Story progression
I have a dilemma. Story is tied to level progression. I need us to get to a clearer decision on https://gitlab.com/evol/evol-all/-/issues/55 in order to direct the story in the right way. I'm reluctant to radically change certain things as the story had to adapt A LOT to gameplay needs (like abruptly moving from Artis to Hurns) because of the merge. There's only so much adapting I can do before the whole thing stops making sense. You will see below that the Artis > Hurns transition is already convoluted. This is a product of smashing two games set in different worlds into one. It should get simpler once the transition is done.
Regardless, I realise how leaving the story too unclear can be problematic, despite it being necessary sometimes to keep it flexible. This issue is to outline story progression in order to make it easier to match it to levelling. I can't write it out in full on here. I think the wiki lends itself better to that. This is an outline of what the player is expected to experience in the main story, meaning side quests are not included. Any side quest (like Galimatia) should have its own separate discussion as it exists independently of the main story. Anything beyond this part of the story is not inexistent, but it remains too flexible to clearly structure here until level progression has been agreed upon.
This is not meant to replace dialogue. If dialogue is required I can write it separately.
Drasil Island > Artis > West Argaes > Hurnscald
The first two are finished. Q'anon (name needs changed) will say that you should be back at sea to help you jog your memory. He promises payment of 10000E for working under Captain Hal on a mission to Ancea, the land to the east of Aemil. The two continents had known about each other before, but the waters of the Tritan Ocean had always been too dangerous to traverse. Recently, however, the ocean became unusually calm and the Legion organised a series of expeditions to Ancea. Q'anon claims that the local savages refused to talk peacefully and attacked his soldiers as soon as they landed. He tells you to make sure you remember your recent training.
As you exit the Legion building you're called over by an old woman named Sophialla. She warns you about the true nature of the Legion and their oppressive rule over the continent of Aemil from the great city of Esperia. She explains that many citizens of Artis have been meeting in secret to discuss how to break free from the Legion's control and give the city back its independence. She also tells you about the Brotherhood, an organisation from the far away continent of Ancea that has recently made contact with the merchants of Artis. Sophialla claims the Legion attacked Brotherhood scouts and is trying to take control of the region of Argaes, prompting the Brotherhood to reach out and find allies in Artis. She begs you to make your way to Hurnscald as you arrive in the new continent and speak to the leader of the Brotherhood directly, so that you may understand both sides of the story.
As you arrive in West Argaes you meet Morcant who welcomes you to the region. He tells you how it is rare for ships to arrive at this dock and that he has only recently met the first scouting party sent by the Legion. Before then he had never met anyone from Aemil. He knows of a couple Aemilian ships that landed elsewhere in Ancea recently. He doesn't like seeing armed soldiers passing through, but still offers you to stay for as long as you need and tells you to go inside for some warm food. Inside you meet Thamas, a Legion soldier who has been travelling with you on the ship. He says he cannot wait to meet the uncivilised people of these woodlands. He tells you how happy he is to finally be on land and hints at a special mission that the Legion has assigned him to. He also hates Morcant's stew, says he thinks it's squirrel meat. You ask about his mission but he says he cannot tell you and that you should speak to Captain Hal by the clifftop behind Morcant's house.
Captain Hal is standing by the cliffs (58, 27 008-1-1) with two other soldiers nearby. You can ask about Thamas but he will refuse to give any details about his mission. He will tell you that the plan for now is to simply get to know this land and stay away from the Brotherhood's outposts as they are dangerous savages who will shoot arrows on sight. He tells you about the city of Hurnscald directly to the east and that he has no intention of going anywhere near while wearing a Legion uniform. He points out that what you're wearing is more common and might be less likely to attract attention, but recommends to stay away from Hurnscald regardless. Obviously you're not gonna listen to this guy. Pff.