To play the demo: A Shriek of Ash and Fire (dashingdon.com)
My Tumblr, mostly about An Unexpectedly Green Journey, will be shifting its focus to A Shriek of Ash and Fire as time goes by: Tumblr
A follow up to An Unexpectedly Green Journey, set more than a millennium after the events of the founding of the Green Empire. Playing the first game is not necessary but will add context.
In A SHRIEK OF ASH AND FIRE you play as a male or female tearaway at the tail end of adolescence, a petty thief running with the street gangs of Grandardagard, the vast capital of Ardland. The city is teeming with the ideas and products born from industrial revolution. Rumours abound of a new advisor guiding the hand of the unimpressive king, to clean up the city and embark on a âvery certain future.â
A small confrontation leads to violence and banishment. You and your mates will find themselves pressganged into Zthullu, the dangerous ash continent to the West, potentially joining the crew of an immense ash crawler.
Here, untold mineral wealth waits for the daring and nefarious. But thereâs also talk of revolution and war. Events tumble to a knife edge as the certainties of the past clash with utopian dreams of a future.
You, a mere street rat may play a pivotal role in events which will change the world foreverâŚ
This game takes a different approach from my previous one. Here, the narrative will be tighter, though you will get an immense amount of choice as you forge your reputation in Zthullu, in preparation for a life of banditry, wealth and influence, exploration or revenge.
As well as being influenced by the good old favourites, LOTR and Warhammer, thereâs a dash of Mad Max and Immortal Engines to proceedings this time (maybe a bit of Dune sprinkled in for good measure).
RO Stuff
Romance is not a focus of this game, adventure and revolution are. But there will be opportunities for amorous encounters. Some of these encounters may lead to relationships of a deeper, more meaningful magnitude.
At present characters who are potential ROs, or at least those with possible âromanticâ encounters, are (this list may, and probably will, change while the game is developed):
Coireal (potential)
Colonel Thrayton
Free Agent, Man-Without-Title, Zuan (potential)
Gibleti the Head Swab, and a goblin
Lady Evagrey the Younger
Lord Evagrey the Younger
Serafina
Vincent (potential- now this has been suggested- Vin, being an orc, doesnât function the same way that us disgusting mammals do- but in a world of magic there could be a potential liaison down the line, though it would have to involve some rather far-out tinkering, the likes of which are only done by gods, demons or arch wizards and witches. Or, something elseâŚ)
UPDATE 3 (128K, 378k total- 15th September 2024)
-Travel to New Yeirshee and explore this weird scab of a town
-Join the Ash Land Road Pirates and become a road warrior, earning a âroad nameâ.
-Fight against other vehicles using the road combat system.
-If you are inclined towards magic, enhance your skills with the formidable, dark powers of Naga magic and become the legendary Abhidhar of Zthullu.
-Potentially, get much closer to Zuan, the Man Without Title.
-Keep up to date with events back in Behatland by viewing the ânews portalâ in the communal mess.
UPDATE 2 (97K, 250k total- 14th August 2024)
-With Vin and Sera, with a squad of ash marines, venture into Zthullu to confront a Yonder threat.
-Take part in an intense battle and uncover the secret behind a new enemy weapon.
-Return from your expedition in the ash lands and report to none other than Commodore Evagrey, the Lord of Despair.
-Spread dissent for your favoured faction or weaken your enemies.
-Investigate sightings of an intruder⌠depending on how your expedition in Zthullu went.
-Potentially get closer, very close, to Sera, Gibleti, the Evagrey Twins and/or Colonel Thrayton.
-Learn new skills.
-Prepare for the coming revolution.
UPDATE 1 (87k, 153k total- 5th July 2024)
-Expanded the Crawler paths for each profession. Now, you can settle into your new job, meet a few new people and get involved with some of the politics and mysteries of crawler life. This is the main content of the update by far.
-If you have fled the crawler, you have a small expansion of events heading north or south. Go north to find the town of Brakka, home of many outcasts, or south to New Yeirshee, where you will join ash pirates and be able to pick a weapon and vehicle.
-Added a new âpamphletâ section to the stats screen, where I can handily add bits about lore which would be useful for playing the game. Right now, there is a summary of names for various mixtures of the races of Behatland- mostly because I found writing things like half halfling half-elf terrifying.
-Split up the lore stats screen a bit, to avoid scrolling issues on mobiles.
UPDATE 0 (66k- June 9th 2024):
-Very early stages and everything is up for change and development. Less than 10% complete.
-Create your character and choose their heritage; dwarf, goblin, elf or halfling.
-Hone your starting skills in your gang, the Roachpedes.
-Begin to form relationships with factions which will alter your destiny.
-Arrive in Zthullu and begin your journey in this most blighted of places, as a runaway or as part of an ash crawler crew.
-From the stats screen, find the political map of Behatland and read about how the world has changed since An Unexpectedly Green Journey.
-If you join an ash crawler find a page detailing its immense size and power. Can such a mechanical beast survive?