Devlog 1: Racial Base Models

It's been just over a week since Lords of the Darkreign released into Early Access, and we have already finished the racial base models necessary for the first large update to the game. These will be used as the starting point for each individual lord and soldier, with the specific units being differentiated by armor, adornments, or other visual indicators. The material-based approach we used when designing these models should also allow faction colors to be represented visibly be each individual unit, allowing you to pick out friends and foes on the battlefield.

For many of you, this will be your first time exploring the world of Ciel. Thus, in this Devlog, we will be showing off some animation for each race/sex base model, while explaining some of the lore behind each race of Ciel, including how they are involved in the Darkreign Wars.

Karavi

The reunification of the Karavi realm is the central struggle of the Darkreign Wars, and thus it is only natural that its people do much of the fighting. Split among several different factions and creeds, the Karavi as a whole are categorized by a cunningness and ambition rarely seen in the other races, and innovations as a society that see them consistently among the most powerful forces on the battlefield, despite being the smallest and physically weakest of the six races. Some Karavi believe they were ordained by The Creator to conquer Ciel and rule all of the other races, while others, especially in the face of the Darkreign storm, fear The Creator now sees them as a blight on Ciel.

Yittak

Long allies of the Karavi against the Vinsarr, the Yittak's democratic form of government has fallen into chaos in the last few centuries, as a brutal civil war ravaged their lands. Only now beginning to recover, the Light-government of the Yittak has not yet chosen a side in the Darkreign wars, although it is no secret that many Yittak despise the Unified Kingdom of Kilzhanarr, seeing it as a puppet-government run by the Vinsarr. It is no surprise, then, that some Yittak who fled in the diaspora reneged on their democratic beliefs, believing a strong monarchy like that of the Heir-Kingdom of Fanar to be the only way to counter the might of the Vinsarr Crown.

Nylleh

Facing decline after the fall of Illiarh to Fanar's forces, the Nylleh are responsible for the blockade of Karavi ports, strangling any hopes of escape by sea from the Darkreign. They, along with the Hokere and Light-Vaynar crowns, formally act in a state of war against the Heir-Kingdom of Fanar, and are known to occasionally raze any port-villages of theirs that lack sufficient defenders. However, unlike most other races, the Nylleh maintain at least some diplomatic contact with even their hated enemies, as their larger endeavors in Brand-hunting require coordination with locals even within these hostile realms.

Vinsarr

Now the strongest realm in all of Ciel, the Vinsarr have long warred with the Karavi, and their capture of much of the Karavi heartland in the Second Conquest War is often preached as divine favor among their pastors and chaplains. However, this golden age is far from uncontested, and fear of reprisal, such as the purges initiated by the Rekindled Kingdom of the Lion and the Heir-Kingdom of Fanar, have caused the Vinsarr crown to refrain from a re-invasion of their lands to stamp out this resistance. It is to be seen whether this restraint will last, though, for many Vinsarr believe they could lead a great empire of conquest, and finally crush their enemies once and for all.

Hokere

Once crippled by the loss of their Light of Ciel, the transfer of the Karavi Light to the Hokere crown through the blood of Hinohl Sunwings has ushered in an era of hope and growth for the Hokere. Even mending ties with their former enemies, the Nylleh and Vaynar, the Hokere stand on the precipice of a golden age not unlike that which the Vinsarr are experiencing, with advances in metallurgy in particular greatly bolstering their military capabilities. Though preferring to stay neutral in the Karavi and Vaynar civil wars, they have become bitter enemies of the Heir-Kingdom of Fanar, and are thus indirectly responsible for the continued survival of the Independent City-States, which currently are centered in Girn's Stay, well within strike range of the Hokere crown.

Vaynar

Invaded by the Karavi in the Second Conquest War, it was once though that the Vaynar would focus on rebuilding their Kingdom, after the calamity of the war. However, their current Light-King, Kalo, sought a different path, driven by fearsome nightmares to purge his realm of any Karavi remaining in his territory. This soon created a schism in Vaynar society, as those who would not commit to this wrath were cast out alongside the fleeing Karavi, to form the Kingdom of Banished Clans. A brutal civil war has raged off and on through the intervening years, and it is no secret that the Rekindled Kingdom of the Lion, which seeks to right the wrongs of its predecessor, is seen by many Vaynar as a path of hope for their people.

We hope you enjoyed this Devlog. Tune in next time to read another book see what we're up to! Thank you for your time, and we'll see you beneath the Darkreign Storm!