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EFWQ XI: Tale of the Synchronized World Trees

The eleventh game in the critically acclaimed Epic Fantasy Warrior Quest series. This game was the most popular of the series before the production of EFWQ XV: Dance of the She-Priestess. In fact the game was so popular it spawned three spinoff/sequel/prequel games: EFWQ XI Gaiden: Gritty Gunmetal Dirge, EFWQ XI: Beforestory, and EFWQ XI: Afterstory. The main reason for the popularity was the compelling story and characters of the first game. However what really put the game over the top was that one of the main characters was a very busty and attractive woman which spawned countless fan created images, comics, and fiction.

Story

The story starts out with the four main character's being summoned to speak with Ver'na, an adult platinum dragon. She informs the characters that they must use their special gifts to resynchronize the World Trees. These World Trees used to be at the center of each of The Four Vales and was the force that kept each of the Vales intact. When the Four Vales merged into Battal the trees were incorporated into the mass and now help hold Battal together. However some evil force has disrupted the synchronization of the World Trees which if left unchecked would destroy Battal. Each of the characters is then given an artifact which they must learn how to use on their journey.

The rest of the game is travelling to the locations of the 4 World Trees. Each tree being in a seperate location that was dominated by the Ur-Element:

• Tree of Eir: Located in a cave on Mount Windice. The characters must navigate the firey/icy perils of this epic peak.
• Tree of Wir: Located near a village of Brownies that lies on The Chocolate Lake in The Sickle. The characters must fight alongside the Brownies to end the Chocolate Jihad in order to gain access to the Tree of Wir.
• Tree of Airth: Located underneath the Ap'str'ph' Mountains deep in the Apostrophine mines of Ch'th'lm. By far the longest dungeon crawl of any game to date. The characters must navigate the many levels of Ch'th'lm starting at the top and going to the bottom.
• Tree of Farth: Located on Zonardia at the bottom of Rainbow Lake. The characters must find a way to get to Zonardia then fight the denizens of the lake to get to the Tree.

In the end the characters find out that it was none other than the spirit of Char Reyarteb that was trying to use the trees to reassume his physical form. The characters fight him in an epic show down which ends with him being defeated. However after the credits of the game it shows an old house and zooms in on one of the doorknobs which flashes breifly.

Gameplay

Character advancement is done through the artifacts given to the characters by Ver'na at the beginning of the game. The guidebook explains that as the characters use their powers they gain greater understanding of the artifacts and how they work. Even though each artifact (and therefore character) has a generally applicably class, such as spellcaster or fighter, there are a wealth of abilities within the generally specified classes that allows each player to make each character their own.

Players can chose which order to do each Tree, however the intended order is Eir, Wir, Airth and Farth. This is borne out by the enemies getting more difficult for each area around the trees in sequence with the intended order. While the plot is rather linear, there are a number of subplots which make the game more rich. Several of which involve interactions between the main character's themselves.

The battle system is similar to the previous incarnations of the series. The map system is easy to use and random encounters are not overly abundant. The only problem with the game are the placement of the save points which have caused numerous hours of aggravation. However in response to the complaints a modified version was quickly released which made the save points more sensible.

Characters

• Alan: A handsome and talented human fighter and a bit of a braggart. He is given Lightspur by Ver'na. It is his powers that resynchronizes the Tree of Eir.
• Faith: An attractive (for a dwarf) drawf female ranger who enjoys the outdoors and is a little spacy. She is given Sembertik. It is her powers that resynchronizes the Tree of Wir.
• Chris: A beautiful, blue haired, busty female Elemenstor of ambiguous race who wishes to be like her ancestor Lady B'gt'ts. She is given Holl'onnianya's Tiara. It is her powers that resynchronizes the Tree of Airth.
• Otter: A handsome Cohoris youth who has a knack for healing and wants to be like Cohor. He is given the Shield of Great Shielding. It is his power that resynchronizes the Tree of Farth.

Spinoffs/Prequels/Sequels

• EFWQ XI Gaiden: Gritty Gunmetal Dirge: A technopunk remix of the original game.
• EFWQ XI: Beforestory: Covers the lives of the main characters before the game.
• EFWQ XI: Afterstory: Covers the lives of the main characters after the game. Famous/infamous for including an easter egg that allowed the player to unlock the Armor of Fullchesthood for Chris or Faith.