#SF Luke

[tekkenenjoyerblue]

[crusha-draws]

SF6❌BAKI

Quick crossover sketch I did for funsies, based on the recent sf6 collab. I’ve got a few more follow up sketches planned for this btw :> ..

[claire-starsword]

[starswordartblog]

“Nothing to fear while I’m here!”

Shininginktober late Day 27: Luke/Lug/Rag/whatever you wanna call him lmao. Not many thoughts on him but he sure is cute, especially in the GBA version.

Also I’m not skipping day 26, just gonna mix it up with the day 28 prompt, do not separate them etc.

[fedorasaurus]

So, officially, Jamie doesn’t actually drink alcohol. I’m guessing that his “drunken boxing” technique is mostly referring to his unpredictable movements when he fights. But in any case, the drink sure does power him up, and I know nothing stronger than the power of LOVE, you know?

The game isn’t even out yet, but I already know I’m going to love these friendly rivals.

[willow7010]

How different Street fighters improved for SF6

Ryu, I honed my body and improved my skills even further

Chun Li, I've perfected my techniques and development a new fighting stance to catch people off guard

Luke, I have done nothing but hit the gym for the past 5 years

Jamie, I've been learning to fight while drunk and do a 1000 kicks a minute

Cammy, I just started kicking people really hard in the head

[claire-starsword]

[claire-starsword]

Nova Explains: The Future of the Shining Force

The battle between the Shining Force and Runefaust was over, and peace returned to the continent of Rune. It's been a long time ever since that, but what I'm curious about is how each of those Shining Force members have been living since then.

To clarify the aftermaths for the Shining Force that weren't seen in game, we sent our editorial to the distant land of Guardiana for an interview. The one who agreed to this interview is that famous old advisor guy, the tactician Nova.

____

Editor: First of all allow me to congratulate you. The battle against Runefaust was tough, right? You must have worked hard during that as well, no?

Nova: No no, I merely gave advice. Our victory is thanks to everyone's power.

Editor: Now, the reason we've asked for your time today, is to inquire on what happened to the Shining Force after that...

Nova: Oh, so that's how it is. From where should I start talking then?

Editor: To start with, how about what has been happening in Guardiana?

___

(The People of Guardiana)

Nova: The Kingdom of Guardiana's rebuilding went well. Queen Anri inherited the throne from the late king. Lady Mae also became captain of the Order of the Knights, guarding the country along the mostly young knight like Sir Ken. Because thanks to Runefaust, monsters still prowl near our country! Oh, also as Queen Anri wished, a magic school was built in Guardiana. Lady Tao became the headmistress there. All kinds of students from children to the elderly have gathered there. There are shouts of "Blaze level 1!" and "Freeze level 1!" from morning to sunset, it's a bit tiresome. Sometimes there are also who shout "Bolt level 4!" and no one is sure who it is.

Editor: And the others who resided at Guardiana, what are they doing?

Nova: Sir Gort and Sir Luke have joined efforts and started a school as well.

Editor: A school? What kind of school?

Nova: A school of the axe.

Editor: The axe?

Nova: It seems they wanted to compete with Queen Anri's magic school. It's a school that teaches how to use the axe. "Graduating here, you too can do revolving cuts through the air!" was their slogan but, they didn't get any students. The school shut down in three days. Sir Gort went back to his retirement after that...

Though, since Sir Luke continues to go have fun with him, he doesn't drink so much at the taverns like before.

Editor: You can't tell just from looking at him, but Luke really is a kind person.

Nova: Oh no, he's just a brat chasing skirt. It seems he's head over heels for Gort's granddaughter. His visits have ulterior motives. That guy has a round nose after all!

Editor: ...

Editor: And the archer, Hans?

Nova: Once the battle was over, Sir Hans had become more timid than before. He got depressed that Lady Diane, an archer just like him, had been more popular.

Editor: That's a pity... In the same class, of course cute girls would be favored.

Nova: Yes, of course. Sir Lowe was also down. Lady Khris was favored through the adventure as well, and going back to being only an apprentice in Guardiana was insult to injury.

Editor: I see.

___

(Did Kokichi Became a Rocket Knight?)

Editor: It seems plenty of people returned to their own countries.

Nova: Indeed. First of all there's Lord Zylo. He is the King of Bustoke, so he and Lady Diane returned to their land. They must be running and hunting through their forests as usual.

Sir Guntz and Sir Lyle returned to Rindo as well, since they are pupils of Dr. Crock. They still help Dr.Crock with making new inventions.

Editor: Is Kokichi also in Rindo as well?

Nova: Yes, he is. Apparently Sir Kokichi took an interest in Dr. Crock. He built his own laboratory next to his, and researches flight there. This time it seems he is a Rocket Knight...

Editor: Rocket Knight?

Nova: I don't quite understand but, by carrying a firework monster named "rocket" on his back, he can go anywhere in Rune in an instant. Well, it's best if you take everything Sir Kokichi says with a grain of salt. Sir Earnest has returned to his country as well. It’s some small country near Runefaust. After taking his revenge against Balbazak, he wanted to rebuild it.

____

(Did Arthur Start His Own Laundromat?)

Editor: Once the battle ended, were there many who left for new travels as well?

Nova: Yes, indeed. Because there were many of them who love adventure. (His face showed a bit of loneliness.) Everyone set out for their many ambitions. Sir Bleu is travelling searching for other sacred dragon survivors. Compared to when we found him crying in Dragonia, he's become very resolute.

Balbaroy and Amon also set out on journey. By Runefaust's army, the birdpeople were nearly wiped, but there might be survivors out there... They thought the same as Sir Bleu. As for the pair of knights, Sir Pelle and Sir Vankar, both went back to working as mercenaries as a pair. They must still be fighting in some land out there.

Editor: I heard a rumor that Arthur started his own laundromat...

Nova: (flatly) That's a baseless rumor. Sir Arthur is on a journey to train himself as warrior. He said he wants to discipline himself once more. Some claimed to have seen him near Bustoke, but after that we had no more news on him.

Editor: What happened to Khris?

Nova: Oh, Lady Khris. She also set off, to Pao. Despite that land being vast, there's a lack of priests and doctors. When Khris heard that during the adventure, she became determined to help the people there.

Editor: She went all the way to Pao alone? Will she be okay?

Nova: You musn't worry. She took Domingo with her as a bodyguard. As a duo, they are much stronger than any imprudent squad of knights. We actually received a letter from Lady Khris a few days ago. She is aboard the Pao Train, working hard in treating the sick people of the villages spread through the plains. Truly an exemplary lady.

___

(Alef and Torasu Begin Experimenting with Demons)

Editor: And what happened to the others?

Nova: The pair from Prompt, Lady Alef and Sir Torasu are in Manarina. They are starting over their studies of magic. They used to be proud of their magic but, because they weren't able to work as well as the younger mages, they lost their confidence.

Editor: So they are training arduously in Manarina?

Nova: That was their intention at least. But in less than a month of arriving there, they had already thoroughly taken in the colors of that country. Turning other mages into chickens, summoning creatures from who knows were, very active, those two! ...Ahem. They've been quite troublesome, and Sir Otrant has complained as well.

Editor: I guess anyone who goes to that country gets weird. Ah, that's right. What happened to Musashi and Hanzou then? Many say they weren't seen after everything.

Nova: Those two left without saying a word to anyone. We don't even know why they helped us, and to the end we didn't learn a thing about them.

Editor: Speaking of not knowing a thing, where's Yogurt?

Nova: ... (five minutes of deep silence) Who?

Editor: That weird creature, with the helmet.

Nova: (five minutes of deep silence again) I don't remember. How did they help? What weapons and magic were they skilled at?

Editor: ...

___

(And The Protagonist's Fate Was?)

Editor: Now, for my last question. That man -the leader of the Shining Force, what happened to that young man? I've heard he perished in the final battle.

Nova: ...that man, yes. Had it been not for him, this continent of Rune, no, this world might have been downed in darkness. Even though we searched arduously for him... Speaking of, the mechanical soldier Adam also disappeared suddenly after the final battle... He threw himself in the ocean to save his leader - it's a possibility. But, we don't have any doubts. That man is definitely alive somewhere. That's what I believe.

Article by: Masaki Wachi

___

Notes:

Masaki Wachi is one of the scenario writers of Shining Force, and apparently the main person behind this guide book. I have not seen his name in the credits of any other classic Shining game, which might explain why we sadly never got this kind of content ever again :( He apparently worked on the GBA remake though, which answer every question I ever had on "did they use this guide book as reference". Maybe I should have looked at the credits right from the start lmao.

This might get long since I wanna compare every character's fate to what we see in other media (SFCD, Final Conflict and the Bleu novel), but as I always complain, I have never got to read the novel, so everything I say here is from a japanese playthrough that narrated some parts of it, and my info is thus incomplete (someone here did offer to scan the novel and i am very thankful, but it's still like, 300+ pages, so don't expect updates on that any time soon).

In terms of timeline, the novel is 10 years after the first game, and SFCD is 20 years after the first game. I don't think anywhere specifies when Final Conflict is, but it can't be later than SFCD, since Cain gets the prophecy on Darksol's revival 20 years before the game's events, and Ian also likely isn't older than that.

Max and Adam: we all know they survived though I don't believe anyone bothered explaining why. While the first game suggested a peaceful time for them however, Final Conflict claim they noticed something escaping after the final battle and went after it. So we're opening this analysis with a little contradiction lmao.

Did Max ever go back to Guardiana? Signs point to no, since in the japanese version of Gaiden 1/SFCD Ken mistakes Nick for Max at first, which means they haven't seen each other in a while.

With that said, at the end of Final Conflict Max does say that maybe they should go to "my brother's place", which I can only assume is in Rune. So he might have gone back to the continent, and still not showed up to the kingdom he fought for in the first place. Nice one man.

Mae and Ken: Mae is the one who becomes captain here as it is the only logical possibility, yet by the time SFCD comes around Ken is the captain. Something happened :( they hate to see a girlboss winning.

Pelle, Vankar, Arthur, Earnest: All four of these guys show up in Uranbatol in the novel, but it's apparently a very brief appearance so I don't know much.

Also, Arthur does mention wanting to go out traveling after the war is over in HQ, though not exactly for training reasons:

"Once this journey is over, there's something I want to do. I'm thinking of searching for the legendary golden Holy Grail..."

Not hard to know where his name comes from, huh?

I believe Arthur or a similar character also show up in Shining Force 3 but I have not played it yet and know little else about it, just mentioning it here for completeness.

Luke: Shows up in SFCD still as a warrior and with a kid, but that's all.

Tao: Is briefly mentioned in the novel as Captain of the mages and Anri’s advisor along with Nova.

Hans: In the japanese version of Gaiden 1/SFCD, Shade mentions his father is at "the Elven Forest". No clue where that is (it could be in Guardiana still), but that does imply he left the castle at least. Good for him! Every day I pray he never steps on a battlefield again.

Diane and Zylo: Both show up in the novel as total badasses as usual and save Bleu from a group of monsters while reminding him of the real superpower of teamwork. They don't stay for long though as they don't want to leave Bustoke unprotected for long. So yeah, they're doing fine.

Guntz: In the novel he's shown to have graduated as Dr. Crock's pupil and went to live in the Pao Train. Sadly I've heard nothing about Lyle, even though Guntz makes lightning bullets of some kind for Karin, and c'moooon that's ranged weaponry please make a connection

Khris and Domingo: I'm sad now, a good chunk of the novel happens on the Pao Train yet I've heard nothing on Khris there :( and Domingo shows up all the way in Cypress in SFCD, Khris-less. They're an unexpected duo to me so I'd love to see more.

Gong: I think he's the only character missing from this epilogue? Sorry Gong in a cast of 30 someone was bound to get forgotten. In the novel however, he has taken Karna as his disciple, and was also helping the chicken lady in Manarina with her research of changing people's species (don't ask me how or why), but he disappears at some point. I have no clue if this plot point is ever resolved, sorry again Gong.

Kokichi: Everything about Kokichi here looks like a reference to Rocket Knight Adventures, a platform game by Konami for the Mega Drive. However, the game was apparently only released in August 1993, while this book is from April 1992, so it might be a coincidence.

Bleu: The novel's star, and the main reason I'm writing all this analysis tbh. Because he does go out in search of sacred dragons, but not exactly how it appears here. When the novel starts he's still all alone in Dragonia, so if he tried to find survivors in Rune he failed. It's someone’s arrival from Parmecia that tips him off to the possibility of there being sacred dragons in that continent, and thus he goes all the way there.

Musashi and Hanzou: While here they leave without a word, according to the novel Anri was somehow in contact with them enough to ask them to retrieve the Book of Secrets when it was stolen yet again. Of course, they also show up in SFCD.

[claire-starsword]

“Arthur’s bio is done, so they won’t be dunking on the man anymore”... is what you’d think, but you’d be wrong. It continues.

Earnest [Centaur] Class: Knight -> Paladin

The lone knight that keeps on fighting for vengeance

*** A knight with royal blood from Thermal, a small country near Runefaust. His homeland was destroyed by Balbazak, and thus he set off vowing to get revenge. Boarding the Pao Train, he continued his journey, gathering soldiers. After being rescued by the protagonist at Fort Uranbatol, he joins the Shining Force. ***

"A Man of the Shadows", "A Complicated Man", "A Man with a Destiny". He's the man hogging all of these appealing nicknames. Very different from Arthur "The Laundry Man", even though they're both knights...

Earnest's homeland was a small country called Thermal, in the forest region northeast of Runefaust. By Darksol's orders, it was destroyed by Balbazak's magical beast squad one year ago.

Before attacking Guardiana, Runefaust destroyed many neighboring small countries, in order to expand their military and resources. Thermal was the first to suffer this fate.

_____

Luke [Dwarf] Class: Warrior -> Gladiator

His battleaxe roars, tearing the wind apart!

*** An official member of the Order of Warriors of Guardiana. Even though Guardiana's main power is the Order of Knights, he doesn't let that get him down, and is popular with everyone due to his cheerful nature. But once the battle is on, his fierceness is unmatched. ***

A reliable warrior who joins right from the first battle. He and Ken are the main melee fighters for the first battles. Although, perhaps because he doesn't look very cool (his nose is a circle...), he gets easily dropped out of the team despite his power.

By the way, the reason he became a warrior is because he admired Gort, a legendary warrior among the dwarves. But by the time he joined the Order of Warriors, Gort had already retired, so he has no experience fighting along him.

When Gort decided to return to battle once more, everyone knew Luke would be the happiest about it.

_______

Notes on Earnest:

I've already said it but worth reminding, I don't think Earnest's homeland is mentioned anywhere in game, so the romanization here is my own.

Notes on Luke: I don't think his admiration of Gort is mentioned anywhere in the original game, but it is a big thing in the GBA remake.