Hi Everyone,

I am not accepting SYOCs at this time due to a filled roster. Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas!

The Rising of the Shield Hero is a very entertaining and interesting series as it covers the ideas of the fragility and power of making or breaking bonds. The psychological drama and torment that the Shield Hero goes through is also very engaging and out of the ordinary for a anime protagonist stuck in a fantasy would genre.

That being said, I am rather annoyed that the other three Heroes (Sword, Bow, and especially Spear) are such unlikable tools that mainly exist to build up the Shield hero as the only competent warrior among the Four Cardinal Heroes. Also the other three heroes do not have much development (or none at all) for their respective teams.

I am keeping Naofumi, Ralphtalia and Filo, and will introduce my OC Jeremiah Douglas White and his Mage follower Usagi. I am happy to see a fleshing out of the three revered heroes with a bit more dimensionality to them and their teams.

There are basically six factions: The Shield Hero (3 canon characters and any SYOCs), The Sword Hero (White, Usagi and any SYOCs), The Bow Hero (Charlotte, and any SYOCs), The Spear Hero (Clint and any SYOCs), Bosses (Recruitable Enemies and straight up bad guys), and Other (Guess).

Thanks for your support,

TM

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Below is a Template that was orginated by contributor LuciferXIII (I used it in my other SYOC story set in the Fire Emblem: Awakening World: The Arms of Ylisse).

(1) Follower Template Example

Name: Usagi (Her tribal name was Usachi)

Age: 13 (Chronological)/18 (Physical)

Race: Hare Demihuman

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Skin color: Pale peach

Eye Color: Sky blue

Hair Color: White

Occupation: Earth/Illusionist Mage

Starting Level: 1

Appearance: A female demihuman of the Hare tribe. When first encountered, she is initially 4'4" tall with pale peach skin, piercing bright pink eyes, long white-furred bunny ears (with a small notch in the left ear), a fluffy white rabbit tail, and long, straight, unbraided white hair that hangs to her waist. As a slave she initially wears a ragged grey shirt, ill-fitting pants, no shoes, and cuffs on her wrists and neck. Later she switches to a dark grey tunic, black pants, and dark brown boots. Aged up, she still has a willowy 5'6" physique, her hair is styled in a Hime cut, and she has added a Ultramarine cape and black and red cuirass to her outfit.

Personality: Usagi has always been quiet and reticent, even before she lost her voice and family. She displays a cool, placid exterior to to the world, and rarely expresses wild emotional swings. Still waters run deep, however, and she is quite passionate underneath her stoic exterior. She has a sharp intellect, and is a keen observer. Like most Demihumans she has an affinity for the Shield Hero Naofumi and holds him in high regard, although her ultimate loyalty is towards the Sword Hero, Jeremiah. Before using workarounds, she can only communicate by writing, whistling, or humming. Although she is subtle about it, she is possessive of Jeremiah, especially around potential rivals for his affection.

History: Usagi was always a soft-spoken bookworm, and displayed a natural affinity for Earth magic and simple Illusion magic from a young age. She would often put on impromptu magic shows for children's benefit during trading stops. Having lost her mother young, she traveled with her father Urachi and younger sister Unamachi in a Filalial-pulled wagon constantly on the move between demihuman settlements and the very outskirts of the human Realms. Then when she was 13, the first wave struck and the monsters that poured out from the sky overpowered her family, leaving her for dead. Human mercenaries from Melromarc found her half-dead and sold her to the same Slave Master that owned Ralphtalia. Usagi's life changed for the better when The Shield Hero Jeremiah bought her contract and employed her as his Mage companion with a focus on using Earth spells for attacking, Visual trickery with her Illusion magic, and knife wielding in desperate close-quarters combat. Once she helped to defeat the second wave, Jeremiah willingly ended her slave contract as his reputation of a hero ensured that she would not be harmed. Aged up, she is quite beautiful and deadly, and fiercely loyal to the Sword Hero as he has taken considerable flack for taking on a demihuman conpanion.

Faction: Sword Hero

Initial Powers and Abilities: Knife Skills (thrust, slash, and throw), Earth magic: (Resonance [Lvl 1: Uses sound transmitted through the ground to detect/track targets, range is level-dependent], Stoning [Lvl 5: shoots 5+ rocks at a target, number of rocks is level-dependent], Dustdevil [Lvl 10: swirling dust cloud that can blind or physically damage weaker enemies, power and size increases with level]), Illusion magic: (Knock [Lvl 1: Creates simple noises to deceive targets, range and sound complexity increases with level], Cloak [Lvl 5: Visually obscures caster's form from targets, degree of invisibility is level-dependent and does not deceive other senses], Projection [Lvl 10: Creates a ranged visual illusion to deceive targets, at higher levels can create an illusionary doppleganger of caster or party member].

Upgraded Powers and Abilities: TBD

Potential Platonic Bonds: Shield Hero Naofumi, Ralphtalia, Fila, Other Sword Hero Companions

Potential Romantic Bonds: Sword Hero Jeremiah

...

*Sample scene*

Jerry sat on a rough stone outcropping overlooking a grassy field, with the spires of the nearby capital city of Melromarc jutting out over the treeline. His black sword with silver grey trimlines and a royal blue gemstone embedded in between the blade and crossbar rested across his lap. He ran his brown hand across the flat of the cool metal and anxiety flared in his dark brown eyes. Would he ever be truly worthy to wield it? He hadn't a clue. All his theoretical knowledge from being a DM for a d20 roleplaying campaigns since was 13 didn't give him any hints as to how to handle this kind of pressure.

He swung the Hero's sword listlessly and cut down a few threatening dandelions, "Damn it! I can't be a slave owner. My mom's going to kill me for this!" His rage died out to be replaced by the familiar pangs of guilt. He rubbed at his head restlessly and cast about to start thinking about something else while his sole remaining companion was off training. His formerly tangled black hair had grown out enough to necessitate him using a cream to slick it back that Naofumi had concocted and sold to him. Maybe he could ask Usagi to shave his head bald and make him look more like a badass like Nick Fury. He quickly exhaled a sigh as adjusted his Coke-bottomed plastic glasses encased in a bulky plastic frame. Might as well admit it, he knew that it was hopeless and he would always look like a dweeb, no matter how much he leveled up and grew stronger, he would forever feel like a dork on the inside.

A soft rustle behind The Sword Hero alerted him to the presence of his slave Demihuman Usagi. The Hare teenage girl looked down at her master with an impassive expression on her pale face and vivid blue eyes. The wind tugged lightly at her long, neatly styled white hair. Her rabbit ears gently swiveled at every sound, as she was always carefully on guard the better to protect her soft-hearted master. She looked at his deeply troubled brown skinned face and flashed him a ghost of a smile and a polite bow to ease his concerns. She was sincerely worried for his mental health as he always seemed internally torn up inside ever since he purchased her contract. Why would he feel any guilt, as he was unfailingly a generous, kind, and sometimes endearingly goofy owner. She quickly gestured with her hands, forming silent words, Sorry to bother you, Master.

"Heya Usagi," he weakly replied. He signed back, spelling out individual letters for words that couldn't be represented as a single gesture, You will never be a bother, Usagi. He could have used the ASL sign for 'rabbit' when he had taught her the language, but he didn't want to compound his boneheaded maneuver of naming her after his pet rabbit, who in turn was named for an Anime character whose name in Japanese literally meant 'rabbit'. Although his choice for her name was beyond lame, he was emphatic that he would never condescend to his loyal Mage. He patted an empty space on the rock next to him.

She obliged by sitting to his right. May I ask something, she inquired.

He turned so that she could read his lips, "Ergh…you don't need to ask, Usagi. Geez." He steeled his nerve as was definite that this discussion wasn't going to be about the butterflies flitting across the meadow.

She seemed glacially calm on the surface even as her heart rate sped up, Why do you look so sad whenever you look at my brand?

Shit. So she had noticed. Of course she'd notice, baka. His half-hearted smile flickered out, "I'm a hypocrite."

Her eyes looked confused.

"I meant I say right thing, but do the wrong thing."

Usagi finally understood what he meant, and it pained her heart, despite knowing that she had to keep up a collected facade at all times. You…hate owning me?

Double shit. He wildly waved his hands in a mild panic, "No! I mean, ye-er, that's not what I…meant. I could never hate you. You stuck by my side when all those hired Mercenaries bailed on me."

She looked at Jerry with regret in her eyes, They left because you rescued me. Many humans hate my kind. This is all my fault, my kind Master.

He stood up suddenly and furiously berated her, No! I couldn't leave you to rot in that cage. I want you by my side. His fury, mainly at himself, abated, and he continued in a calmer tone, The world I come from had slavery once. Some of my ancestors were enslaved like you. I shamed their name by buying you and not freeing you on the spot.

Now, everything made sense. She gently reached out and brushed his warm cheek to encourage him to look up at her instead of his feet.

He flinched at the unexpected contact, and the warrior felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he realized that scrawny kid he had purchased two weeks prior was turning into a true beauty inside and out despite her notched ear and muteness. He tried his best to keep his eyes from misting up, "I don't deserve your loyalty, Usagi. I will free you after the Second Wave is over, I swear."

If that is your wish. However, I will remain at your side with or without the Brand. She owed him too much to ever abandon him. He was such a great master, and she selfishly wanted more than a platonic bond with her eternally kind hero. Her own cheeks betrayed their crimson hue to the Sword hero, as she placed her palm on her own chest. This belongs to you even if you free me, Master.

Tears finally escaped his eyes as he nodded, "Jerry. My n-name is Jerry."

Her lips curled slightly upwards as she vigorously nodded, Master Jerry. Thank you. She inhaled sharply as his muscular arms were wrapped around her body as he sobbed. After a moment's hesitation, she slowly returned the embrace.

How could she possibly forgive him for using her as his enslaved Follower? He softly whispered, "I'm sorry."

She did her best to keep her own tears at bay as she signed behind his back her maiden's confession, Master, I adore you.