I thought it might be fun to show you guys a ‘teaser version’ of the family tree we are working from.
This is a lot of characters —- some of them you will meet very soon (and we’ll fill this map out as we go along), some will come later, some will loom over the story until they explode onto scene -- but we wanted you guys to see it laid out so that you could kinda see how all the family pieces fit together.
One caveat, I suppose: NONE of this is set in stone. If a better idea comes up, we’ll use it.
Okay, here you go.
PARENTS:
[01] - DR. TAJO R. VALLAR
Pure archetype. Consummate patriarch who should give us predictable initial vibes. Wise and courageous. In love with discovery, a fearless explorer and leader. Over time we’ll add more human layers onto that through mission failure and disillusionment with ‘what he believes/what he was part of’. But on first appearance, a rugged, brilliant, bearded, aging leading man type.
He was once a decorated member of the anti-magic ‘Institute,’ he disappeared years ago on KAOSO. What was he looking for? What did he actually find? Will his true legacy eclipse the mythologized version that sprung up in his absence?
Vallar was also part of the original ADVENTURING FAMILY (think of this as: ‘tales of Three Worlds Three Moons’) consisting of him, his sister [09], their parents, and ALPHA ROBOT [11].
[02] - The LADY HYATT, BARONESS of MONTORUGA
An exiled warrior-royal from FAYRII, who, upon leaving her world, fell in love with the Dr. Vallar.
A widowed mother of two who is completely disenfranchised with the idea of ‘royalty/legacy/higher-calling’ and in turn embraces the simpler life of her new family. After the Father disappeared, she stoically held the family together as best she could, while rejecting (though sometimes succumbing) to the constant lure of decorated past and sweet release of games of conquest. The Hyatt-Vallar kids are all unaware of her specific history, and just see her as quiet and doting -- ignorant of her warrior/royalty past. Her first two children do know, but keep the secret.
When her first husband [03] died, she fled to Therra because of his secret Institute allegiances.
THE HYATT / HYATT-VALLAR CHILDREN:
[04], [05], [06], [07], [08]
EXTENDED FAMILY:
[03] - HOYT HYATT, The BARON of MONTORUGA
Long time associate and friend of Dr. Vallar. Killed during a time of political upheaval on FAYRII.
A traitor to the throne.
[09], [10]
ROBOTS:
[11] - ALPHA ROBOT
First generation robot built by Grandma Vallar and Dr. Vallar (from the original ADVENTURING FAMILY). This robot is visually dated, older, faulty, patched back together too many times. To be clear, this robot sucks.
[12] - OMEGA ROBOT
This is the robot built by Dr. Vallar and [07], and is constantly adapting/improving itself, so the visual contrast between ALPHA and OMEGA is obvious. This robot is fucking awesome.
OTHER PLAYERS:
[13] - JUDGE
It’s hard to tell if he is the family lawyer, or an advisor, or actually a probation officer that the Institute has assigned to the family (It’s rumored that every high ranking person who works for the Institute has one of these -- maybe it’s even to keep them in line). Anyway, he used to be Dr. Vallar’s guy, but he stuck with the family after he disappeared and when [07] took over Dr. Vallar’s position in the Institute, he stuck around.
[14] - THE INSTITUTE
The anti-magic/pro-science organiztion that works to extinguish/discredit all traces of magic. When they first started at the height of the ‘science age,’ this was easy -- as what they did was basically ‘true’ -- but now, as magic is beginning to bubble back to the surface, what they are doing is a ‘lie.’ They work to destroy what they don’t understand.
NOTE: The Institute is supposed to always have six agency heads (3 Worlds and 3 Moons).
Okay, fun stuff.
Today, you’ll be getting emailed a link to the chat with Grant, so hopefully you’ll join us on Saturday for that, and then next week is a really cool week of stuff.
Best!
"This robot is visually dated, older, faulty, patched back together too many times. To be clear, this robot sucks."
Alpha Robot is already my favorite character
The "original adventuring family with a crappy robot" is giving me Venture Bros vibes.