Development Blog for the upcoming RPG maker game 'Tale of Many Voices'
SOPHIA VAN HAAL
Orphaned Engineer
ABOUT
Sophia is the child prodigy of a gifted engineer. When her father died in a suspicious workshop fire, Sophia went on the run.
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Hunted by the Trade Federation, the Stormbringer Project Director recognised her skill. On his recommendation, the young engineer was offered amnesty, on condition of her assistance with the Stormbringer project.
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Sophia serves as the parties quartermaster and general problem solver.
Resources wise, I am very happy with how Sophia has come out. The sizing of the eyes is important to show the age of the character. She has an iconic theme (the goggles) which she will have in nearly all instances. Whilst it is easy to tell that they are the same character now, if Sophia was to age during the story, it is helpful to have consistent features to make it clear that it is the same character.
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Colour wise, she is fairly bland, with a black and brown theme with the goggles standing out as a bright gold.
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I don't want to have too many spoilers, but below I'll list the information that the Alchemist is given prior to recruiting Sophia.
SNEAK PEAK
February 11
Those familiar with Trade Federation internal affairs will no doubt be familiar with the name Van Haal. They will however most likely associate it with the esteemed late Stavros Van Haal - one of the companies most brilliant minds and finest engineers.
This report however refers to Sophia Van Haal, the daughter of aforementioned Stavros. It has come to company attention that on February 9, there was a fire at Van Haal’s workshop. It has been confirmed that Stavros died during this incident. Between February 9 and February 10, Sophia broke into her late father’s workshop. It is regrettably difficult to fully account for what was taken, due to the damage caused by the fire.
None the less, it has been confirmed that the child took a golem eye. It is highly unlikely that the child understood the power or significance of what she had taken, it likely was taken as a keepsake. None-the-less, the return of priceless company property is of paramount importance.
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Accordingly, following regulations 14:2, I have commissioned the Bounty Hunter’s guild to return this item.
February 16
Whilst the profit margins of the Bounty Hunter’s guild are of marginal interest to the Trade Federation executive - there are indications that the outsourced recovery of the golem eye may not be as expeditious as suggested.
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The company understands that the Dark Song Krew on writ from the Bounty Hunter’s Guild tracked Van Haal to the Industrial Sector of Caspia. Whilst searching a disused factory, they found signs that she had set up a camp within one of the decommissioned machines. Accordingly, the mercenaries searched the machine. During the course of which, the machine was activated, resulting in the untimely end of service of two bounty hunters.
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The Bounty Hunter’s customer service executive has reassured the company that this will not impact the completion of the assignment.
February 18
The companies human intelligence sources within the Caspian underworld have fed back the gossip commonplace in the taverns of Caspia: namely that a child has been seen walking with what they are calling a ‘scarecrow golem’.
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Whilst the notion that this could be a true golem is inconceivable, company executives will remember that Van Haal is the last known controller of the golem eye missing from Stavros Van Haal’s workshop.
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It should therefore be assumed that Sophia Van Haal has created a true golem. It should also be assumed that the collateral damage to outsourced retainers was deliberate.
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Accordingly, I have quadrupled the bounty on Van Haal’s head and authorised the use of lethal force in the recovery of this item, as is consistent with emergency policies 7:2.
February 20
I have appraised myself of this reports contents and confirm that the previous decision maker acted in line within company policy. However, I believe that there is a solution more suited to the companies best interests. As the director of the Stormbringer project, I understand that the Alchemist will require the assistance of an engineer. Neither Van Haal’s resourcefulness or prodigal engineering ability is within question.
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Accordingly, if the Alchemist can find Van Haal and persuade her to join the Stormbringer project, I hereby authorise amnesty for her past crimes and allow her to keep the golem eye to do with what she will.
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Alphonse Ferdinand - Stormbringer Project Director