It is a dark time for Tiriya. The DeLancy family, the once prosperous rulers of the land, have fallen to the forces of Valburn, the powerful neighbouring kingdom to the north. Their Lawkeepers run amok, culling the strong allies of the DeLancy's, and establishing complete control over their lands. Religious zealots, sworn to the Vrahl, condemn non-believers and sinners to death. Valburn's word is law. Vrahl doppelgängers, powerful Gods masquerading as monsters, roam the wilderness. In return for the faith of the populous, they provide their mystical powers and knowledge to further advance an industrial revolution across Tiriya. Times are changing. Valburn have control.
A small resistance group led by the believed-dead prince of Rosedell, Drake DeLancy, begin preparations for a coup d'etat. Their aim is to hijack the flagship of Valburn - the Dreadnought, where the High Courts and their King reside, and place Lawrence DeLancy back upon the throne. Yet, as their plans come to a beginning, whispers of an ancient magical force - the Blood Shard - come into play. What follows are countless betrayals, faces from the past, and a dark, shadowy figure who appears to have knowledge of everything that has occurred, from the war to the upcoming coup d'etat. Is he working with Valburn? Is he working with the Vrahl? And more importantly, what does he want with the Blood Shard?
The World
Spoiler
Regions
Spoiler
Rosedell
The province of Rosedell spans from the edge of the Apricum Wastes to the most western point of Tiriya, encompassing a great deal of small villages and wilderness. Its capital, Aberfyn, rests in a crevice surrounded by mountains and the shores of the Priscus.
Long before the war, Rosedell enjoyed a peaceful fealty with Valburn. Its king and queen, Lawrence and Bridget, had two sons - Edward & Drake DeLancy. The former went on to form the Resistance after war had broken out, and his mother was killed. Edward and Lawrence remain prisoners in their own kingdom, subject to Valburn rule.
Most of Rosedell's land is teeming with woodland and rivers, the greatest of which is a massive forest spanning most of its western stretch. It begins in the province of Northhurst, moving down and becoming the Breywood, after which it encircles the now decrepit Esterwyn Castle.
Rosedell maintain a healthy alliance with the northern neighbour Arcontana, a kingdom which has long eluded Valburn control.
Valburn
Valburn encompasses the huge stretch of island on the eastern side of Tiriya. There it enjoys segregation from Rosedell & Sylvaron, making any form of counterattack on their lands quite difficult.
After a vast industrial boom, Valburn forces constructed many ships and siege weapons for use in overthrowing the DeLancy family of Rosedell and claiming their lands. Not much is known of the origins of the war, yet their king, Henry Ozzalius possesses a keen interest in rendering Tiriya under his control. Their vast numbers and resources meant winning the war was rather easy.
There are many great cities throughout Valburn. Their capital, Diminster, is a shining example of pre-war architecture, and the neighbouring Radiance City, in Faywyn province, displays a remarkable amount of ancient cathedrals and structures.
Thanks to their wartime victory, Valburn are in no shortage of allies, as most of Tiriya is now under their control. They enjoy an alliance with Sylvaron and their Merchant League, which provide many resources to further continue their industrial expansion.
Sylvaron
Considered a barren wasteland to most, Sylvaron encompasses the vast desert regions of Tiriya. Their capital, Iba, is a bustling market city, with much extravagance and culture. To the south of there spreads the great Apricum Wastes, and several other small desert towns. Even further than that lies the ancient Aedis Addukhan, a sand-swept temple of unknown origin.
Ruled by a collective group of merchants, they tend to ally with those that bring them most profit. In this case, Valburn are their greatest asset.
Cesunand
North of Valburn lies the vastly unexplored region of Sylvaron, where ancient mountains and Vrahl structures of old line the snowy terrain. Far too remote to be considered a threat, its small population mainly comprises of Vrahl worshippers and archaeologists.
Their only port town is Drsedna, a relatively small village with little in the way of ships. Most inhabitants are accustomed to the harsh weather and temperature, and conduct many of their days in prayer or pilgrimage.
A Vrahl worshipper's pilgrimage finds them trailing off to Sylvaron's western bank, where the fabled Moonshore glistens in a fantastic aura. Following it down take you to Altus Arx, considered by many as a stairway to the greatest heights of the planet. Its great tower stands taller than most mountains, and climbing it marks the end of a worshipper's pilgrimage. Within there they remain, in constant prayer and harmony with the Vrahl.
Estanthini
Over the Priscus and to the north of Rosedell lies the small island of Estanthini, where its capital city of Arcontana remains free from Valburn control. Its mountainous terrain leaves the island rather sparse of other towns and villages, yet Arcontana remains one of the largest cities in Tiriya.
Known as one of the few regions, save for Sylvaron, that trade with the neighbouring continent of Attawak, a distant place with little ties to the religious and political systems of Tiriya.
Factions
Spoiler
The Resistance
A small rebel army consisting mostly of ex Rosedell military and activist citizens of the region. Led by, though not known to general public and most of the movement itself, the former prince of Rosedell Drake DeLancy, the Resistance has developed from a small annoyance to Valburn forces into a powerful opposition.
Several of their plans have involved destruction of Valburn property. Perhaps their most infamous to date was the rupturing of a melnyr gas pipeline in the Breywood, forcing hundred of footsoldiers stationed there to retreat. The area has since become a toxic hotspot, yet through the perseverance of the Vrahl there it maintains its natural beauty.
Known affiliates include high-ranking officials of Arcontana, Edward DeLancy and perhaps the King of Rosedell himself. The latter are unaware that their believed-dead son is in charge of the operation.
The Silver Hand
The Silver Hand are a group of militant Vrahl worshippers, and their influence spans across almost all of Tiriya. Occupying most temples and the massive Radiance City in Valburn, the Silver Hand abide by strict beliefs, and believe the rest of Tiriya should too.
They are a known enemy of Rosedell, but remain allies with Valburn. However, due to their faith-based hierarchy, they operate free from senate control. This has led to an abundance of religious attacks on the population of Tiriya, focused directly against non-believers and those not of faith. The senate steps in occasionally, yet due to most of the members remaining loyal to the Vrahl, the Silver Hand have almost complete freedom in their actions.
They are led by the famous 'White Knight', a bishop known by the name of Valpamaeth Lysander. He oversees most of their activity and enjoys a seat in the senate.
The Merchant League
A collection of high-influence political figures from throughout Tiriya. The Merchant League use the sprawling metropolis of Iba as their home base, and oversee almost all dealings in Sylvaron.
Known to swap and trade allies in the blink of an eye, the league are currently in alliance with Valburn, providing them with huge numbers of materials to further their industrial expansion.
The Vrahl
The Vrahl are otherworldly, spectral entities that populate all of Tiriya. They are everlasting, seemingly immortal, and reportedly responsible for Tiriya's well-being. They provide for the land, and the world in numerous ways, whether it be controlling the weather or lighting the sun. Their power and magical abilities have given rise to a massive following, with the vast majority of Tiriya worshipping them as deities. Without the Vrahl, Tiriya, and the world, would fall into chaos.
There are a few movements that actively oppose the Vrahl, but none have the courage to go against them. And on top of that, The Silver Hand, who claim to be under orders from them, would crush them like bugs.
The Senate
The Senate comprises of key political figures across all of Tiriya. It was formed before the war, in the time of peace between Rosedell & Valburn, yet most of its seats are made up from Valburn officials. King Lawrence of Rosedell retains his initial seat, yet due their widespread corruption and his general disdain for most of its members, has not attended a meeting in some time.
They were initially envisioned to bring about alliances and democracy to all the lands of Tiriya, but since Valburn gained power, most of its members are allies of that nation. Yet, major political decisions, such as war or invasions, still must pass a rigorous approval sequence by the senate.
The Characters
Spoiler
Once the heir to the throne of Rosedell, King Lawrence's eldest son Drake DeLancy faked his death after a brutal battle that resulted in his mother's early demise. Drifting quietly from town to town, he finally found a place to rest in Northhurst Woods, where he and a few trusted others formed the Resistance, a growing group of rebels keen to see an end to Valburn rule.
His bold personality and often inappropriate charm have allowed him to become a strong leader, yet behind all of his seductive and brash nature, something has always been amiss. He constantly reflects on the battle that killed his mother, and yearns to be a part of the family he abandoned. Yet, on top of all of that, he hopes for a brighter future, one with Valburn's iron grip vanquished.
He seems to share a strange connection with the rival kingdom's elite general, Miranda Rosetto, yet not even his trusted confidantes have been able to pry any information from him.
Orphaned at birth and thrown from family to family, Saffron Sawyer grew up in Valburn as the factories did. With nowhere to go, or no family she knew of, in her early teens she was taken in by a powerful merchant of Iba, and forced to work in the city's brothels and narcotic dens. As she grew through her teens, her talents as a courtesan and call girl were renowned throughout the city of Iba. After the war ended, she received a mysterious invitation to meet the leader of the rebellion, Drake DeLancy.
The results of their meeting remain a secret between both of them, but since finding Drake she has lived with and served the Resistance for some time. Often quarrelling with Drake over insignificant details, their relationship is complex at best, but most know that they both hold each other in high esteem and trust.
Riffolk serves as the King's Protector of Arcontana, the last free kingdom of Tiriya. He also acts the primary liaison between Drake and other leaders, in an effort to preserve his anonymity. While his allegiance lies with Arcontana and the Resistance, Riffolk was once trained by the now High Lawkeeper of Valburn, Albert Damalu, far before the war broke out. He wishes to meet his former master in battle one day, but is torn as to how he should further his fate.
He is constantly the voice of reason in the Resistance, talking Drake out of many plans. In an earlier attack, their group ruptured a pipe line in a once beautiful forest, the Breywood. Poisonous gas spewed from the leak, and has since left the woodland crawling with all manner of deformed monstrosities. Not only that, but the attack killed several of his own men. Living in the constant shadow of his mistake has taught him one thing - that confrontation can only be a last resort.
Cyril was born the son of a clockmaker in Arcontana, before being kicked out to the streets and joining the ranks of their military forces. There, he met Riffolk, and through Riffolk he eventually met Drake as the war ended. Considered a best friend and crucial element of the Resistance by Drake, Cyril is often the lead member of any of their operations. Their latest mission - acquiring the blueprints of the Dreadnought however, has proved to be something of a titanic struggle.
Although he remains quiet about it, it is a well known fact that he and Alice were once close. As far as he and the population of Tiriya are aware however, Alice has been missing since the attack on Esterwyn Castle.
(there are like three more characters, but these are the only ones you'll be controlling in the demo)
Screenshots
Spoiler
Features
An intriguing storyline with political and religious mystery.
Interesting, challenging battles. TP has been replaced with VP, a currency you can increase via your 'Vigor' command. Attacking uses all your VP, but the amount of VP you had is added as a bonus. Be wary though, enemies can do the same, and suffering from damage will cause your character to lose all of their VP.
Exploration. Random battles have been removed. All battles that aren't story-related will be completely optional.
Puzzles. Each dungeon will have a puzzle of varying difficulty.
Interactive environments. Chop down thick brushes with your sword, swing across chasms with your rope.
An in-depth skill system, focusing on specific traits of each character. (still to be added, awaiting finished script.)
An almost full soundtrack. At least half of the demo songs are my own. You can check my resource thread to see which ones are mine. By the time this project's complete, I'm aiming for a fully custom soundtrack.
Custom character artwork, provided by the wonderful Emmych.
Download (123MB)
Remember to install all fonts found within the extracted folder. You'll get cut-off dialogue otherwise.
Download the demo here. You'll need the RTP to play it. I'm aiming to upload a version with the RTP soon, but the internet here is pretty brutal. It'll be done though!
Credits
Spoiler
Graphics - tilesets, sprites, etc.
Celianna
Lunarea
Emmych
Thalzon
Indrah
Liberty
Andinator
Timmah
Avadan
Sketchy-Sketch
Paperboo
Soruve
Fire Emblem 10
Scripting
Yanfly
Zerbu
Mithran
Victor Sant
Nelderson
Falcao
Tsukihime
Dekita
Fomar0153
Galv
ModernAlgebra
TDS
Audio
MaestroRage
Inon Zur
TES: Oblivion
Fire Emblem 10
Square Enix
Please do let me know if a resource of yours is in game and I haven't credited you. It's been a good few years between makers and remakes, so names have just tended to get lost. Leave a comment or shoot me a PM, and I'll add you instantly.
Demo Guide
Spoiler
To VP or not to VP?
Spoiler
VP is a little reworking of the default TP system in RMVX Ace, but that's just a background detail because it works differently than that.
Basically, VP is shown in your battle status window next to your SP. Attacking will spend all of your VP. Being hit by an enemy will spend all of your VP. So what's the deal, I hear you ask?
Your current VP figure acts a bonus amount of damage given by using the attack command. This bonus ignores defence, and is added onto whatever the damage output is of your regular attack.
So, in essence, charging up your VP via the 'Vigor' command is a good way to power up your characters to deal extra damage - something that's quite useful against automated attackers and other enemies with high defence. Your initial VP is randomized at the beginning of battle, and other than Vigor, certain items can give you a small bonus. It's up to you on how you want to maintain your VP level - you could have Riffolk lure an enemy from Cyril, or Saffron mirage up Drake. Either way, it'll be a good way to inflict good, solid damage.
Note that enemies also have VP, but for the demo's sake they don't recharge. So, if you're wondering why enemies hit pretty hard initially, then that's why. You're gonna want to drop that down.
I feel infiltrated by the Infiltrator.
Spoiler
The Infiltrator is definitely one of the tougher encounters in the demo, and while I don't want to give you THE GAMBIT~ that'll make everything easier for you, there are a few things you can follow to give you the upper hand.
The first tactic is playing it safe. Focus your attacks on each of the arms at a time and memorize their attack patterns. They only heal when a specific condition is met, and it's one you may run in to - but remember that information and shift your strategy accordingly. You may want to have Riffolk use lure and have Cyril Vigor up to inflict some nasty damage. When the main body fires the cannon, I suggest guarding to minimize the damage, or even having Riffolk use bastion so he'll be in top form if Cyril dies.
The second tactic is slightly riskier, as it involves attacking the body head-on, as killing the body will also kill both arms. Use your debuff items to minimize the damage taken by the arms, and pound away at the body whilst maintaining a counter seal on it. It's completely possible to do it this way.
Why am I reading and not escaping this cellar?
Spoiler
The numbers you need for the code are the numbers written on the wall in blood. As for their order, the piece of paper on the wall rather implicitly states how to figure that out. It's more a game of memory than it is technique.
Fauns are little bastards.
Spoiler
First off, if you're having issues with the faun battles then remember to get Saffron in your team by talking to her after the initial cutscene. Whilst it's totally possible to do the faun fights with just Drake, you might find it a little easier with Saffron's ability to increase the length of status effects on an enemy.
If you're paying attention you'll notice that fauns have crazy high evasion - just as well you have abilities to counter that. Magick never misses, and Drake's charm skill combined with Saffron's impair skill with debuffs is really a foolproof way of taking them out quickly.
Why am I being owned by a butterfly?
Spoiler
If you'll recall, it is impossible to kill a Vrahl doppelgänger. And that's not out of it just being really hard, it's just impossible. You should know that every Vrahl fight will follow this template.
I'm not gonna tell you outright how to force out Atlus, but look at what you have. Look at your items and the butterfly's weaknesses.
Atlus did not shrug. Instead she put me to sleep and destroyed me with spells.
Spoiler
Atlus can be a difficult fight if you're not prepared - remember to stock up on Mistletinn to counteract sleep. She's prone to bleed, and though her spell casting power is pretty high, remember and use reflect. And use the appropriate debuff items to slow her spells and their power down. With Drake using VP attacks under mirage, and Saffron maintaining reflect, it's a very, very quick fight.
Notes
Demo length is roughly forty minutes to one hour.
EXP and skill learning (bar two in Arcontana) have been removed for this release. I'm currently waiting on a script to be commissioned that will see me implementing these things. The demo's still totally doable without levels, as enemies have been scaled fairly to compensate.
Please remember to install the fonts! Your game will look all wonky without them.
There are no in-game tutorials, but the controls are almost identical to every RM game you've ever played, and most battle skills have handy tips letting you know what they do.
Thanks guys! Unfortunately the demo is a little outdated and the rainy screenshots aren't in there. I did a whole lot of rebalancing/redatabasing, so I need to get back to the point of the end of the demo again (which shouldn't take long) and then I'll update it with that probably.
Oh man, I feel like everyone moving over here is gonna get me pumped for this all over again. XD
And hnngh can't wait for the new demo! I'll get goin' on Cyril's sprite soon, promise. >w<d
Cheers E-Sauwce! And take your time man, es' coooo', we all chilled up in here~
Hopefully the demo shouldn't be too long. I was originally intending to put up a new one when I get a bit further on but I may just update all the old content and then release that, so you're not playing an out of date demo for too long. I shall see. In any case, the databasing is chugging along, just setting up Drake & Felix's skills again so I can almost certainly get to rebalancing the old demo areas shortly!
I am very much looking forward to your updated demo. I know you got a lot of wonderful feedback with the first demo that you took to heart. I can't wait to see just how much your project has evolved!
@Lunarea - Thanks! Yeah, I really feel like I've made quite a difference. I had a runthrough of the previous demo and mannn there was so much to fix! I think it's always a good idea to go through and play what you have already before going any further (especially taking others criticism into mind). Of course this did lead to about 304984568 days worth of re-databasing to do, but hey, it's turned out better!
@BulletPlus - Cool! Remember it's quite outdated, so there're a fair share of problems with it now that'll be resolved in the next release.
! No more sideview battle system? I will be missing Felix's funny sound effects when he attacks now (though I guess that's for the better because whenever I had him attack, I would always crack up...). I'm terrible at understanding battle system set ups by reading, but from what I can gather, it sounds cool. I really can't wait to try the updated Blood Shard!
Not any more! It really came from a stylistic choice at first to be honest, a lot of the battlers I was using didn't really match up and were somewhat overused anyway. Then I came across Thalzon's and was sold for frontview! They're just so pretty. With that really came a lot of ironing out battle details seeing as that was one of the weakest aspects of the demo as far as I could tell. It's a shame Felix's sound effect's gone, I did quite enjoy it myself! And thank you! I'm up to Northhurst Tower in terms of rebalancing now so I'm not far off from where I was. Hopefully can get a whole lot if it done in the next few days, then I'm gonna iron out some horrible pacing issues and move on! If I can get a few more places mapped in the next week or two I'll make up an extended new demo which should be lovely. It is essay week next week though so I may be busy, but on the plus side I am on holiday the week after so I don't have any excuse really xD
Oh, for anyone wondering, I should also note that the mage ability 'Charge' can only be used once per battle. Else it would've been quite broken, haha.
Woo, this is all sounding rad! 8D I'll defs get to testing it today. I'm super stoooked! ;w;
Also I am totally starting on Cyril's sprite right now. S'GON BE GOOD (Also man ahahaha I gotta go back in and recolour Felix's hair. It's just so... uwaaaghhh XD IT'LL TAKE ME FIVE SECONDS but uwaagghhh OTL Also gotta fix Valpy. Jesus. OTL Never will I ever procrastinate doing sprites for one project this long again. ...pfft who am I kidding I totally will. OTL)
Hey quigon. I have been following your project for quite some time ( over at VX.net, as a lurker ^^ ) and I must say. I'm impressed. So impressed I just hit that 'Follow this topic', so you have yourself another subscriber. ^^ And all the best for the future of Blood Shard! *still supporting, albeit silently* lol
Demo progress is going quite smoothly guys, if any of you are interested/can remember I'm currently destroying those terrible, terrible |\s that plague the one that's up now >.<
