Chūsei Sentai Chessman is a fanmade Super Sentai audio drama.
Years later, in modern day Japan, the man has become a teacher at a local high school, who also hosts a small chess club after school. One day, the 600+ years are up and the reaper is released from his prison, along with a new skeletal army and hordes of monsters.
The narrator is basically the crux of the whole story. He's the one that has to fill in everything an audio drama can't; visuals. They need to explain the details of scenes, setting up character descriptions, and cutting to and from different scenes altogether.
We open in feudal Japan, inside a medical tent located in an army base. A strategist named Barusame Shinya lies on his deathbed. His general and a medic watch over him.
The reaper, unfamiliar with modern-day Japan, was flabbergasted at what had become of his surroundings. Large buildings surrounded him, each one advertising places alien to him like arcades, cafes, and electronics stores.
Suddenly, dark mist begins to fill the tent. The strategist begins to panic, realizing his time is indeed up. A reaper in a black cloak rises from the ground. In its bony hand is a scythe, ready to harvest his soul.
Barusame is the mentor figure to the team, initially a strategist for an army back in the 1400's, he is cursed with immortality after beating a reaper at chess. Now an elderly chess teacher, he supplies his students with Chessman's powers after the reaper returns. Voice-wise, think Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid. Old, a bit of a wisecrack, and can get serious or tragic when need be.
With people nowadays more interested in video games, mobile apps, and those shows you stream to your computer, it feels like most kids of today don’t look back and appreciate what their elders did for fun like chess, shogi, or hanafuda.
Kids, what I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. This is something that not even your principal knows about me. If I tell you this, you are not to tell anyone. Understand?
Well done Chessman, you scored your first victory. But I’m afraid your journey is just beginning. These were just his foot soldiers. Who knows what he might pull off next.
Hikaru is the leader of the Chessman. Initially reluctant to join the chess club, he soon rediscovers his love of chess and becomes Red King. Hikaru is the everyman, a regular teen thrust into this new role of his and must learn to become a leader over time.
Well, my dad had a chess program on our computer when we were kids. In fact, I remember enjoying it quite a bit. I guess once I got older and began getting into other things, I just...forgot how much fun I had playing it.
Sis, do we really have to do this? I really wanted to go sign up for astrology club!
If you say so, sensei. Then I accept.
Jo Tsurugi is second-in-command to the Chessman, as well as Hikaru's sister. Assertive, tough, and a bit of a tomboy, Jo might not be the leader, but when it comes to her brother, she's practically his babysitter.
Sorry, sensei, I was just trying to get my brother to cooperate with me. He’s being a bit pissy with me right now over not getting to join the club he wanted.
Hikaru, if you even think of pinching me you’re going on a one-way ticket to the health club.
I’m the most powerful piece? I can dig that.
Shunsuke is Yellow Bishop, and the team's tech expert. With his glasses, expansive knowledge on just about anything, and a perfect attendance record since his first day of kindergarten, Shunsuke is the definition of 'nerd'. But don't let that fool you, he's a capable fighter even out-of-suit.
Minute-twenty-seven, to be precise. And if seismology has taught me right, that was about a 5.2 on the Richter scale.
I already know everything that needs to be known about that topic! If anything, I’d be the teacher instead of the student!
Well, uh, do you have the designs with you?
Dan Tokimura is Black Knight. Picture John Bender from The Breakfast Club. Make him Japanese, give him a Yakuza-inspired haircut and wardrobe, and you got Dan. Initially forced to join chess club as a means to get him out of the house more, Dan just wants to hit things, and those Skeledrones will do just fine.
My old man plays shogi with a few of his fishing buddies and brought me along when I was younger. Does that count?
Great, not even Mother Nature wants to go through with this.
Shut it, nerd. I take it this is that chess club that I heard about?
Shiro is Blue Rook, and the team's most athletic member. A star pitcher for the school's baseball team, Shiro is the most inexperienced when it comes to chess, mainly due to being more focused on sports than anything else. But despite that, he's one of the toughest members of the team in terms of build quality.
Sorry I’m late. All the other clubs were taken by now. Coach said all the players needed to sign up for a club during days we’re not scheduled for practice.
While that looks impressive, I doubt any police force nowadays would bother with them, not even the JSDF. Nowadays you’d see these kind of suits in re-enactments.
Put me in, sensei, I’m ready to fight.
The reaper is the main antagonist of our story. Having broken his promise to Barusame in extending his life temporarily, he gets sealed away in Hell for over 600 years. Now that he's back, he's ready to cause mayhem and destruction in hopes of finding Barusame and having a little rematch. The voice needs to be both serious and comedic, depending on the situation. It will also be digitally altered to sound more demonic.
Your feeble requests do not faze me, many men have pleaded the same case to me. You are no different from the others I have claimed.
Many have bargained their lives over this little game of yours as if it was the only thing one could bet their lives on to begin with!
How could this happen to Japan? What’s with these pictures of girls in...skimpy clothing on the side of the buildings? Where are the wars? The bloodshed? The prefectures fighting to the tooth and nail for power?
Dr. Yamagata is the reaper's loyal assistant. A zombie doctor from olden days, he's the one that makes each monster of the week a la Frankenstein. Also likes scaring people.
Uh, sir. I don’t think now would be the best of times. We just got out and it looks like we could use a bit of an update in our clothing. We’d stick out like a sore thumb.
Uh, boss, you’re still on probation, remember? Just because you’re free doesn’t mean you can go back to reaping just like that.
The doc...is in.
Geri is the school principal. He genuinely cares about his students and wants to make sure every one of them leads hopeful lives. He is unaware that the man he hired to teach chess club is immortal and he definitely doesn't know that the five chess-themed warriors he sees in the news are students of his.
That shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Afterschool clubs would only meet for two hours every day. I assure you our student body won’t be too much of a hassle, that is, if you get students to willingly join.
But that’s why I brought you here. I’m hoping the inclusion of afterschool clubs will give my students an appreciation for things like chess, robotics, space, and nature, just to name a few.
First thing tomorrow morning, so be here bright and early. We’re going to have a meet and greet with the other club teachers, then let them decide which club they want to sign up for.
Arino is the owner of the local arcade that Hikaru and Jo frequent, then later on, the rest of the team. He's a self-proclaimed expert gamer, although no one really believes him. Despite that, he treats the team as valued customers. Quirky, lovable, and may or may not know who the Chessman really are.
Hey now, don't get too rough with that machine! I just installed it yesterday!
You just so happen to be looking at one of few people to beat Championship Lode Runner without a walkthrough!
Welcome back you two. Ah, I see you have some new friends!
An unnamed general that Barusame worked as a strategist for.
I can’t allow that. You’ve been putting too much stress on these suits of yours. Just rest here and I’ll send for a priest.
An unnamed medic that examined Barusame when his health began to decline.
I’ve done everything I can. Every salve, herbal treatment, and remedy I’ve tried has proven effortless. I believe his body is simply shutting down.
