Unknown Hero (Hero-U)

This article or section contains information from Lori and Corey Cole’s (Transolar Games) extended Hero Universe (Hero-U Canon and/or Apocrypha).

Details may include information from Hero-U and Summer Daze, other published sources (pre-QFG & later) including books, comics, documentation and DnD supplements. It may also contain information from unreleased novels (and games), notes, concept materials, and developmental ideas from Quest for Glory outside of the original series canon.

The Hero (aka Hero in All of Us and The Unknown Hero) is a character concept taken from Quest For Glory series which represents the player character from the Quest For Glory series and how it relates to the backstory of Hero-U series (see Hero).

There are two main interpretations either that there was a 'single' hero who existed as in Quest For Glory series representing each player's character (for example Devon Aidendale (Hero-U)) who may be from any class, or even a hybrid. Depending on character's choice may or may not become king or Silmaria (leaving it to Elsa who may or may not be King of Silmaria). Alternatively it could be Four Heroes as per How To Be A Hero series. All references to the 'Hero (or Heroes)' are kept vague in order to allow any version of the story to be 'true'... This article talks about the concept of a 'single' hero as the backstory to Hero-U (see also Single Hero timeline).

Background

According to Lori Cole, one plan during the development of Hero-U intentionally keeps much of character backstories vague in order to somewhat preserve stories of the player's characters of the original games.

So in some references to the game she refers to him as the "Hero of Quest For Glory". She notes that the Hero of Quest For Glory's role is as such that 'many of the things he did will be referenced in the games, but that he is far away from Hero-U.' Corey Cole has mentioned that each of the four characters in Quest For Glory could be seen as alternate universes. The Wizard for example had certain events unique only to its version in Quest For Glory 4 for example. These differences would influence the encounters of each player's story.

Lori Cole has mentioned that the Hero 'canonically' that 'one of them' may have become King of Silmaria. However, for the sake of the game, because they don't know who the player might have been in QFG, they wanted the Hero to still feel like it may still be the player's character. For example if a played a paladin, and decided "I'm not going to be King here", or if a Thief decided to only be the King of Thieves, the Coles have chosen to stay sort of in the grey areas when it comes to 'what happened' in QFG (because they didn't want 'ever overwrite it' so that fans feel, "oh that isn't my character anymore"). She describes it as Schrodinger's story, the Hero may or may not have become King of Silmaria, and that Elsa Von Spielburg may or may not have become the King of Silmaria. She says they reference them, but they can't tell 'what actualy happened' because they don't know what the player's did. It's up to the players.

That being said the game also makes references to elements from How To Be A Hero book series, By The Book, etc. Confirming the four hero siblings, however these are written in such a way that they aren't specifically 'connected' to the character hero from the game except in vague sort of ways. Falcon is mentioned for example, but it's his role as the QFG paladin is not mentioned... Wren is mentioned indirectly, but her role as the Thief hero from QFG5 is not specifically stated. The statue of the "Hero" represents all heroes that every player might have, "The Hero in All of Us". Though the shown image portrays the fighter.

The character Mwamba for example is known to have second name based on player's character's name. It could be anything from the four heroes to even Mwamba Devon (after Devon Aidendale), but the game will not specify what that second name is to avoid overwriting other player's stories.

In QFG5 it was possible to marry one of four different characters, or none of them (or 3 of them if they were wooed in the right order), and only able to save Katrina, Elsa, or neither during the journey to the underworld. The player could also win competitions to become king, lose to Elsa, or choose not to become king after winning. If a thief or hybrid, the Hero could lose the position of Chief Thief to Ferarri, or win by finding the real Blackbird.

The Coles have confirmed some of the other How To Be A Hero backstories in other interviews though. Some of it influenced content published on School For Heroes, but is not specified within Hero-U.

One way this 'backstory' may differ from the classical QFG series is that Quest for Glory 1-5 takes place over a period of several years (rather than 1 or a few years). However, this is less important, as specific dates in QFG era are not directly reference within Hero-U itself (with exception of hinting that some of the events of QFG5 occured around 20 years ago), see Hero-U timeline.

According to Lori Cole... After the events of Quest for Glory V: Dragonfire, Elsa von Spielburg became the queen of Silmaria. In this version of the world of Gloriana, Erana and Katrina were both raised from Hades by the Hero. Each of the three women now lives a happy, married life. Famous Adventurer expanded his school to become more than just a correspondence school.

However, in Hero-U things are not as specific, allowing for players who only saved Katrina or only saved Erana, and the other being left behind, as part of the player's history. Or if the player chose to let both linger in the underworld, and fade away, meaning both are dead in the player's history.

Even if Unknown Hero (Devon Aidendale, or any number of player's characters) does exist in the collective Hero-U universe so do the four birds as well as there are subtle nods to them included in the backstories (though its not sure how they fit in with the actions of the "Unknown Hero"). But Fox/Wren, and Falcon have at least been mentioned. The statue of the "Unknown Hero" appears to represent a fighter (or at least paladin or at least 'mixed-class') due to the character holding a shield and sword (something that is less likely for thieves and magic users, although they technically can hold the weapons and shields in QFG5 making this interpretation somewhat moot). The statue of the Unknown Hero (Hero in All of Us) depicts or rather resembles the QFG1VGA Hero Fighter class as he is wearing that game's cape (and similar shield shape).

Appearances in other Sources

The Undefined Hero (singular) is mentioned in the stories Mordavian Nights and Mistress of Darkness. But occasionally referenced in various synopses and other articles by the Coles, have been posted on their various websites. Contextually if they are discussing Four Heroes context, Hawk is generally the default hero when these stories are told, context of How To Be A Hero, but in context of the games could be any of the four heroes.

In Mordavian Nights the Hero is mentioned in relation to his actions around the Town of Mordavia (Hero-U). It mentions that Erana (Hero-U)'s magical staff once stood near the entrance to the village until the Hero restored the child Tanya Markarov back to life and claimed the staff for his own. It mentions that the Hero once stayed at Hotel Mordavia (Hero-U) inn when he freed us all from the powers of darkness. It mentions that the Hero helped bring Boris and Olga back together when they were going through rough times a few years back. It mentions that the Adventurer's Guild was where the Hero spent hours honing his muscles on the exercise machine.

In Mistress of Darkness, Katrina (Hero-U) is watching 'him' (the Hero) as he tries be Heroic. She wishes that he would remain tucked safely in his warm bed in the inn at night, wishing that he had a sense of self-preservation, as she needs him to be alive to do her bidding. She believes the woods are too dangerous for him at night. She looks into a magic mirror, fearing premonition that her 'friend' is not so wise, and had forsaken the town for some vain attempt at heroism. Sensing that Hero is in danger, she watches him. She sees him wandering near the cemetery. She sees this as foolish, because all the restless dead that wander near there. She sees a revenant crawl out form under a desecrated gravestone, clambering up a cenotaph and preparing to ambush the Hero. Deciding that she has to interfere before her pawn is killed, as she need him, she transforms into mist and travels to the graveyard, and returns to form near the Borgov Crypt (Hero-U). She hides herself in shadow, and watches nearby conflict. The revenant was tearing at hero with its foul claws. blood was steaming down the hero's arm. Again, the revenant's claws slashed at the hero's side, splattering blood across a gravestone. The blood was enticing her, but she resisted. Turning to look at his face. There was grim streaking his cheek, and his hair dripped with sweat. His eyes, his brilliant blue eyes, burned with his determination and inner will. There was no sign of weakness in him. No, his strength came from his heart, giving his weapon greater power. He glowed in the night with the fire of his passion for life. She notices that the hero has been injured. His breath was already labored as he tried desperately to destroy the revenant before the blood loss weakened him further. But she saw no fear on his face, however.

While the story doesn't specifically mention 'which class of hero' is involved, some of the descriptions do seem to fit the paladin if anything. Such as 'weapon becoming more powerful' from the Hero's heart, the reference to 'inner will' (something important to Paladins), and 'glowing in the night with the fire...' conjures up images of the flaming swords most paladins use.

The reference to blue eyes fits the 'twins' the most if discussing the four heroes version of the story (Owl has turquoise, and Wren had amber-gold eyes). In QFG the games art and boxes were not generally detailed enough to show the color of the hero's eyes. Though they may have been described in a few places in the games.

Lori has said that the story predates any ideas for the How to Be a Hero books, but that in the Mordavia story (most likely to have a named like "By the Shield" as it was to mostly focus on Falcon the Paladin) that Falcon would have been the first hero summoned to Mordavia, as Katrina would have seen him to be the weakest of the four siblings, and worried that all four combined would have been a threat to her. The others would have had to have found other means to reach Mordavia to mount a rescue of their brother.

Other references to the 'single' "Hero" appears in School For Heroes materials;

The Hero's rise to the throne is mentioned in an article by Rona Gabbler a gnome pundit in the developer's blog.

It has been over ten years since the Coles related the tale of the Hero’s rise to the throne of Silmaria.

Another reference to the Hero (which confirms that he became King of Silmaria) is in a reply by the Bard Instructor Lorenzo who speaks of the "Marete King", in reference to the King of Silmaria in someone's letter (though it seems this was ignored for the sake of making Hero-U's backtory more 'vague'). However, it does make a nod to the idea that there are many stories of the Hero and his rise to power (but it overlooks the choice of the players who might have decided not to become king).

We bards of Glorianna all have our versions of the Glory Story. I have performed it before the Marete King himself, to great success. He's a great man, if a little modest. He's the first to tell you where the legends cover the truth of what really happened in his rise to fame and rulership.

In an interview for Ars Heroica (a player written newspaper associated with School For Heroes), one article written by one of the players "Joseph Howse" (called the 'in-howse' Reporter. He was once Senior Articles Editor for Strange Horizons webzine. These are considered canon by the Cole's, as part of the School For Heroes fan driven RPG materials. An editorial by "Famous Adventurer" himself introduces Joseph Howse and his interviews (including the one he was involved in). One of the articles mentions the "Heroic Highness" visiting the Famous Adventurer, and implication he was the king of Silmaria. Another of his articles mentions the "King of Silmaria".

The King of Silmaria is a friend of katta, liontaurs and leopardmen. He should also make efforts to reconcile with the cougarmen on Marete.

Hippocrene water! Anytime I get so foolish as to stop taking it, his Heroic Highness drops in and reminds me.

I was feeling in the dumps

(Something funny with my spleen)

Till the Hero from the North

Had me quaff some Hippocrene!

A description related to Hero-U backer describing the events of Quest for Glory summarizes the series adventures;

Each game in the Quest for Glory series took players into a new land with a unique society... As he became more experienced, the Hero traveled from Western Europe to the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and finally to the Mediterranean.

In a single hero perspective the hero can essentially be any player who chose to become king (but not as open to any character who turned down the kingdom). However, from the Four Heroes perspective the context of these materials would be in reference to Hawk the Warrior. In Hero-U itself its open to the idea that a player may have turned down Kingship (and some Other references to the 'single' "Hero" appears in School For Heroes materials;

The Hero's rise to the throne is mentioned in an article by Rona Gabbler a gnome pundit in the developer's blog.[5] It has been over ten years since the Coles related the tale of the Hero’s rise to the throne of Silmaria.

Another reference to the Hero (which confirms that he became King of Silmaria) is in a reply by the Bard Instructor Lorenzo who speaks of the "Marete King", in reference to the King of Silmaria in someone's letter (though Hero-U may have avoid this reference for the sake of making Hero-U's backstory 'vague'). However, it does make a nod to the idea that there are many stories of the Hero and his rise to power (but it overlooks the choice of the players who might have decided not to become king). We bards of Glorianna all have our versions of the Glory Story. I have performed it before the Marete King himself, to great success. He's a great man, if a little modest. He's the first to tell you where the legends cover the truth of what really happened in his rise to fame and rulership.[6] In an interview for Ars Heroica (a player written newspaper associated with School For Heroes), one article written by one of the players "Joseph Howse" (called the 'in-howse' Reporter. He was once Senior Articles Editor for Strange Horizons webzine. These are considered canon by the Cole's, as part of the School For Heroes fan driven RPG materials. An editorial by "Famous Adventurer" himself introduces Joseph Howse and his interviews (including the one he was involved in). One of the articles mentions the "Heroic Highness" visiting the Famous Adventurer, and implication he was the king of Silmaria. Another of his articles mentions the "King of Silmaria". The King of Silmaria is a friend of katta, liontaurs and leopardmen. He should also make efforts to reconcile with the cougarmen on Marete.[7]

Hippocrene water! Anytime I get so foolish as to stop taking it, his Heroic Highness drops in and reminds me. I was feeling in the dumps (Something funny with my spleen) Till the Hero from the North Had me quaff some Hippocrene![8][9]

A description related to Hero-U backer describing the events of Quest for Glory summarizes the series adventures; Each game in the Quest for Glory series took players into a new land with a unique society... As he became more experienced, the Hero traveled from Western Europe to the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and finally to the Mediterranean.[10]

In a single hero perspective the hero can essentially be any player who chose to become king (but not as open to any character who turned down the kingdom). However, from the Four Heroes perspective the context of these materials would be in reference to Hawk the Warrior.

In Hero-U the game is more open to the possibility that the single hero never became King, and if he did, he may not have actually married Elsa (so she did not become queen).

Titles

• Hero
• Hero in All of Us
• The Unknown Hero
• Hero of Quest For Glory

Notes

• Depending on each player character's backstory, this essentially means that the Hero (one of the four Devons or various player characters) probably only saved either Katrina, or Elsa from the Underworld, or neither. But this could mean other heroes (such as the four birds) ultimately rescued them instead, or she was never rescued (a statue in Hero-U does could imply she is still alive, or if she was not rescued, it simply honor her memory).
• The player's hero may or may not married one of the four women (or two or three of the women, depending on a particular actions in the game/exploit). However, this would impact four birds backstory in relation to the Unknown Hero, affecting who they may have married or not married. For example its strongly implied via How To Be A Hero/School For Heroes content Falcon married Erana, and confirmed by Lori herself. However, in Hero-U while Falcon is mentioned, and that he has his own love, Erana being his love is not mentioned by name. Probably to leave room for player's backstory instead. Likewise while Elsa is mentioned in the game her being 'Queen/King of Silmaria' and married or not married to Hawk or the "Unknown Hero" is not specified, in order to preserve potential choices and backstories made by the player's in their characters.
• Obviously in the case of Devon, the variations on fifth story were never told, and his story only goes up events of QFG4. So it's not known what each of the four versions of Devon would have ended up with, or choices they would have made in 5.
• Taking HERO: The Journal of General Job Adjusting into account the Unknown Hero that Erasmus knew was a magic user (or at least a hybrid character).
• In some player's backstories the fighter hero might have become a Paladin in QFG3 rather than QFG2 (assuming that player's didn't utilize the class switching features in some of the later games as well starting in QFG3's import).
• However, while 'every' QFG player characters might co-exist, their history/timeline in Hero-U universe have obvious differences with the timelines and four class 'alternate universes' in the original QFG universe (see timelines and convergence concept), since the Cole's have reimagined, and re-adjusted the timelines for the backstory of Hero-U (with QFG events taking place over 3-10 years period, rather than a 'single year'). Obviously the four Devon's backstories deviate from the in-game timelines somewhat (specific choices made, certain events occur on a different day in the narrative, or Devon not attacking the Antwerp for example).

See also

• Four Heroes
• Devon Aidendale (Hero-U)
• Hero
• Unknown Hero
• Mistress of Darkness
• Mordavian Nights

Behind the scenes

Backer Paintings

Some of the paintings, or references to characters found in throughout the castle are connected to kickstarter backers, some may represent 'interpretations' of the Hero character, but many may just be interpretations of former School For Heroes/How To Be A Hero School students. Though some are treated as ancient persons tied with the history of the castle such as Big D (who may have had a connection to the Illuminari).Of particular note is a character/backer found in the main hall which Shawn notes he believes maybe the King of Silmaria. If this is an interpretation of the 'current' King of SIlmaria or a past king its not clear.