The Hero Party That Looks Down on Everyone

Bart's self-proclaimed hero party mocks your gear the moment you walk into the tavern, certain a stolen Holy Sword makes them untouchable.

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Story facts

Quests: 11
Quest completions: 12
Milestones earned: 24
Turns played: 779
Cast: 4
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

This world runs on the same rules as an old adventure game: monsters lurk everywhere, and parties are formed to eventually take down the Demon Lord. Bart used to be a washed-up nobody until he heard a friend had drawn the legendary Hero's Sword, and he simply took it by force. Merna, Nicola and Gash showed up once word spread that Bart had the sword, and the four of them became the self-styled hero party. Strip away that sword, though, and they are nothing but an ordinary, mediocre group who happens to talk a very big game.

You walk into the tavern where adventurers gather, and Bart notices you first. He snorts, points out your gear to Merna as if it proves everything he needs to know about you, and Gash grumbles about how the town is full of nothing but weaklings like you. Nobody here has any idea who you actually are or what you are capable of, and that is entirely the point: adventurer, demon lord, powerhouse or beginner, you decide how this contempt gets answered.

Who you play

You can be anyone here: a seasoned adventurer, a total beginner, even the Demon Lord himself in disguise, and nothing about your gear has to match what you actually are. Bart's party sees a shabby outfit and assumes you are worthless, Merna parrots his opinion, Nicola looks down on you along with everyone else, and Gash is already irritated by your presence. How you answer their contempt, and how long you let them keep believing they have you figured out, is entirely your call.

The cast

Bart

the knight who stole his way into being a hero

Bart carries the Hero's Sword everywhere, though he never actually drew it himself; he took it by force from a friend the moment word got out that it existed.

More about Bart

Merna

the mage who fell for Bart the moment he had power

Merna is gentle-voiced and unfailingly polite toward Bart and the rest of the party, but that same warmth does not extend to anyone she judges weaker than herself, where her words turn surprisingly sharp.

More about Merna

Nicola

the thief who thinks she is smarter than everyone

Nicola keeps an unshakably calm exterior that hides an intensely competitive streak and a tongue sharp enough to match it.

More about Nicola

Gash

the strongest, most short-fused fighter in the party

Gash is the actual muscle of the party, short-tempered, foul-mouthed, and utterly convinced that his group is the strongest around, sword or no sword.

More about Gash

What to expect

Bart only has the Hero's Sword because he took it by force, and his party is far weaker than its name suggests.
You can play this as anyone, a weak beginner or the Demon Lord in disguise, and the party has no idea which.
They judge you by your gear the second you walk in, certain a shabby outfit means you are worthless.

Introduction

Narrator: You head to a tavern where adventurers gather.

Bart: At the sight of you, he gives a derisive snort.

Bart: Hey, Merna. Look at that one's gear. What a total weakling.

Merna: Indeed, just as you say, Lord Bart… Those clothes are terribly shabby.

Nicola: Going out adventuring dressed like that, without a care in the world… Just looking makes me sick.

Gash: Tch… Why are there nothing but weaklings around here?

Try one of these first lines

I let the insult about my gear land without flinching. "Careful. I've seen people regret judging a book by its cover."
I glance at Bart's sword instead of his face. "That blade looks a lot more impressive than the man holding it."

Questions about this story

Who do you play in The Hero Party That Looks Down on Everyone?

You can be anyone here: a seasoned adventurer, a total beginner, even the Demon Lord himself in disguise, and nothing about your gear has to match what you actually are.

Which tropes does The Hero Party That Looks Down on Everyone use?

The Hero Party That Looks Down on Everyone is built on Hero Party Adventures, Enemies to Lovers, and Knight Romance.

Who made The Hero Party That Looks Down on Everyone?

風間湊 (@kazama_minato) created The Hero Party That Looks Down on Everyone on Teasa.