Welcome to the official thread of Trails Through Daybreak on Metacouncil. This thread will look the best when vieved in MetaOLED style.
If there are any Trails newcomers in these parts, rest assured that you can start your Trails journey with this game if you want to. As always, please spoiler tag your progress in the game and mark it accordingly. Please be aware that there may be unmarked spoilers abound, since this is the 11th game in the series. Other than that, let's enjoy ourselves and take our time with Daybreak, much like how Van enjoys his sweet treats.
Trails Through Daybreak aims to be a little different from other Trails games before it. Most of the characters are working professionals. Our new protagonist has a different code of ethics and companions to match. The story will feature themes that delve a little more into the fringes of Calvard's societies. The new location will feature an entirely different insight into the political sphere and the way of life of its people. Furthermore, we will notice some familiar faces from the Western Zemuria, although the main focus would be on the new cast of characters. Add to that a plethora of supporting characters with their own personal stories that no doubt will be the source of discourse for years to come. Taking all of these into consideration, Trails Through Daybreak has all the potentials to be a heavy contender for this year's Game of The Year nominee.
Trails Through Daybreak turns our attention away from Western Zemurian nations to the superpower of Central Zemuria: The Republic of Calvard. While this isn't the first time we've visited The Republic, this will be the first time ever for our extended stay. We've seen Altair during the course of events in Trails to Azure, albeit in a very limited capacity. However, Altair is merely a border town. A border town with some significance, of course; but the setting for Daybreak couldn't be much grander. It will take place in Edith, the capital city of The Republic. A true metropolis in every sense of the word, Edith also have the distinction of being the largest city on the Continent.
The city itself is divided into 12 official boroughs. One of these boroughs, called Auber District, is the home of Aramis Academy. If this name sounds familiar, it is because this is the very same Academy where one of the events in Trails Into Reverie's secret ending took place. A prestigious academy rivalling Erebonia's Thors Military Academy and Liberl's Jenis Royal Academy, they've founded upon the concept established by the former academies, while still retaining its Calvard identity and traditions. Another borough called Viewux Quartier; or simply known as Old Town, is where Arkride Solutions Office is located. As a spriggan, —a combat-oriented, jack-of-all-trades, problem solver accepting only difficult requests from select clients—, this office is where our protagonist roosts.
The ongoing Orbal Revolution affecting the entire continent has found its way into Calvard as well. The Republic is known as the first country to implement traffic lights. Edith is also known for being the first city ever to adopt a mass transit system connecting its main districts in lieu of a tram network. The citizen's way of life can be described as vibrant and prosperous. Partially because of regional trade with Crossbell State, but also because of the decline of The Erebonian Empire as a result of The Great War.
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Van Arkride is a Spriggan. An occupation that can be considered an underground profession in Calvard, being a spriggan means accepting jobs that are outside the purview of the Bracer Guild, and even the Law Enforcement Agency of Edith. With an extensive network of contacts spanning diverse industries and social backgrounds, both in lawful and unlawful organisations, Van firmly maintains a strong code of ethics in his line of work. He has a bit of a sweet tooth.
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Agnes is a first-year student at the illustrious Aramis Academy. She also serves as a member of its Student Council. She and Van becomes acquainted after she put on a request for finding a lost item at Arkride Solution Office.
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A young Jaeger trained in the art of combat since childhood. Her parents brought her up in the traditions of Warriors of Kruga. She's a devout follower of Alusha, the flame goddess and embodiment of Aidios in the Middle-Eastern Zemuria. Fairly naive in her understanding of modern life in Edith, despite her battlefield skills.
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A very capable and charismatic man, Aaron led a fairly hedonistic lifestyle in Edith. An actor, a philanderer, and a gang leader that is fairly well-known in the Eastern Quarter, the notion of seniority doesn't mean much to him. Despite his shortcomings, he does have his own code of honour and an admirable sense of loyalty.
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A well-dressed young woman in a maid-style business attire, Risette is employed by Marduk Total Security Company as a Service Concierge. Her elegant appearance and even-tempered personality is in stark contrast to her martial arts skills, which has been said to rival those of first-class Jaegers.
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Quatre is a teenage genius researcher who is currently enrolled in a master's degree at Basel Institute of Science. Despite his academic skills and position, he is only 15 years of age, which is fairly young compared to his peers, even by Zemurian standard. Quatre specialises in the research and development of Orbal Drone technology. These drones use Xipha and holo cores as the foundation of its artificial intelligence system.
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Judith is a talented young actress who is, ironically, terrible at keeping secrets and lies. Already a household name in the orbal film industry, she possesses a strong will and sense of justice. Relentless in the face of adversary, she has the determination to protect the weak and less fortunate. She is also living two lives.
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A middle-aged man with a muscular build that betrays his age, Bergard is a master of Kunlun-style martial arts. Kunlun is one of the Eastern Zemuria's three great martial arts schools. Much like Master Yun Ka-fai, his counterpart from the Eight Leaves One Blade school, he has numerous disciples scattered across Zemuria. Van is one of his disciples.
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Spriggans toe the fine line between the upper world and the underworld, because they will accept assignments that the police are unable to handle, problems that citizens cannot discuss in public, as well as honest work from Edith's underground organisations. A spriggan is expected to be a detective, a negotiator, and a bounty hunter, with the ability to quickly adapt between these three disciplines in highly critical situations. The jobs that they have taken may not be 100% above board, but a spriggan's solutions to these jobs has been proven to be effective.
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The Bracer Guild is one of the most well-known organisations across Zemuria. Most citizens will likely turn to the Supporting Gauntlet when they need a task that requires very specific skills to be done. Because of its strict neutrality code and prioritising the well-being of the citizens first and foremost, The Guild simply won't interfere in state matters. To their detriment, this rigidity has been proven to work against them during the time of Crossbell State's occupation and eventual annexation by The Erebonian Empire in S.1205.
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Effectively private military corps, they are mercenary groups which consists of highly skilled soldiers in the art of warfare. They are very well-organised and tenacious. Possibly one of the most lucrative occupation across Zemuria, Jaegers can be hired by local governments, crime syndicates, the nobility, and other unscrupulous organisations. If the price is right. Raising children to be soldiers is a time-honoured tradition for them.
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Marduk Total Security Company (M.T.S.C.) is a private security company with its own military forces. A technologically advanced, highly-equipped and well-funded company, its clientele is ranging from national government to Jaeger corps. The difference between M.T.S.C and a typical Jaeger corps is that the former does not cross the legal boundaries of the law where they operate. While they might skirt the legal line, everything they do is strictly above board, earning them their reputation and the high-value contracts that come with it.
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A large arms manufacturer originating from Basel, an engineering city in the southwest of The Republic of Calvard. They are often mentioned as the counterpart of Reinford Company in The Erebonian Empire. Calvard's scholars and craftmans has been contributing to the development of sciences in the country, especially in Orbal technology research and development. As a result, these scholars has a major influence over Verne Company and its operation. The company was founded by the cooperation of Basel Institute of Technology and Craftsman Guild. The foundation of the company has proven to be instrumental to the development of the city of Basel, including technological innovations such as public transport system and other Orbal vehicles.
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Formerly known as the Presidential Intelligence and Research Office, the Central Intelligence Division (CID) was established as its successor in S.1205. Originally founded by President Rocksmith, it held the unofficial name of Rocksmith Agency. After President Gramheart took office, he reorganised the department into three branches, with the specific purpose of allowing The President's office unrestricted access to intelligence and the control of the flow of information over intelligence gathering. Additionally, the Integrated Analysis Division was established to coordinate these branches. The chief of this division is Kilika Rouran.
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An abbreviation for eXternal Interface for Post-human Activation, Xipha is the 6th generation of tactical Orbment system. The Xipha was primarily developed by Verne Company, with the cooperation of Marduk Total Security Company. The new innovation of this system includes the Holo Core. These cores determine the user's base arts power, base EP, and S-Boost property, changing the Xipha's fundamental abilities. Additionally, Arts Drivers facilitates various Orbal artes, while Shard Skills provides additional skills based on the cumulative attribute values of the quartz installed in the Xipha.
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A set of unique skills available for each character, crafts consumes Craft Points (CP) that can be replenished primarily by attacking and receiving attacks from opponents during combat. Consuming certain food items can also restore the CP pool as well. Equipping certain items can improve the CP generation rate, while dealing attacks to enemies of higher level than the attacker will generally yield more CP. Certain crafts have different effects and not always offensive-focused. For example, a support craft can heal the party of characters while also suppressing or eliminating negative status effects.
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As Van took on assignments for his job as a spriggan, the decision he took during the course of his actions will influence his alignment of LAW, GRAY and CHAOS. The values of these alignments will continue to fluctuate and will influence Van's combat abilities as he took on various assignments and make important decisions. When these alignment values reach certain points, Van might be able to strike an accord with various factions in Edith. Additionally, the abilities of a certain aspect of his Xipha might be able to improve as well.
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