Ada Dev Log #2

Greetings, wanderers.

In this devlog, we wish to draw back the veil and offer you a glimpse into the history of the world portrayed in Ada: Tainted Soil.

It is a realm steeped in mystery where forgotten places slumber in shadow, where strange creatures roam, and where magic and mysticism flow quietly through everyday life. Here, the arcane is not distant or rare; it breathes alongside the ordinary, weaving wonder into every step taken upon this tainted land. Thousands of years ago... In the oceanic waters, live giant, ancient, intelligent beasts known as Krakens. They are few in number, reproduce rarely, but can live for hundreds of years. Somewhat similar to whales – gentle giants, they lead their own lives, and their existence rarely intersects with human civilization. For humans, they are somewhat of a legend; some claim to have seen one, but it remains uncertain.

This topic interests Belphorus, a wizard who, upon discovering ancient writings, realizes that these massive, ancient creatures could be a source of great power. He organizes a series of expeditions that, after years of efforts, yield results – one of the Krakens is spotted, injured, and magically captured. Belphorus discovers that Krakens, like our regular squids, produce in their bodies an inky substance called Black Ink, which possesses magical properties that can bestow supernatural abilities upon humans. Subsequent expeditions lead to the capture of more Krakens, as Belphorus seeks to harvest Black Ink to gain its power. He manages to magically control these creatures, effectively turning them into a farmed resource. Some of them are liberated, and they plan to free the rest. Believing that Belphorus represents all of humanity in his pursuit of Black Ink, they launch attacks on human settlements. In response, Giants, magically summoned to fight on the human side, enter the conflict.

This leads to a situation in which three parties hold mutual grievances: Krakens against humans, humans against Krakens, and Belphorus against Krakens, who want to free themselves, and against humans, who could kill his "livestock." The conflicts devastate all groups. Giants tip the balance in favor of humans for a while, but Belphorus manages to cast a spell that turns them into stone. Krakens, on the other hand, manage to completely destroy the major civilization centers of the world, but they suffer enormous losses, and only a few tentacled creatures remain free. Cornered by the Krakens and sensing that he is losing and may be killed, Belphorus devises a plan. He plans to merge his Rune of Existence, which contains his own soul, with the Source Flask, in which all the collected Black Ink is synthesized, serving as the key to destroying the magical restraints on the captive Krakens. If he were to die, it would prevent the remaining creatures from being freed, ensuring his safety. During the magical ritual to combine the Rune of Existence with the Source Flask, an unintended situation arises, and the entire temple where the ritual takes place collapses. The debris covers both Belphorus and the artifacts. Krakens are unable to retrieve them. Only a few individuals return to the oceans. On land, remnants of human groups lead a nomadic existence amid the ruins of a once-thriving world. One of these groups is the family of Ada, the player character.