Champions!

You’ll need power and skills to survive in the world of Alaloth. To possess them however, you will first have to choose a Way of Power and a Profession. Today we’ll take a deeper look into the Way of Nature, one of the three Ways of Power you’ll be able to choose from.

In the beginning there was only the All-Father’s chaos and Jaiha’s earth. The only power to be harnessed was the raw energy of nature. It was the elves of old that learned that if one nourished their connection to the nature around them, they would reap great rewards. A champion who chooses the Way of Nature will gain elemental magical skills that can be used at a long range against their enemies. This way draws on the power of the nature gods to help a champion manipulate the flora and fauna that surrounds them.




Like every Way of Power, the Way of Nature has its own unique professions. These will help you connect to the natural world and vanquish your enemies.




By joining with nature, Elementalists have control over all elements in the mortal realm. They excel in conjuring these elements and manipulating them as they please.

Earthquake
Shake Jaiha’s earth to knock down your enemies and make them lose their balance.

Fireblast
Bring forth a mighty dragon within you that will burn your enemies to a crisp with the heat of its fury.

Lightning Bolt
Harness the power of thunder and lightning to strike forcefully at your enemy with electric results.

Winter’s Grasp
Permanently freeze all the enemies around you by surrounding yourself with the icy winds of winter.





Arcanists focus more on the magical aspect of nature rather than on controlling specific elements.

Arcane Shield
The forces of nature and of magic are one. With both, you can form a mighty shield that will protect you from harm.

Forcewave
Knock the enemies that are assaulting your position to the ground with the force that exists deep inside all living things.

Disruption Field
There’s no reason to let the enemy storm your party without obstacles. Call upon nature to slow and disrupt the will and might of your enemy, giving you an edge in battle.

Cloudkill
Unleash a poisonous cloud that envelops your enemies and follows them as they try to escape.




Wardens completely immerse themselves into nature, becoming one with it. They guide it and revel in it, manipulating it with admiration rather than selfish need. Wardens control the creatures of the ground as well as the earth itself.

Bohai’s Hand
Summon the mighty thorny hand of Bohai, a root that will capture your enemies and keep them in place, not allowing them to move while it's called.

Elemental Aegis
Do not let the enemy attack you with that which you hold power over; protect yourself from the powers of the elements with a shield made from them.

Healing Spring
Form an aura around yourself that will promote the natural processes of healing in yourself and your allies.

Summon Familiar
Call on the powers of nature to summon an animal familiar to fight by your side and charge at the enemy for the duration of a battle. The pet will follow you for as long as it lives.

If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254448222082
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254426286535
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3059602452005106721

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Do you think you’ll choose the Way of Nature? Which Profession did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Champions!

You’ll need power and skills to survive in the world of Alaloth. To possess them however, you will first have to choose a Way of Power and a Profession. Today we’ll take a deeper look into the Way of Gods, one of the three Ways of Power you’ll be able to choose from.

In the world of Plamen, you are never alone. A god or two is always watching over you, guiding you, giving you strength, or cursing your enemies. Following the Way of Gods, a champion will have the power to gain boons and abilities from a plethora of deities; some good, some evil—depending on a champion’s wishes. The gods channel their power through champions that they feel are worthy of possessing it, channeling spells that heal or kill as needed.




Like every Way of Power, the Way of Gods has its own unique Professions that will help you restore the faith and fight like the blessed monks.




Templars are mighty defenders of the faith, providing holy energy to the world by channeling the powers of the gods of justice, healing, and truth. Templars swear to protect the four kingdoms using pure magic.

Divine Shield
Gather the powers of the gods to form a protective shield that will defend you from incoming attacks from close and afar.

Holy Fire
Call upon the ire of the gods and send their righteous fury against enemies with a fire that burns more than just the unholy.

Bless
The power of the gods channeled through this blessing will give you and your allies a boost in battle.

Consecration
The enemy aims to corrupt the lands of the blessed gods, but you won’t let them. Consecrate the ground beneath them and punish them for their sins.





Defenders of the faith and preachers of the word of the gods. Clerics travel between holy places, healing the sick, blessing the righteous, and smiting the sinful. They protect the mortal realms from abominations and the evil magic of the undead.

Banish Undead
Send skeletons, zombies, and any creatures that dare to crawl out of their graves back into the ground with the blessing of the gods. Cause damage to all undead near you.

Purify
Traveling and fighting in these corrupted lands takes its toll on you. Purify ailments and misgivings from yourself and your allies.

Sanctified Field
Cast upon the ground around you the sacred power to cure yourself and your allies when in battle, and block the malice of your foes.

Heal Wounds
Let the lifeforce given to you by the will of the gods flow through you to heal yourself or those around you.





Death is not the final stage for mortals as some may think. Necromancers hold dominion over the realm of the dead. They can raise them from their graves and make them walk the streets once more. Necromancers use the dead as their own personal army to fulfil their wicked plans.

Summon Undead
Give the bloated corpses and piles of bones around you a new chance at life in your service as they fight to “die” for you.

Vampiric Touch
The blood that flows through your enemy’s veins is yours by right. Take their lifeforce for yourself as you strike against them.

Affliction
Afflict your enemies with a potent ailment from the gods of death and cruelty, let them suffer slowly as they fight against you.

Curse
Let your opponent have no advantages in battle and make them vulnerable, make them feel pain when they try to strike against you.


If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254426286535
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3059602452005106720
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3062978883683506392

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Do you think you’ll choose the Way of Gods? Which Profession did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Sometimes they will come in the form of a special Companion update to introduce companions that may accompany you on your quest. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Nearly every game, from shooters to RPGs, has a narrative. It can be hidden in the background or carry the player from beginning to end, but it's always there. It has been our job to create that narrative in Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms, and embed it into every aspect of the game, be it in combat, quests, or the characters that you’ll interact with.



The world of our game has been in the works for quite some time, with different visions and building blocks laid out during the first years of development. It was during this stage that the core ideas of the game; the villain, kingdoms, gods, and overall style took hold and still influence every subsequent addition to the game. With the lore and world of the game already in place, new narrative designers didn’t have to invent the wheel, but rather expand upon it.

The first step when starting on a new project, particularly in the creative field, is to study the material meticulously. Every page, character, tree, and ant that was already created by previous writers needs a thorough examination. Every god and kingdom needs to be understood. In our role as designers, we need to first read everything that exists, then fully comprehend it, and finally memorize each and every small detail. Then we can create our own original stories, but set in an already pre-existing world and with a similar style.



After becoming familiar with the source, one can add to it, creating quests, characters, and in-game items that complement the existing lore. Sometimes a pre-existing aspect of the world needs to be reworked to fit the in-game content. It’s fun to create the intricate details of a kingdom and how each noble house behaves, but we need to be careful what we create is reflected in the dialogues, the random barks a player can hear on the streets of a city, or when meeting face to face with a king. Everything needs to mesh together seamlessly.

Narrative Design is similar to writing a novel or a movie, the components are all there. Every narrative has to have its structure, highs and lows, and its relation and inspiration to human life as we know it. But game narratives add an extra layer to the job. As a game writer, you need to consider the core gameplay and game design with every line of dialogue you write. You need to verify if a game can do what you want it to do, can the engine handle these complications for the sake of a narrative? But also, does the dialogue complement the style of the game? How do you convey your information in third person, or in an isometric view? All these have a deep effect on how you write and what you write, because while you can get sucked into the world and let your imagination run wild, nothing of what you write will ever see the light of day if the game is not considered first.



Another aspect of Narrative Design, once you look past your own imagination, is inspiration. The world of Plamen is one that takes the medieval style and combines it with magic and supernatural forces, leading to a lot of sources of inspiration when trying to create and expand these concepts into something original. One could look at old fantasy books or at the direction of similar games, but it’s important that these inspirations do not consume your product. You can be inspired by another game, like a concept, but at the end of the day, your world and story have to be your own creation and not depend completely on another.

Alternatively, a designer can look to real life for inspiration. When deciding on the names and traditions of races in the game, we looked to the different cultures of Earth for sources of inspiration. Irish festivals, Jewish holidays, and African dress are just a few examples of cultural aspects that can be studied for inspiration. Looking to Earth cultures for inspiration also has the added benefit of creating a sense of belonging in the characters of the different races, giving them some commonality in the world.
This commonality also applies to the religious structure of Alaloth. Looking at ancient mythologies and the Bible itself, one can see the natural progression of a creation story, a tale of a god, prophecy, and prayer. It’s only with great knowledge of the world that surrounds us that we can create new and exciting worlds just like Tolkien did for Lord of the Rings.



In Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms, we’ve strived to bring you an engaging world full of mystery, chaos, and challenges. That all seeps into the core of our narrative, from the quest at hand to defeat a fallen God, to the many characters you’ll encounter along the path to that goal. Each companion will offer a new perspective on the world, and each character has their own internal motive for you to discover. At the end of the day, we can only hope that you, the player, will fall in love with the cast of misfits we’ve assembled and the world we created for your enjoyment.



If you missed any of the previous Development Updates, check out the latest ones here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3058475918421648964
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/2961646623389887319
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/4811498361139642909

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the making of Alaloth. What do you think about creative design in gaming? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.


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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

In the lands of Plamen you’ll find many who will want to join in your crusade against Alaloth—if your interests align. Some will come from far and wide, from distant lands or from their own home in Plamen, but all have the same goal in mind—defeating the great demon. These characters are potential Companions who would join you on your quest. The first you may choose to add to your band of heroes is Lileah. She is someone who cherishes the light of Vaizmil and wants to protect all that is innocent and good, especially now, that corruption that is slowly but surely taking over Edherest.





Hailing from Altar City, Lileah was orphaned when the city was destroyed by Alaloth’s Tempests. Now the city is known as the God Graves. As a child, she was always aggressive and looking for a fight. No caretaker or family had the patience to bear with the wild child and she often found herself on the streets of Edherest. As she matured, she formed a bond with the Shield-Bearers of Vaizmil, eventually becoming a member, and used her aggression and violent nature for good. But as the priesthood lost its hold over Edherest and magic users became more powerful than ever in the service of the great houses, Lileah found herself disillusioned by her position in life. She worked tirelessly to save persecuted priests from the hands of the houses and now, she seeks a way to restore balance to the kingdom. As the last sentinel of Vaizmil, Lileah has taken it upon herself to fight against the enemies of the Goddess and slay the ultimate monster, Alaloth. She will seek a champion to join forces with who will protect the innocent and do what’s good, even at the cost of self-sacrifice.




If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3059602452005106720
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3062978883683506392
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3062978248987410801


We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Do you think you’ll be the champion Lileah is looking for? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Sometimes they will come in the form of a special Companion update to introduce companions that may accompany you on your quest. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

In the world of Plamen there are many who wander. There are those who’ve lost it all—their homes, loved ones, and purpose and then there those who by choice or curse are forced to be distant from the rest of the mortal world, until their goal is finally achieved. These latter beings are mortals of great power, either of the body, the mind, or of magic, waiting for someone to come and gain their favor by succeeding where they could not. Though found in the lands of The Four Kingdoms, they are not bound to them, nor do their kingdoms care for them or wish to aid them in their quests. The wanders’ only goal is their own, and whether that’s good or bad for the kingdoms they dwell in remains to be seen.



The Red Mage is an unknown and mysterious sorcerer who dwells in Edherest by a lake overlooking a derelict magical tower, a Beacon Tower. He is known as a healer to some, a heretic to others, and evil incarnate to those that fear him. Rumors about his heritage and appearance circulate the streets of the kingdom but each story contradicts the last. What is certain to those that know him well enough, is that he does not bear ill-will against Edherest, on the contrary, he wishes to save it from the ever present corruption that has been seeped in from Alaloth and from unchecked magic. He wants to restore the Beacon Towers, colleges, and human society to the days of peace. The Red Mage is waiting for a champion to arrive at the doorstep to his tower and take on a task that will benefit them both, only after completing it will he know if the champion is ready to face Alaloth.


Once just a powerful mage among the Elven high class, Kellis of the Zephyrs is just a mythical prisoner now, locked in the woods he once loved. He is a depressed and doomed soul who tried to embark on the Retreat, to venture the sea to the next life, but instead found himself trapped within the forest, unable to leave and unable to die. He has attempted to escape countless times but has always failed. Despite all this, Kellis is compassionate and never judges a creature or mortal on their nature, even if they do things he does not approve of. He watches the forest in defeat, and assists those who become lost. He seeks a champion to bring to him what he cannot get himself, to prove their mettle in the face of danger.


Forgeback is a legendary figure in dwarven history, the great dragon slayer of Karak-Hohn, known for his brutality in combat and the mastery of his craft. He is and always was a great smith, who could forge any weapon to kill a dragon. His hatred for dragons made him violent and unpleasant, with outbursts of anger over his loss that all of Karak-Hohn could hear him from miles away. Forgeback is only interested in seeing the dragon race extinct, not in their stolen gold or the glory of the hunt. He holds a personal vendetta and nothing but the death of all dragons will satisfy that need. In his old age he’s become unable to hunt the dragons himself, so he seeks a champion to aid him in his quest. In return they will gain the honor of wielding his work.


A sinister mystery, guardian of the oasis, exile, blasphemer, saint... These are but some of the words used to describe Nohrged-Kin, the shadowy figure lurking by the waters of the Thirst. He goads pilgrims and the lost to drink from it and watches as the consequences unfold. Nohrged-Kin is seen as vicious and cruel, but he cares not for the suffering of mortals, nor does he wish them ill. He merely wishes to test them in their hour of need.
If there is something he truly detests, it’s the gods that the mortals of The Four Kingdoms worship, especially Maraika and the Mother of Betrayers, who hold favor in Baga. His obsession is directed towards rare idols of gods, which he desecrates for his entertainment. He will surely test the champion in his own way, and determine if they are truly the hero that has a chance set the world to rights.


If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:
Lore Update #6 - The Dragons of Bane and Flame
Lore Update #5 - The Dragons of Black and Gold
Lore Update #4 - The Plamen Travel Guide

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Which wanderer did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

Like us on Facebook
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Subscribe to our Newsletter
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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

The role of VFX is very important in every video game, because they communicate a lot about the things that are happening within a game’s world, from simple rain to a pool of acid, creating and saying what can be good or dangerous, alive or static. Our VFX, are generally divided into two macro categories, environments and gameplay effects. Environments were introduced in Dev Update #2, which explains how, in order to create a live and realistic environment, VFX such as fire, fog, and particles are added. After the bake phase, every single VFX is moved to the final scene in order to have a living scene with fire, water, dust, lava, all weather events, and much more rather than just a static texture. All environmental VFX derive from a common base: for example, each type of dust or flame starts from a base VFX and our team is able to create variants based on the scene in which it will be placed, changing color, size, duration, etc.



For gameplay effects however, the situation changes. These are the VFX that give impact to the game and gameplay. In fact, before starting the production of these effects there was a long pre-production phase between the designers, coders, audio and tech guys, and the animators, all based on a deep knowledge of the project and game mechanics. Similarly to the animation process, we work from a few pre-made libraries to create a base layer of contents to iterate, change, and adapt to the game and we pair these assets with in-house assets created following the specs of the main Game design document or GDD. Libraries are really helpful but, due to the nature of our game, without proper 3D geometry and pre-rendered environments, there is still a lot of work to do even on VFX that are supposed to work 1:1 with a standard pipeline. In Alaloth, we have to manually tweak everything to have the same effect as intended for a full 3D environment. Not an easy task. In-house-made assets work the same way, always starting from a few benchmarks we reimagine working in a iso-view.







For example, for a dragon's breath of fire, we decide at the beginning of the design phase what the range and duration of the attack should be, then we define the damage system with the code/tech department and finally the graphic part, with a mixture of particles and shaders to give life to the flames. But the gameplay effects also help to inform a player of what is about to happen on screen. For example, in many enemy encounters, a loading VFX alerts the player that the enemy is about to cast a spell or use a special skill. Knowing how to create visual effects also means knowing how to use mesh, UV, and shaders to your advantage; these three elements, together with the particles, are the basis for the creation of effects, in addition to being visually important, and give the sense that they are rounding out animations.



This VFX for example is the combination of a series of elements that will give the enemy who will use it (no spoiler) a devastating attack power. It is based on a mesh with UV designed so that a custom shader can create this dynamic effect; in addition a cloud of fire will follow the mesh, together with craters on the ground that will spit tongues of fire and rocks.





Each enemy, from dragon to skeleton, from golem to spider, will have their own unique set of VFX, designed and studied by the whole team to make the experience as realistic as possible. The VFX creation process is variable and depends on functionality and usage. The process can take a few hours for a simple brazier to many more for an attacking gameplay effect, and require a close collaboration between all team members.

If you missed any previous Development Update post, explore them here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2961646623389887320
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/4811498361139642910
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2924488755434060877

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the making of Alaloth. Did you find this behind-the-scenes look at VFX interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Dragons are competitive creatures. It is because of this that the four dragons remaining on the continent each claimed a kingdom for themselves. Having branched out and settled in their own kingdoms, the dragons are able to hold dominion over all the lives in a territory untouched by the other dragons. They use their environments almost to exhaustion, corrupting the land against its inhabitants.

Last week we spoke of the Dragons of Black and Gold. They were introduced as the dragons of the realm of humans and the realm of dwarves. The remaining two dragons that we’ll discuss today sought other prey...


Hidden in the dense forests of Larastir, the green swift tailed dragon, Viainne, bides her time, hunting in silence as to not attract the attention of the elves. She is a prideful and vengeful dragon, but patient in her need to exact revenge on those who wronged the dragons so many years ago. She sees herself as superior to the other dragons and often does what she can to undermine them in her goal to reign supreme. The cave which she dwells contains a scent that enthralls mortals as they approach, allowing Viainne to enslave them, consume them, or slay them as she wills. Being the fastest of the dragons, she is one of the most dangerous opponents on the continent.


Heat like the abyss, hell on earth...that is what the red dragon, Pyre, brings to all orcs as he ravages the lands of Baga. Pyre cares nothing for the traditions of old, he doesn’t hold grudges or fear anything, he just feels the need to burn everything in sight until the world is consumed by fire. He arbitrarily switches between two extreme personalities, one brooding upon the ashes of a dead fire and the other like a great inferno of hatred that he unleashes upon the land. Pyre is the lord of everlasting fire, and those who try to venture into his obsidian cave will find it very difficult to avoid his devastating flames much less kill him.

If you missed any Lore Update post, explore them here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3062978248987410802
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480314900440
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480286416728

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Which dragon did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our Newsletter
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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Imagine a world on fire, where mortal lives are forfeited to any beast that craves their flesh, where dwarves can be buried beneath their mountains forever in an instant, and the gold of The Four Kingdoms lies amassed in the lairs of great dragons. This is every dragon’s dream, and an objective that was set to them eras ago. At first, there were many dragons fighting alongside the Mother of Betrayers, burning and pillaging the lands of Karak-Hohn, Baga, Larastir, and Edherest. They destroyed countless halls and cities, and killed many in their rampage, an accomplishment they are proud of. But after years of being hunted by the dwarves and the fall of the Mother, most of the dragons have flown away from the continent, back into their homeland.

Now only four remain, each having carved out their own domain in the Split Kingdoms. They are each more vicious than the other, competing amongst themselves for the honor of being the greatest dragon that ever lived, a legend along with their mother, Geis. Today we’ll discuss two of the four dragons, Shadis, the dragon of Black and Razen, the dragon of Gold.


Shadis lives in darkness, in the depths of a cave, waiting for those dim enough to venture in and meet their end. He is different in appearance from other dragons and it is rumored that there is more to him than meets the eye. He is after all, a lord of the shadows. Unlike his vicious and bloodthirsty siblings, Shadis prefers magic to combat and uses his skills as a necromancer to defeat his enemies. He then resurrects his slain enemies to serve as his personal guard and watch over his treasure as he hunts. Many tales have been told about Shadis, speculating about his strange appearance and the oddness of his powers that surpass the magic that dragons usually have. Whether he is really just a dragon or perhaps a demon in disguise remains a mystery.


Nestled at the top of a dwarven mountain, a golden giant keeps his eye on all that happens below and terrorizes anyone who is foolish enough to approach, leaving no survivors. Long ago, Razen came to the continent, thirsty for dwarven blood. The dwarves made a plan to bring an end to his rampage by trapping him in molten gold, poured from above so that it would envelop him completely, but the trap failed. Razen emerged with his scales as hard as metal with a new armor of gold, a golden dragon. Ever since, he’s continued to devour hapless dwarves, descending from the top of his mountain to attack unsuspecting caravans. Razen’s golden coat has exacerbated his greed, making him horde more treasure than any other dragon.

If you missed any Lore Update post, explore them here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480314900440
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480286416728
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947008021749049042
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947007387768598012

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Which dragon did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Alaloth has a very complex combat system which is a key part of its gameplay, so the combat animations had to be both functional and impressive. We chose Alaloth’s fighting styles and their animation after a long period of study and comparison together with our tech-animation department and designers. We wanted Alaloth’s combat system to be as spectacular as possible. The system we settled on allows you to choose from and improve 5 different fighting styles, all with their own unique animations—one-handed, one-handed + shield, two-handed, dual wielding, and polearms.



The animations we ended up using were taken from our libraries and then modified by our animation team to adapt them to the needs of our designers and maintain a unique visual style. We utilize both motion capture and handmade animations and Root Motion is essential for us to make movement and combat as real as possible. Once all the animations were put into our test environment (we call it the Dojo) and selected, we moved on to managing the animator controllers in Unity. During this development phase, it was important to maintain a dialogue between our coders and tech-artists to ensure the best possible management of the animations and transitions. Our goal of course was to have everything be as smooth as possible, so to do that, we needed to set certain mechanics in our animator controllers to create a unique common base set to start from for each fighting style.



Each fighting style was designed in a way that the timing and combos would give the same feel and so enhance players’ experience with all 5 fighting styles. Light attack animations and heavy attack animations are used in each style, and thanks to our animator controller, we were able to manage combos consisting of only light or heavy attacks, or a mix of both. In addition, we introduced a multidirectional dodging system to give the player a tactical advantage by being able to dodge attacks in all 4 directions once an enemy is locked onto.




Enemies in the game also use this animator controller system and, thanks to a complex AI, they can manage a series of fighting styles and behaviors—from the most cautious to a more aggressive and brutal style. Finally, closely related to the VFX department, we have unique animations for unique skills. In Alaloth you can customize your character by choosing different Ways of Power, classes, and skills. Each one of these has its own animations, changing accordingly with the chosen fighting style.



But in the world of Alaloth there are not only warriors looking for fame and fortune. In each city, town, or tavern you will find different NPCs and animals, each with their own set of animations, according to the situation or task they are carrying out. Plamen is a living world and we transmit all of this through the scenes of everyday life with tons of gestures that are scripted by our writers and to allow players to appreciate each dialogue and all the small details that make the lore of Alaloth unique. With all of this we hope to make Alaloth’s world as immersive as possible.


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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Champions!
Let’s continue our journey through the world of Alaloth. You’re already familiar with the Kingdoms and their cities, so it’s time to stray off the beaten path.

As you travel across the lands of The Four Kingdoms, you will find yourself in cities, caves, ruins, and dangerous areas. Some of them are revered and often worshiped by the kingdom they are found in as special points of interest.

Each of these places are considered important monuments to the culture of their kingdoms, and the envy of many. They often mark moments in history that could not be forgotten.



Located at The South Sea of Edherest, this shore is unusually calm and holds shimmering lights that shine at night. The lights take the shape of constellations that are not present in the night sky and have bewildered scholars for ages. The waters are considered a sacred place, blessed by the gods, and thus no warship may enter the territory of the Sea of Stars and no blood may be shed in its vicinity.

Vaizmil’s face shines through a remarkable sculpture carved into the cliffside here. A true testament to human art that encapsulates nature’s beauty, the Tears of Light fills all that look upon its grace with awe. Waterfalls flow from her eyes like tears, grieving the death of the Goddess of Light.

Nestled beneath a glacier, there lie beautiful gems and crystals that shine their light through the ice, changing its colour to turquoise. It remains unknown why the gems are buried inside the glacier, but most can agree that the spectacle of the ice and lights is surely divine.



Towering over the landscape, the Sentinels, huge monoliths, were formed by the fierce winds of the southwest, originating in Chillwitch. Having contended for their possession for years, the dwarves and elves came to an understanding that the stones should be protected together rather than fought over.

To the south of Dawn’s Rest lie the Gloworm Caves, brimming with resins that shine like gems, reflecting the light of the stars into the beautiful landscape. They open inside the ancient forests of the world, surrounded by trees that were petrified long ago.

North of the elven city of Nir’Lathias, the Waterfalls of Wishing astound those who are fortunate enough to see them. The bizarre saturated colors of the water and plants comes from, as legends say, the magic of fairy creatures that dwell in the area, though nobody has seen them.



Carved into the stone by strong winds and shaped into the form of a woman with an eagle head, Bingel is viewed by the dwarves as a protective idol of their culture, a sign from the sky goddess that the heavens will not harm them.

The mountain’s blood flows down to this lake, tainting it as red as can be. Some say that the blood comes from the dragons slain by the dwarves in days past. But the reality is much less interesting than the tale woven into the place, as the color originates in the rusty water and diluted minerals that come from the dwarven mining camps.

The highest peak of the Giant Knee, the Eye overlooks an impressive landscape spanning several hundred feet below it. The beauty one sees when embracing the view is unparalleled. For that reason the dwarves consider The Eye to be sacred ground where funeral rites are held.



South of the Great Mothers, a great depression named The Spoor of Gorbag cuts the land that looks as if a giant horse smashed the ground with its hoof. The crater runs deep into the ground to the point that water springs from its depth. The orcs have been trying to devise a plan to channel the water to their towns for a long time.

In the light of dawn after Baga’s humiliation in The Valley of Storms, a hole appeared, running deep into the ground until no man could see its bottom. It is said that inside the rift the body and spirit of the hero Baga still roams, restless from his failure. The orcs regard it to be a sacred place that serves as a reminder of the horrors that Baga’s pilgrimage wrought upon the Desolation.

A small active volcano by the southwest border of the Desolation. Frequent seismic activity savages the land, and the volcano is prone to eruptions. The gas spewing from its depth gave birth to many poisonous herbs, fatal to most.

If you missed any lore update post, explore them here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480286416728
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947008021749049042
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947007387768598012
We hope you enjoyed this introduction into the rich world of Alaloth. What did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

Lately, we also introduced an Allegiance feature on the game’s official Discord server. Those of you who are already in the server or just joined it, have to decide to which King or Queen you want to swear your allegiance.

For now, the roles are just a display of your allegiance. In the future, they will play a greater part in community activities.

Make sure to pick your Kingdom now and discuss your homeland’s lore with your fellow countrymen.

Enjoy your stay!

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/