*

{Marle}: I suppose... {delay 02} She's right... {delay 01} There's no point in trying to reverse death... {null}

*Marle: normal sprite*

{Marle}: I, I should go... {delay 02} She's right, I don't want to be stuck here forever... {null}

*Marle walks off*

When Gaspar pops out of the Gate at Leene's Square:

{8th}: Gaspar, you actually made a Time Egg? Why didn't you tell us?! {null}

After Gaspar retreats into the portal:

{8th}: Gah! Gaspar, come back! We need that Time Egg!! {null}

***

Phew, hopefully that's good enough. o_o

Now to revise her text for the "Beyond Time" ending...

[justin3009]

I'm going to pull a cheap thing and make it so when you win or lose against Magus, and after all their speeches, it'll just warp you to the village or something.  I can't figure out how to temporarily disable the Epoch.  I'd have it move...but that seems really odd to have it move here, then come back after that.

[mav]

I definitely agree on the introversion part--Schala fits the profile of someone who'd bottle things in, perhaps she'd take a more extroverted approach after the Fall of Zeal, but otherwise, she seems like the quiet, thoughtful, self-bashing type.

Oh and I think the warping would be fine, assuming that the player will always be able to trek back to the Epoch.

[Chocobo_Fan]

That sounds fine, Justin. Anything that works.

Also, I edited my previous post to include her text for the "Reunion" ending. Please give feedback!

Oh, and I think there should be a little conversation if she meets one of the Gurus... (e.g. Melchior at his house, finding Belthasar's Nu... I don't think Gaspar would be too shocked, since he probably saw them save her, though. I wonder if Belthasar programmed a reaction to seeing Schala in the case it happened? Or Schala could just say "Belthasar! So this is where the timegate sent you! It's been so long!" and the Nu being all ambivalent and "blahdy blah blah do this blah blah". Poor Schala.)

I think I'll do those after I revise her text for the "Beyond Time" ending.

Edit: Reading time for you, sanity implosion time for me. Yay.

***

(Firstly, Marle obviously won't ask Janus if he's going to "search for Schala". Her first text will be...)

After Lucca and Robo discuss whether or not Robo will exist in the new future:

{8th}: Don't worry, {Lucca}. Gaspar did a lot of research on time. One of the things I saw in his notes was called "Time Traveler's Immunity". It says that to avoid a paradox, time travelers aren't affected by changes to the timestream... {null}

{Marle}: ...Wha? {null}

{Lucca}: Uh...? {null}

{Robo}: ...Sorry. I seem to be unable to comprehend what you are trying to explain. {null}

{Magus}: ...... {null}

{8th}: ...... {full break}
Well, the point is, {Robo} will be fine. He won't be phased out of existence when he returns to the bright future or anything like that. {null}

{Lucca}: Oh. That takes a lot off my shoulders, then. {null}

*she turns to Robo*

{Lucca}: Still, though... {delay 01} It hurts to say goodbye... {full break}
{Robo}... {delay 02} Stay safe. {null}

(The text resumes from Robo's "you have taught me these emotions" speech)

(Insert the text I wrote for her during this ending a while back here)

***

^ Sorry if it might sound a little off in that part. Justin can edit it if he thinks it'll flow better in-game.

Whew, now for the Gurus...

(Also, I'd appreciate it if someone gave me a script dump or showed me playthroughs of the LS and DV so I can find reactions for her there...)

Also, I'm about to add "Why didn't you tell us?!" to Schala's "You actually made a Time Egg?!" line in my previous post.

[mav]

Heh, I liked this. We're solidifying the idea of Time Traveler's Immunity now, eh? Anyhow, Schala's fuckin' brilliant, so I'm sure she'd know of it. Sounds all good.

[Chocobo_Fan]

Thanks. ^_^ I was expecting someone to think the Reunion script was a bit off, ("Did Zeal know the planet was teh Entity or something? o_O") but it looks like you liked it.

(Actually, to the above "Zeal knowing about the planet's sentience" thing, they did use the Sun Stone and such, and likely have a "sixth sense", like how I have Schala react to feeling kinds of energy, (Mainly dark kinds... Poor Schala...(I say that a lot, don't I? o_O)) so I think they might have clued in a bit. Or Lavos's corruption could have blown that theory out of the water, I dunno. o_O It could be a saying passed down from Prehistory, though.)

Oh, and while I couldn't find a playthrough of the DV/LS, I did find that someone on GameFAQs has posted the script for CTDS, including the Dimensional Vortex and DBT. (It's not as good as a script dump, though, so that would still be preferred...) No LS script though, so a video or script dump of that would still be helpful. (The LS isn't high priority, though, since that's for CT: UE...) Anyway, I'll get on her DV reactions ASAP. (She still needs text for the campsite scene, though...hm. I think it would be cool if she related it to Zeal's study of the Sun Stone and other artifacts, etc. to add more Entity = planet confirmation. But I'm not sure how I'll do that yet... And there's still the Guru conversations to do. Hm.)

Firstly, though, I think she should have a reaction to seeing her brother in the DBT:

***

{8th}: Janus?!

{Magus}: {8th}?! You're-?! {delay 03}{line break}
But no... {delay 01} The {8th} I knew is... {full break}
Well, you'll see soon enough. But first, listen to me... {full break}

(He resumes his normal speech from there)

Upon seeing Magus getting pwned by the DD:

{8th}: No! Janus!! {null}

***

Agh, writing for Schala (and any introvert, for that matter) would be so much easier if I could just have markers that show that she's thinking, and not speaking... But gah, that will probably unnecessarily complicate things...

Anyway, expect an edit with her reactions to the DVs soon. (the part where your main party is trapped and your other characters need to rescue them may be a bit tricky, but I'm sure I'll come up with something...)

Edit: Here we go.

***

Upon entering the DV for the first time:

{8th}: What in Zeal's name!? W, what is this place? It seems like a jumbled mess of time and space... {delay 01} What could have caused such a massive rift in space-time? {full break}
We should make sure we're ready before we continue. This could be really dangerous... {null}

(I already wrote her reactions to Dalton and the Shades...)

In the Future DV, when the party becomes trapped by the emergency lockdown:

{8th}: Oh no! We're trapped! How are we going to get out of here!? {null}

{8th}: Someone, help us!! {null}

If Schala is in the party that comes to the door:

{8th}: What's happening? Are you all right? {null}

{8th}: Don't worry! We'll get you out of there as soon as we can! {null}

(Uh, the script doesn't post all character reactions, and only Robo seems to be using the terminal to open the lock after the "intruder elimination" battles. Is it just your leading character or something? If so, I'm not sure what to write for her, since she obviously wouldn't know computers very well... :/ It would be helpful to see Glenn's, Ayla's, or Janus's reactions... (Hah, I bet Ayla just smashes the thing. ^_^))

After the lock is released, if Schala is in the locked room:

{8th}: Thank the gods... {delay 01} It looks like they did it. We're saved. {full break}
Wait, what's that...? It looks like another door has been opened... {delay 01} Perhaps we should see what lies beyond. {null}

At the End of Time, when Gaspar's talking to them: (I'll include Gaspar's speech to avoid confusion)

Old Man: Have you, by chance, observed any odd distortions in time's fabric in {line break}
recent days? {null}

{8th}: Do you mean... {delay 02} The dimensional vortices? We've seen three of them... {null}

Old Man: Indeed… Then it is as I thought. {null}

{8th}: Oh no... {delay 02} Do you know what... {delay 02} created them? {null}

***

Please give feedback.

Edit 2: Perhaps I should work on the Gurus now...

***

(Melchior might be tricky, since this one I have planned if you meet him in his hut with Schala in your party, but the game forcibly has him meet the party in the Rainbow Shell part, and it wouldn't make sense for him to not notice or care at all that the princess of his kingdom that he thought was dead is now right in front of him... Maybe if you have the conversation with Melchior in his hut, that creates a flag that doesn't make Melchior go "OMG SCHALA YOU'RE NOT DEAD" at the Rainbow Shell scene, but if the flag isn't on, then the text I wrote earlier plays out. Maybe. o_O)

*stop music*

Melchior: !! {null}

{8th}: !! {null}

*Play music: Corridor of Time*

Melchior: {8th}! I... {delay 01} After what happened at the Ocean Palace, I thought you were... {null}

{8th}: I feared for you as well... {delay 02} I didn't know where that black portal would send you... {full break}
I'm glad you're all right. {null}

*Play music: Depths of the Night/At the Bottom of the Night*

*Melchior: back-facing thoughtful sprite*

Melchior: I may not be physically dead... {delay 01} But I may as well be. {null}

{8th}: Melchior... {null}

*Melchior: back-facing normal sprite*

Melchior: Do you know what I was forced to do to make a living in this era, {8th}? {null}

{8th}: ...... {null}

Melchior: I became a weapons dealer. Me, the Guru of Life, a weaponsmith! {null}

{8th}: What!? Surely you could- {null}

*Melchior turns around*

Melchior: I'm afraid that was the only job I could take. This era.. {delay 02} isn't like Zeal. You need to have a job to make currency to sustain yourself... {delay 01} And I didn't have any other option. {null}

{8th}: That's terrible...! {null}

*Melchior: thoughtful sprite*

Melchior: I wonder, if this was random chance, or one of Lavos's sadistic jokes? To send me to this era, where I would have to give up all my ideals to survive... {null}

*Melchior: normal sprite*

Melchior: So now do you see, {8th}? My body may be alive, but my ideals and morals have been malnourished and suffocated. {null}

{8th}: Don't say that...! {Marle}'s the princess of a kingdom, I'm sure she could find you another job if you asked... {null}

(I have the feeling Marle should say something here if she's in the party...)

Melchior: Hm, that's true. Perhaps. {null}

*Melchior: thoughtful sprite*

Melchior: But... {delay 01} I suppose... {delay 03} Making weapons DOES preserve life, in a way... {full break}
In the hands of a selfish or greedy person, it would do nothing but take life, of course. But in the hands of a wise man, it could potentially give life, by protecting others... {null}

{8th}: That does sound true... {delay 02} See, you're still the Guru of Life, Melchior! {null}

*Play music: Green Memories/Memories of Green*

*Melchior: normal sprite*

Melchior: Haha, perhaps I am. {full break}
Thank you for paying this old man a visit, dearest {8th}. {full break}
But I'm sure you have more important things to do. You should be on your way. {null}

{8th}: Farewell, Melchior. Never be discouraged! {null}

***

Sleep time now.

[mav]

Not bad at all, I have a few very worthless suggestions:

{Magus}: {8th}?! You're-?! {delay 03}{line break}
But no, you're not MY {8th}... {delay 02} She's... {full break}
Well, you'll see soon enough. But first, listen to me... {full break}

I don't really have an issue with this, other than the fact that he refers to Schala as his. I don't really know how you could reword this other than, "N-no, the {8th} I knew is..." Anyhow, it's your call--I just find that the connotation may throw some people off at first glance.

{8th}: What in Zeal's name!? W, what is this place? It seems like a jumbled mess of time and space... {delay 01} What could have caused such a massive rift in space-time? {full break}

Hmm...I haven't played CTDS, so I don't know how the party reacts, but her technical knowledge seems too high...again. It's the same thing I keep noting, but I guess it's not really a problem that she's knowledgeable...

{8th}: Thank the gods... {delay 01} It looks like they did it. We're saved. {full break}
Wait, what's that...? It looks like another door has been opened... {delay 01} Perhaps we should see what lies beyond. {null}

We're not being screwed by censorship, but what is the precedent for the use of "God" or "the gods" in the Chrono series? I know Zeality and those fellas were asked about its use in Prophet's Guile, should we impose self-censorship or let it be?

As for the dialog between Gaspar and Schala, I think its fine content-wise and certainly format-wise, but is it necessary? Like I said, I haven't played CTDS, so is this dialog a new event or is it expanding on an old event--did Gaspar say anything in CTDS?

Melchior and Schala sounded fine too--I'll reread some of the original CT script to make sure Melchior is still in character, but overall that exchange seemed good; very real, quite sweet. Though it's kinda sad to hear how pessimistic the old bloke became...


Anyway, good job. Take my suggestions with a grain of salt, but do read 'em please.

[Chocobo_Fan]

1. Yeah, you're right, the wording's a bit off... I'll fix it. Thanks for pointing that out.

2. In CTDS, Janus comments that it's a rift in space-time as well, so I imagine she'd know.

3. I've had her say "thank the gods" multiple times before, you just noticed? o_O Maybe in the original SNES version, but now censorship is less constricting. Also, I imagine that Zeal worshiped other gods before switching over to Lavos. Maybe she's just referencing those older gods that she knew before Lavos came.

4. Yes. In CTDS, after you clear all three Vortices, Gaspar makes that speech. All the party members have reactions to his speech.

Thanks for the feedback, mav. Oh, and I think I actually should make a conversation with Gaspar... Maybe. Also, do you think that Belthasar actually transfered his mind and consciousness into the Nu robot, like they seem to be able to do in Chronopolis, or did he just write a few programs for it to carry out, and simply recorded his voice to speak to the party? Judging from what he says, it seems the latter is more likely...

Finally, I think it would be interesting if Schala flipped out at Lavos if she's seen all of the Gurus... Something like "Is this just some game to you? Do you think it's funny to watch the three wisest men in Zeal meet such ironic banishments, you monster!?"

(Oh, and sorry if I ended my sentences in "?!" in the script. That's how I write it, but in CT, it seems like it's universally written "!?", so Justin can take note of that when putting the text in)

[mav]

Ah, well if it's in CTDS, then, yeah, Schala's gonna need to say something, in which case, what you've got is fine. And I don't know why the "thank the gods" thing just caught my attention--I guess it's cause I just read a post where someone pointed it out to the Prophet's Guile guys. Either way, it doesn't matter to me, I was just curious.

You know, I don't really know how it works with Belthasar. The programmed Nu is strange, I don't think it has much sentience of its own...maybe Schala could say something to it, but it wouldn't give the response she's looking for?

And Schala definitely needs to gripe at Lavos, especially after she's reunited with Gaspar and those blokes.

[skylark]

I have an idea for the Belthasar/Nu sequence.

When shutting down the Nu, maybe have one last message where it says something like, "If, somehow, you were ever to come across a young woman named Schala..." to tell her a password for the central terminal. Examining this terminal displays a holographic message from Belthasar for her.

She won't be able to talk to it, but all things considering, it's the closest thing to a reunion she'll get with him.

It could definitely give a bigger impact on Schala's 'post-Guru' gripe at Lavos.

But that's just an idea.

[Chocobo_Fan]

Actually, I was thinking that Belthasar put one last program into the Nu that played if it recognized Schala's voice or something... Although, you could permanently miss the conversation if you switch the Nu off before getting Schala... I like your idea better. So, right before Belthasar tells you to switch off the Nu, he tells you that if you ever find Schala, to bring her to the Dome... That could work.

P.S. I was a bit confused when Janus said "My God" in PG... Not even the censorship, (there was blood and foul language in there, too... o_O) but just "does Janus even worship a god? o_O" Especially the capitalization, meaning that he's referring to the Christian God, and I'm pretty sure that Christianity doesn't even EXIST in the Chronoverse until the A.D. eras... o_O But no matter.

Oh, and I have the conversation for Gaspar...

***

After Gapsar gives his speech and the Time Egg, etc...

{8th}: Gaspar... {null}

Old Man: Ah, {8th}, it's good to see you again... {full break}
Don't be surprised if I'm not, though, as I already saw you getting saved... {null}

{8th}: What do you mean...? {null}

Old Man: Remember my notes, back in Zeal? One of my theories was called "Time-Error"? {delay 02} An axis perpendicular to the normal flow of time... {null}

{8th}: ...That isn't affected by changes to the timestream... {delay 01} Yes, I remember. {null}

Old Man: It's what time travelers operate on... {delay 01} But it also applies to this place. Time never passes here, and no changes to the timestream affect it... {full break}
It also allows me to see everything that's happening along the timeline and remember changes that time travelers have made. {null}

{8th}: So, you already saw... {null}

Old Man: ...When this band of time travelers saved you from the Ocean Palace, yes. I was quite scared for a moment... {delay 01} If they hadn't saved you when you did... {null}

{8th}: The Ocean Palace would have collapsed... {delay 02} I would have died... {null}

Old Man: ...Or worse. {null}

{8th}: What do you mean? {null}

Old Man: ...Well, in the original timeline... {full break}
...... {null}

{8th}: What? {delay 02} ...What happened to me? {null}

Old Man: ...I don't want to talk about it... {null}

{8th}: What, Gaspar...? I can't hear you when you mumble like that- {null}

Old Man: When I was sent here by the timegate, I suffered an ironic fate... {full break}
I, the Guru of Time, was sent to this dull place -- a timeless place. {null}

{8th}: But what about... {null}

Old Man: ...... {null}

{8th}: I mean... {delay 02} Surely you could continue your studies? You'd have plenty of time to look at the different eras- {null}

Old Man: You'd think that, but no. {null}

{8th}: What...? {null}

Old Man: I can't truly study time here. Like I said, it's utterly timeless. While I can see into other eras... {delay 02} It's not the same. I can't seem to work properly... {null}

{8th}: ...Gaspar... {null}

Old Man: And it's lonely... {delay 01} Very lonely. I can't really study anything. My life feels so dull now... {full break}
If I could actually step outside, into the actual timestream, instead of staying here, then maybe it would be different... {delay 02} But the only reason I've been here for so long is because time doesn't flow. {full break}
That means I don't age. {full break}
I'm afraid that if I step outside, my bones will turn to dust... {delay 03} I mean, technically, of course, I should merely be suspended in time and should be all right, but I don't want to risk it... {full break}
Besides, at my age, I was knocking on death's door already... {null}

{8th}: Don't worry, Gaspar... {delay 01} I can bring you some things from the timestream... {null}

Old Man: No, no, don't worry about me... {full break}
Though I wonder... {delay 03} Was this but a cruel twist of fate, or a sadistic joke made by Lavos? {full break}
Judging from what happened to the other Gurus- {null}

*Schala: surprised sprite*

{8th}: The other Gurus!? They're alive!? {null}

*Schala: normal sprite*

Old Man: ...... {full break}
Yes... {delay 02} However... {null}

{8th}: Tell me! Tell me where they are! {null}

Old Man: ...You won't like it... {null}

{8th}: ...What do you mean? {null}

Old Man: They, like me, have suffered ironic fates... {null}

*Gaspar looks around*

Old Man: Your friends have encountered them before. Ask them if you wish to see the Gurus again... {null}

{8th}: Gaspar... {delay 02} You miss them too, don't you? {null}

Old Man: ...Yes... {full break}
We used to have such wonderful discussions about life, time, and reason... {delay 02} We made so many breakthroughs, just sharing our knowledge... {null}

{8th}: Yes, I remember... {delay 01} I heard some of them... {delay 02} But most of it I didn't understand at all. {null}

Old Man: Haha, yes, we did tend to talk about very advanced things... {delay 01} Sometimes I even confused myself. {null}

{8th}: Why don't I find them for you? I can bring them here, and then you can- {null}

Old Man: No, {8th}... {null}

{8th}: ...... {null}

Old Man: I wouldn't want to plague them... {delay 02} By having them come to this bleak place... {full break}
Nothing deserves to be here. Nothing even SHOULD be here... {full break}
But it does warm my heart to see your face again, dear {8th}... {delay 01}{line break}
Perhaps you should see the other Gurus. I'm sure they would be glad to see you as well... {null}

{8th}: Thank you, Gaspar. I'll find them. {null}

Old Man: Good luck, {8th}. {null}

***

I'll do Belthasar's block later... o_o Soon, though. Hopefully.

[mav]

Cool cool, everything seems good there.

Oh and I'd recommend taking a look at some of the work being done in the 8th Playable Character topic. Apparently an 8th character isn't too far off. Justin posted a screen shot of the 8th character:


...but is it just me or does the portrait look iffy? I think I mentioned this a while back, but I made a new Schala portrait, I was hoping we could use it...

[Schala Zeal]

I look like Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo in the screenshot one.

[teaflower]

The second one seems like her skin is too... pink. I prefer the first one. But whatever.