Hey there everyone!
I got this idea about a few months ago and made some progress.
I really wanted this game feel more like a fully fleshed out RPG than a book. In that regard the game is less narrative focused, and more focused on exploring the world, doing quests, and making a name for yourself than any overarching “storyline”.
But enough about that. Let’s look at the actual world!
The Empire of Ashan:
Ashan is an desert empire located on the continent of Ilar. Most of the empire consists of vast deserts of sand, referred to as “dust” by it’s inhabitants. Mountain ranges and oases of water are spread throughout the country side, but the most unique part about this empire are the Blackspines.
The blackspines are vast tracts of sharp, black rocks that randomly appear out of the ground during earthquakes all over the continent.
The Ashani people revered these rocks in their early history as being the spikes that jut out of the spine of their most revered god, the great Serpent. They believed the earthquakes to be caused by the movement of the great serpent that lay under the sands of their land and treated the blackspines as sacred places.
Over time however, the Ashani people discovered the myriad uses of the black powder obtained from these rocks and began to harvest them.
Unfortunately, the spines don’t stay put. The blackspines would retreat into and out of the ground at random times, causing earthquakes and leaving huge holes in the ground.
At first, the Ashani tribes simply migrated to the next deposit that appeared. The tribes turned to the driju, huge beetles that had been domesticated and used for thousands of years as pack animals. The ancient people quickly found out that when fed a tincture of blackspine powder, the driju grew even bigger, colossal enough to carry great weight. The Ashani tribes built their huts and soon began to live on the backs of gigantic driju.
This nomadic lifestyle continued for centuries, till booming populations required a new solution. The tribes then began construction of their great cities, gigantic creations of packed sand, rock, and wood from desert trees. The Cities were set on a intricate set of wheels and rollers, which allowed them to move.
The Ashani used systems of gigantic sails to harness the desert wind’s power and set their cities in motion across the sands. Each of the early tribes created a city of their own, and thus were born the great Houses.
The head family of each tribe became the financiers and masters of the city, and over time became the Noble Houses that controlled the empire. After a long period of wars and conflict between the individual cities, the great houses all gathered in the very centre of the empire to create a capital city on a particularly unique blackrock deposit that never disappeared.
The city of Setias became the center of the Ashani people politically and culturally. A Khan was appointed from the most dominant house of the time, House Renos, and the Renos Dynasty has ruled the empire since.
Today, the empire is stable and prosperous, a shining example of civilization.
However, things may not be as good as they seem. A plot to assassinate the king is in the works. Were the king to die the whole country would be thrown into chaos and civil war. Who knows who will rise to power?
Across the mountains however, there are those those might take this weakness as the perfect opportunity to invade your prosperous country…
You, dear reader, are about to embark on an adventure to Ashan.
A world of endless deserts, moving cities, and untold riches.
Will you become a feared warlord? An honest peace-keeper?
Can you fight your way to the crown and become the the next great Khan?
Or will be left on the wayside like countless others?
The choice is yours.
More about how the game actually functions:
You play as an adventurer thrown into this world after you are captured by bandits. Discover your power as a paragon, the magic users of this world. Play as male/female/anything.
Visit the nine traveling cities of Ashan, each one culturally and aesthetically unique. Explore the cities and go on exciting quests as you discover secrets about your world and gain renown.
As you gain men and resources you can make a name for yourself. Become a warlord, a knight, a merchant, a lord, a rouge paragon, a king! the possibilities are endless.
Skills: 15 battle skills including hand-to-hand, poles, swords, etc
Magic System: You will be a Paragon, a being of unimaginable power
Paragon of the Mind: Psychic powers, control and influence the minds of your enemies! Create illusions and hallucinations, make armies bend to your will.
Paragon of the Sun: Control over energy, make lightning crack across the battlefield or fire scorch your enemies.
Paragon of Matter: Control all forms of matter. Create mountains and chasms at the flick of your wrist. Make weapons out of thin air or bring cities crumbling down.
Demo is up!
Enjoy: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zcb116wd24w9ln7/lord_of_dust.html?dl=0
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