The Eighth Hour

[Botolf]

The Eighth Hour




Do you remember the lost days?
It was by them they named you.
Warrior. Vanguard. Steadfast.
Those days have long since spoiled under a new sun.
It was by what followed that they name you.
Pilferer. Graverobber. Thief.
Need that be so forever?
The time is full for this new sun to set,
But we have need of many hands.
It is no small thing we seek to turn,
For nothing less will do than the world.
Once more take up the sword in our name,
And we shall see to it that yours is restored.

And what of I, you ask?

I am sapper unseen, humbler of towers mighty and small.
I gnaw at the roots of earth and bastion alike.
I am an architect who builds only to later defile the work of his hands, I am an artisan without an art.
My eyes forget the shades of moon and sun,
They remember only the spray of fire.
My feet know not the streams and woods of home,
They feel only the quench of dust.
My name is long washed from my tongue, and these blackened stones alone recall it.
You may call me Gräber, for I have cleared all else away.

My spade breathes life by me, and I breathe life by it.http://i54.tinypic.com/29vmh5d_th.jpg (http://i54.tinypic.com/29vmh5d.jpg)

All roads lead to Rome, but none to health and home.


http://i51.tinypic.com/2505h1t_th.jpg (http://i51.tinypic.com/2505h1t.jpg)

Memory endures the greatest of desolations.


http://i53.tinypic.com/2vhyu0h_th.jpg (http://i53.tinypic.com/2vhyu0h.jpg)

Yet greater still looms in the wings, prophesying our ruin.


http://i56.tinypic.com/or8ggg_th.jpg (http://i56.tinypic.com/or8ggg.jpg)

Familiar places and unfamiliar times.


Who's making it: Me!

What's it about: An untold chapter of the uprising against the nefarious Combine, around the same time Freeman storms the Citadel in Half-Life 2

What's Needed: Half-Life 2: Episode 2

Release Date: To be decided (a good way off, though)

[Higuy]

Neat!

[Botolf]

Neat!
Thanks ;)

[Con]

This is going to be sweet. From what I can tell so far this project is in good hands. Great attention to detail and visuals! That train yard scene looks great with the sun coming through the smoke. It sounds like the writing will be just as beautiful too.

[Botolf]

Thanks for the compliments, sir! I'm definitely pouring a lot of TLC and attention into this project, hope to make something special ^_^

[Higuy]

Gotta agree with Con there, your writing is fantastic.

[Bodzilla]

in need of any voice actors by any chance?

[Botolf]

in need of any voice actors by any chance?
Yes, indeed I am! Have two main roles in mind, and some smaller "squad rebel" roles.

[Bodzilla]

well i've got a thick thick australian voice so just take that into account if you need me later on :P

[Amit]

well i've got a thick thick australian voice so just take that into account if you need me later on :P

Man, you would have done good for Lumoria's Brandon, then. Not to say that David didn't do a good job, either.

[Bodzilla]

who what?

You've heard podacity havnt you?

[Botolf]

who what?

You've heard podacity havnt you?
I personally haven't, but I'll load up an episode now and see what you sound like ;)

Edit: Oh, it would appear that it's been sent off to sleep in a shallow grave.

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

Can I apply to voice act?
:3

[thehoodedsmack]

Since others are applying, I'll throw my availability in as well.

In possession of an outstanding microphone, a fantastic voice, and several hours free time every day to record. I wouldn't mind contributing if you need anything.

[Botolf]

I can create as many roles as there are good voices, so I'm quite content to hear anybody and everybody out. E-mail is botolf@gmail.com, if you have samples or something you can send at present.


Can I apply to voice act?
:3
Sure, I shall add ye to the list of possibles.


Since others are applying, I'll throw my availability in as well.

In possession of an outstanding microphone, a fantastic voice, and several hours free time every day to record. I wouldn't mind contributing if you need anything.
Added!

[Warsaw]

Argh. If only I had a better mic!

This project looks awesome. You guys have a website?

[Botolf]

Argh. If only I had a better mic!

This project looks awesome. You guys have a website?
Not as of yet, though I have a Moddb page up. Should turn up with search once my welcome post is authorized.

[Amit]

who what?

You've heard podacity havnt you?

O'Course I have. You're not a true Modacity douchebag (http://asylum.byethost33.com/nuclearcoffee/index.php?topic=13.msg18#msg18) until you have.

[Botolf]

So yeah, some preliminary line reading can be done by those interested. These are lines taken from HL2 and Episode Two, to kind of get a general idea of who might fit what role.

Citizen
There are several of these roles open, accents are absolutely fine. Expect similar lines to these below, as well as some particular ones for greetings, friendly fire, turning on the player, and, etc.

"Antlions!" [alarm]
"Civil Protection!" [alarm]
"We're ready when you are." [neutral]
"Cover me while I reload!" [low shout]
"Shouldn't we be doing something?" [puzzlement]
"Let's even the odds a little" [grim determination]
"Fantastic!" [guttural satisfaction]
"I'm gonna stay and hold down this spot." [neutral]

Vortigaunt
Hoping to have one voiced Vortigaunt, but it goes without saying that this one will require a very particular sort of voice. Resonance is crucial. The sort of tone with which the lines are uttered is also important, yet hard to pin down.

"We have survived worse across the ages."
"This is more than anyone can bear, but we will persevere. "
"It is good now that we work together."
"Your skills are formidable!"
"We cannot forget those whose cords you cut. Forgiveness is not ours to bestow. "
"Our life is worthless unless spent on freedom. "
"The tether is cut!"
"That is all we can spare. "

Mail is: botolf@gmail.com
Skype ID is: gaf-botolf
Steamcommunity page is: http://steamcommunity.com/id/botolf

[n00b1n8R]

Aren't most of those vortigaunt lines in HL2/episodes already?

[Warsaw]

He wants you to try and imitate the character because he obviously doesn't have access to the original voice actor. To do that, perform the already-existing content as close as possible. Do that, and you can do something new.

[sevlag]

imitating certain pitches is sorta easy, its just those high pitched ones you'd need to throw thorugh a audio editor

[Botolf]

I'd be willing to clean up performances in something like Audacity (though I'm kind've a nub with it), but naturally that can't make a great performance or totally overcome terrible audio quality.


He wants you to try and imitate the character because he obviously doesn't have access to the original voice actor. To do that, perform the already-existing content as close as possible. Do that, and you can do something new.
Basically this. The given lines are just a baseline to try and figure out who might be better suited for specific roles. I'd like to have a few distinct minor Rebels (and a Vortigaunt if possible) throughout the campaign, so if you can deliver default rebel lines somewhat convincingly, you'll probably have no problem with mine.

[Aerowyn]

I would totally do it if I had a better microphone. :(

Plus I don't know if you'll need any wimminz anyway.

[Warsaw]

There are female rebels in Half-Life 2, at the very least.

[Botolf]

I can make space for as many competent people as there are, it's no issue. 'Tis an equal opportunity apocalypse, and there's room for all manners of NPCs :iamafag:

[=sw=warlord]

I could quite easily do the voices for the Vortigaunt, I'l dig my microphone out over the week end and take a few pot shots for you to sift through.

[Botolf]

I could quite easily do the voices for the Vortigaunt, I'l dig my microphone out over the week end and take a few pot shots for you to sift through.
Sure thing! :)

[Botolf]

Alright, there's something kinda weird going on. Whichever user contacted me on Skype to do that line reading (I believe it was Pyong or =sw=warlord), are you able to log into your account? Do you speak broken English in real life? Are you traveling India at this very moment? Do you have any particular reason for asking me a laundry list of personal questions and calling me "Dear"?

Should you answer no to any of those, methinks someone that is decidedly not you has their paws on your account.

[Bodzilla]

lmao

[=sw=warlord]

Alright, there's something kinda weird going on. Whichever user contacted me on Skype to do that line reading (I believe it was Pyong or =sw=warlord), are you able to log into your account? Do you speak broken English in real life? Are you traveling India at this very moment? Do you have any particular reason for asking me a laundry list of personal questions and calling me "Dear"?

Should you answer no to any of those, methinks someone that is decidedly not you has their paws on your account.
Won't be me, I've got a strong British accent so it's probably pyong.
I appologize for not getting about to doing the soundbites as I said but at the moment I have no sound on my PC at all and need to send the board in for a exchange.

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

I don't think I've seen anything about laundry...

[Botolf]

Welp, false alarm. Just some random guy with the same Skype name. No idea where the hell he came from, or what his deal is XD


Won't be me, I've got a strong British accent so it's probably pyong.
I appologize for not getting about to doing the soundbites as I said but at the moment I have no sound on my PC at all and need to send the board in for a exchange.
No biggie, I can definitely relate to hardware troubles. My graphics card is dead at this very moment, so I can't really run my 3d games until I get it replaced.

[Warsaw]

That's rather hilarious, if I do say so myself. Should have recorded it and put it up on YouTube.

[Botolf]

In a somewhat random tangent, fuck yes. Got transparent decals working in-game, I've been struggling with GIMP eating textures' alpha channels.

I also learned how to make decals full-detail on all texture settings, which is kinda important because I'm going to be creating a lot of wall scribbles that tie into the underlying mystery. I think those on humble hardware will appreciate it, even if it does ding performance a bit. It's still a fair sight better than forcing them to up the texture quality on everything just to follow important story details.


That's rather hilarious, if I do say so myself. Should have recorded it and put it up on YouTube.
He hasn't initiated a voice chat... yet. But I shall keep your suggestion in mind :downs: